Lady Melbourne: Vintage Finds

Showing posts with label Vintage Finds. Show all posts

27.4.10

The Big In-between

Not quite autumn, not quite winter here in Melbourne I've found that I'm doing what Melburnian's do best and that's layering.

When I first moved to Sydney I found it hard to get used to just wearing a t-shirt all day, or just a sweater. What was this crazy concept where the weather stayed the same all day?

I dressed for all four seasons, every day in Melbourne thank you very much.

Anyhow, it gives me pleasure to pull items like this vintage, Irish linen, a-line coat out of the wardrobe that has sat there quite lonely all summer.

The coat was given to me by one of my aunties who had it for years but never wore it. I wasn't sure at first whether I would myself, but now I find that I wear it with everything. Well, this week that is.

In other Lady Melbourne news my new blog is just about ready to launch and later on in the week when you visit you'll no doubt see a new look.

Don't fear if you visit and can't see anything, there may be minor transmission interruption while it all swaps over but come Friday I'll be at my new home.

I hope you like it.

Vintage coat: gift

Scarf: This is actually a trimming that I bought at a fabric shop.

Earrings: Forever New

Pants: Country Road from the salvos

Heels: Siren

Bag: Longchamp

p.s- yes, I'm on the phone!

22.2.10

Dear Autumn, when will you arrive?

I've become obsessed of late with organising my autumn/winter wardrobe, what care I for 34 degrees when there are boots to buy online?

I've started collecting pieces of what I want to wear this winter already and this little grey number is the latest edition. I've scoured the town for the perfect cropped, grey, soft leather jacket. When my search turned up nothing(and believe me, I searched) I turned to the internet and found this on Etsy. I picked it up today and couldn't be happier that it's now mine. I just can't believe that someone wanted to sell it.
I've already bought a pair of boots, a trench coat, today's jacket, Sonia Rykiel for H&M stuff is on its way, and I have my eye on the Sportsgirl boots from this post.

Today's outfit is almost head to toe vintage or second hand, and while I don't always post pictures of the tags I thought I'd just show you a more intimate look inside my wardrobe. It's not uncommon for my daily outfits to be op-shop/vintage/second hand finds, but I don't explicitly point out that I'm wearing it head to toe.
I pour my money into my accessories, choosing the thrill of the chase of beautiful labels second hand and at second hand prices. It's funny how we choose to shop, I know girls that wouldn't be caught dead in an op-shop, and then they want to know where my Max Mara skirt came from. Funny.

I received a rather exciting invitation today to speak at LMFF as part of the cultural program. Details are being worked out, but if you'd like to come along and listen to a forum on fashion and blogging I'll be posting the details here closer to the date. I'm very excited and a little nervous!

Tous Les Jour heels

20.2.10

A piece of Paris....

Last year when I was commissioned by N.E.E.T magazine to do a showcase of cool and quirky shops in Melbourne, I came across Velour in St Kilda.

I was of course on a 'work' visit, but work often involves shopping and I couldn't go past this D.I.V.I.N.E vintage dress from Paris. It fed right into my love of black and white, the polka dots were too cute and it's floaty.

I have had it for a couple of months now but haven't put it up properly yet, as it was hot and windy today it was kind of perfect for what I had to do.

Thank you kindly for you responses to the video post, it looks as though I already have plenty of topics to chat about next week! Please do write in if you have anything you'd like addressed and I'll do my best to answer for you.

16.2.10

Her mind was buzzing with questions.....

I think that this skirt is too long so I'm in the process of taking up the hem,but I like it because it's light and the colours just seem to go with everything I own.
I thought I'd see how it looked with a darker, tougher pallet of leather and black and white- there is a lot of black and white in my wardrobe.

The tag says 12 but the waist measures 25" so I'd say that it was made when a size 12 measured completely differently to today's standards. You can only imagine how tiny an 8 must have been if a size 12 is 25"!
To borrow a line from Just Say When, this is pretty much how I felt when I tried it on:

'Her mind is buzzing with unanswered questions:
(a) Who the hell made this dress?
(b) Did some unfeeling fool change the dress/size label?
(c) Has the whole world gone mad?'

You can read the whole article here, but it's a nice little piece on what many of us face when we shop for second hand clothes.

On another fashionable note, the Sonia Rykiel range for H&M has been released in London and you can see a gallery here.
I have my spies in London working to get my hands on a couple of pieces, the sweaters would be just perfect to wear this autumn don't you think?
And don't get me started on the fact we don't have H&M here is Australia......

10.2.10

Out of my way: Shoulder pads coming through

I found this little jacket at Value City Savers in Preston, but before I remove the biggest shoulder pads I have ever seen in my life, I thought I would play dress ups first.

I haven't really presented a retro look for a while, not because I don't dress like this but mainly because I thought for a while I might be pigeon-holed if I only ever dressed like this. Plus someone told me it made me look old. Hilarious!

I don't like to take myself too seriously anyhow, so this is Lady Melbourne come 1940's come Dolly Parton for your Wednesday afternoon viewing pleasure.

If you think the shoulders should stay(sooooo on trend) then let me know, I'm inclined to take them out.

Edit: The darling Vintage Verve just suggested on twitter that it's more Alexis Carrington than Parton. Made my day!!

Vintage jacket: Value City Savers
Vintage leather skirt: Value City Savers (photos of tags coming for all you vintage purists out there)

Heels: Verali

Cuffs: All made by me

1.2.10

This entire outfit cost $35

I haven't posted for a while about how I shop for second hand clothes, mainly I suppose because it's just something that is so natural to me. I am always shopping, I never turn off from what is going on around me in terms of retail.

I. Love. To. Shop.

If someone enquires about what I'm wearing and finds out that its second hand or vintage, the first question I am mainly asked is, 'Where do you find this stuff?'

'I don't know...?' isn't really a helpful answer, but I hope as today's post shows the stuff is out there if you care to look. I found this entire outfit in the one Salvation Army store, spending a grand total of $35 and about 1 hour shopping.

It was all there for the taking, I guess my number one tip is that you simply have to look at everything. EVERYTHING. That means home wears, manchester(I found a lavender wool coat once someone had put under a duvet), furniture, childrenswear, books- EVERYTHING.

Make 'scour' your new mantra.

The second tip is that it takes time to shift through racks and racks of clothing, the reward is that you may just find a complete outfit for under $40. If I've learnt one thing from op-shopping since I was 13, it's that you have to spend time going through everything. Literally pulling every single scarf out of that 1 mt high bin.

Dr. Jones found a black and red Christian Lacroix scarf once doing this(the couture end of the business is now closed= collectors item= $$$) and you've seen some of the labels I've found over the years in op-shops.

It's all out there, happy shopping!

Dress: Second hand $7

Glasses: $3

Cotton trench with leather details: $5

Glomesh bag: $10

Leather boots: $10

16.1.10

More things that make me happy....

I haven't written about the little clusters of porcelain and china figurines that I have dotted around the house since Feb last year. I'm not exactly sure why because like the crystal I talked about yesterday, I am forever bringing home kitsch things to dot around the place.

I bought this little clog ashtray to go with the troupe that sits next to my bed. I move things around a lot but I thought it would go with the whole blue, white and grey theme.

7.12.09

Camberwell Sunday Market

I love Camberwell market, it's a great place to shop in Melbourne, or just visit if you'd like to see where the locals shop.

You can buy almost anything but the main focus is clothes, jewellery, antiques and home wares. Over the years I've picked up some amazing accessories, only yesterday I saw an original YSL handbag from the 1970s on sale for $35.

Next week is the last market for the year if you are thinking about visiting, it will then start up again in the new year.

I bought this print for 10c.

I bought this little trinket box, I thought it would be perfect for kris kringle. The bracelet is by a Melbourne label and I met one of the designers, Kara who was selling them only at Camberwell.

They are all semi-precious stones with either gold or silver trinkets, but the sweetest part is that they are all of $18. She will be there next week, or you can email fambrod@optusnet.com.au for all other enquiries.

You can't tell in the light, but this silk top is a really pale peach colour. It is so soft and feminine, perfect addition to my summer wardrobe. The painting in the background was $5 and I LOVE it!. His Lordship has banished it to the basement, but as you know I love all things kitsch and am planning a wall of kitschy paintings, this being the first edition.

I really love 70's glass wear, it reminds me of my childhood and how I used to visit our neighbours, Beat and Brian. She would let my brother and I choose from what seems like a cavernous tin of Arnotts Family Assorted, and naturally we always chose the choc ripple.

Then she would give us some cordial in glasses just like these. I loved the champagne ones too.

I took a friend from the States with me who is really into health and fitness. She was HORRIFIED that I was going to devour this bratwurst(devour I did) and insisted on taking a photo. Nothing can stand between me and a bratwurst.

Vote for me for Best Fashion Blog in the 2threads Fashion Awards!Pretty please!

6.12.09

Saturday Op-Shopping and new dresses

Today I have been at the Camberwell market and found all manner of kitschy goodness, but here for your viewing pleasure are yesterdays op-shop and general shopping finds.

I often look in the larger size department at Savers because you can get great fabric in often simple shapes that can be re-cut.
The floral dress was a size 18 but I cut it down to fit me, put in an elastic waist, new buttons and it's like new. All the mauve dress needed was the hem to come up and a new neckline.

Finally got my hands on the latest issue of Lula magazine, my all time FAVOURITE glossy read.

I got the book at Savers, it has lovely illustrations inside and the Louis Vuitton organiser I found at a church op-shop for $1. I don't know if it's real, it is in really great condition and seems to have all the stamps and logos in the right places but I'm no Vuitton expert.

It was underneath a whole heap of stuff, the Nana's that sold it to me had no idea what it was. Even if it is fake it looks pretty good to me!

Vote for me for Best Fashion Blog in the 2threads Fashion Awards!Pretty please!

27.10.09

Haji Lane

I met the delightful Stephie from Fashion Nation on Friday night at the awards ceremony who was a fellow nominee.

She asked if I would like to go out for a spot of shopping and some tea and who was I to refuse a day's shopping with one of Singapore's biggest bloggers?!

First stop was Haji Lane and I have to say you were all right- I loved it! It had the best shopping in Singapore in my opinion for the following reasons:

1. You could buy local designers

2. It was inexpensive

3. They had vintage and quirky home wares stores

I found some amazing little boutiques like Soon Lee, Collage and Dulcetfig where I did most of my shopping.

There was a divine top in Collage that I didn't buy and now regret it so if you are in Haji Lane, pop in and look for a long line, cream t-shirt/singlet with black ruffle netting on the shoulders. Divine!

This is a peek inside Soon Lee:

Stephie told me that graffiti in Singapore is virtually non existent so this stencil was quite rare. I can't say I saw any graffiti while I was there, it's one of the cleanest cities I've visited.

So here is a peek inside Dulcetfig which is run by Lovie Wong who was in the shop when we were there.
She has three cats that wander around the shop and just added that quirky 'X' factor to Haji Lane.

I pretty much could have bought this entire rack of vintage or re-worked vintage dresses. They were so pretty, the prints were retro but bang on trend. God knows where Lovie finds them, second hand or vintage clothes are really hard to find in Singapore because according to Feng Shui principles they don't believe in wearing recycled or second hand clothes.

I wondered if that is why so much of the 'vintage' that I found(all of two shops) was re-cut in order to make it new again? Jump in and tell me what you think or know!

The dresses I bought hanging up in the change room. You can see them but I had cats milling around my feet. So cool.

14.10.09

Lady Melbourne's Etsy Sale begins!

Click here or on the picture for the store.

3.7.09

Happy Friday

You know how you have those days where despite your wardrobe bursting at the seams, you have nothing to wear?

I'm having one of those days.

So I decided why not raid His Lordship's wardrobe for something to wear? He's a stylish fella, I knew there had to be something in there somewhere and I've been rewarded it would seem.

Only thing is, the pants and shirt are miles to big for me, you can't see it but there is some very crafty pinning going on.

I'll be here on Sunday emptying my wardrobe of dresses, shoes, accessories, coats and shoes with items starting at $5, the most expensive thing on sale is a brand new, barely worn GAP trench coat for $100. That's so cheap I'd buy it back off myself if I didn't already own 5 trenches.

Happy Friday!

Lady Melbourne has a new home!