Buying Vintage

Garage sales – I like garage sales. I went to one last weekend at a nearby house and picked up a plush Play School Humpty Dumpty for my son. It was in a perfect condition. It was only $5. It retails in the stores at $29.95. Bargain! You can check to see when the next Garage Sale Trail is in your area.

Markets – Markets are always a great place to look for vintage items. The main downside is the prices can be a little expensive. Stallholders have to pay for the stall and usually insurance, so the prices can be more than what you would expect to pay at a garage sale. 

If you get to markets early, you get your pick of all the best items. However, if you leave it until just before they pack up, you get the best prices on items. Some stallholders just want to get rid of their items so they don't have to cart them home. I have even received freebies just from being there just before they pack up.

Online – I get most of my vintage buys from online, mainly due to convenience and variety. I can shop late at night when I can't sleep or when the weather is awful. So easy! I like Quicksales for their variety of vintage items. I just type in 'vintage' or 'retro' and all these fantastic items appear on my computer screen. I don't have to leave the house and the items get posted to my mail box. 

Unwanted items can be sold online and the money you make from the purchase can go towards your latest vintage object of desire.

Auction houses – It can be slightly daunting the first time you bid at an auction house. Also, be aware that a buyers’ premium is charged on the hammer price of your purchase.

Op shops – The best thing about op shops is that the money goes to charity. I have noticed in the last couple of years, the prices of items in op shops have risen quite dramatically. I have been to op shops that sell some secondhand items for more than the original price.

School fetes – My son's school has one of the best school fetes in Sydney, well I think so anyway. This year I picked up some vintage Little Golden Books to add to my collection.


This post was supported by Quick Sales

Lots of Love - It's So Hard

Loving this new song and music video by Lots Of Love.

I love the Carmen Miranda look the best, which is your favourite?

Gomeroi Youth River Revival

Gomeroi Youth River Revival showcase event was held at the Capitol Theatre in Tamworth recently.

This event was the brain child of Tamworth fashion designer Colleen Tighe-Johnson.

The showcase featured her unique designs that were modelled by 17 young people, many modelling for the first time.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority were the major sponsor of this event, making it all possible.

Photos by Julie Craigie

Transvision Vamp

I'm awake - can't sleep so I am watching MTV Classic. They are playing so many good songs.

Remember this one...I Want Your Love - Transvision Vamp?

I really liked this band when I was a teenager. Even went to see them live at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney. I think I still may have the Transvision Vamp badge I bought at the concert somewhere...

I remember recording this music video from the television to a video tape...the old days before YouTube ;)

Bad fashion

The 80s had some great music - ABC, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Talking Heads BUT let's face it - the fashion was pretty crappy.

Stone wash and acid wash. I have seen this denim style trying to creep its way back in fashion. As they say on the Fashion Police - MAKE IT STOP! It's a crime against fashion.

Fringed jackets were pretty popular in the 80s too. Even better if it was a fringed leather jacket. Ugh.

Don't forget a can of hairspray each day to get your hair looking as pretty as Jon Bon Jovi in the Living On A Prayer days.

Frockabilly Freakout review, featuring my earrings :)

You know what is nice? Someone with style, giving you fabulous comments on their blog.

Louiebugooey from frockabillyfreakout.blogspot.com purchased some swallow earrings from me recently.

She wrote lovely things about my eBay store and it was totally unexpected - I love surprises :)

Have a look at her blog and the review that has made my day - thanks Louiebugooey xo

Just because it's secondhand, doesn't mean it's vintage

I went to a lovely fete at a local school on the weekend.

I saw a sign saying 'Vintage Clothing'.

Of course I head straight for that stall with sparks flying out of my shoes ;)

However the 'vintage clothing' was not vintage, it was just used clothing from this decade :(

I often get asked what defines 'vintage' and 'retro' clothing - according to Wikipedia it is:

• Clothing from the 1920s to 20 years before the present day is considered vintage

• Retro, short for retrospective, or "vintage style" usually refers to clothing that imitates the style of a previous era. Reproduction, or repro, clothing is a newly-made, copy of an older garment

175 years of David Jones

I love my new calico shopping bag I purchased from David Jones yesterday.

It was $6.95, which is a little bit expensive for a shopping bag but it commemorates 175 years of DJ's and it's really cute.

Happy birthday Judy Garland

Born: Frances Ethel Gumm

June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969

Her most popular role was as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard Of Oz (below), when she was just 16 years of age.

I cried hysterically when I was six years old when I found out that Dorothy had died in real life.

I was heartbroken.

When I was eight, I got the lead role as Dorothy in our class play of The Wizard Of Oz and I loved every second of it.

RIP Chrissy Amphlett

Australian singer with The Divinyls, Chrissy Amphlett has died, aged 53 in New York.

The Divinyls were such a popular group here in Australia. I am truly upset that Chrissy has passed away.

I know that she had M.S. and cancer for quite some time.

Here is my favourite Divinyls song. It's called I'm Jealous. It's quite possibly the best heartbreak song ever.

Chrissy looks so beautiful in this music video. This is how I want to remember her.

If you get the chance, have a read of her biography, Pleasure and Pain. It's a great book.

Below is an official statement from Chrissy’s husband Charley Drayton:

Our beloved Chrissy peacefully passed this afternoon.

Christine Joy Amphlett succumbed to the effects of breast cancer and multiple sclerosis, diseases she vigorously fought with exceptional bravery and dignity. She passed gently, in her sleep, surrounded by close friends and family, including husband of fourteen years, musician Charley Drayton; her sister, Leigh; nephew, Matt; and cousin Patricia Amphlett (“Little Pattie”).

Chrissy’s light burns so very brightly. Hers was a life of passion and creativity; she always lived it to the fullest. With her force of character and vocal strength she paved the way for strong, sexy, outspoken women.

Best remembered as the lead singer of the ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, Divinyls; last month she was named one of Australia’s top ten singers of all time. Chrissy expressed hope that her worldwide hit “I Touch Myself” would be utilized to remind all women to perform annual breast examinations.

Chrissy was a true pioneer and a treasure to all whose lives her music and spirit touched.

Happy 91st Birthday Doris Day

I love her, her movies, her singing and her love for animals.

 

Happy birthday Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff!

The Brady Bunch Girls

Marcia Marcia Marcia was my favourite when I was growing up. She could do no wrong. Now I think Jan was the coolest.

What about you, who did you think was the coolest - Marcia, Jan or Cindy? Maybe you thought Alice and Carol were groovy?

Sandy vs Rizzo

I must have watched Grease more than any other movie in my almost 40 years. 

My bestie Sarah and I would watch it over and over again on our VCRs when we were kids.

Watching it again recently with my son, I had noticed something I hadn't really thought of before. 

I like the way the "bad girls" dressed in the 50s.

Rizzo's pencil skirts, capri pants, cute cardigans and flat shoes. It's a look that I love.

So which style do you prefer?

Rizzo or Sandy?

Poodle skirts and saddle shoes aren't my favourite look of the 50s. Plus I really didn't like the Sandy transformation from "good girl" to vamp. 

It was all kinds of wrong - the shiny pants, high heels and the big hairstyle. It gave Danny Zuko chills but it made me think that someone made a mistake about what is considered 50s clothing.

What about the shade of Frenchie's hair? That pink is one of my favourite shades of pink.

By the way, why did so many people dislike 'Beauty School Dropout'?

The fashion of Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims

Excited! I love photography exhibitions, but when it's two iconic photographers work in the one place, woo hoo - I can't wait! As an bonus - the exhibition is free at the Art Gallery of NSW :)

The fashion of Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims features images by two photographers whose work during the late 20th century was pivotal to the progression of fashion imagery into the 21st century.

I have been a fan of German-born, Helmut Newton's work for many years. He is probably best known for his photos of strong, confident (often nude) women.

20 images by Newton from the 70s and 80s will be shown.

From her series Modern Lovers (1990), 30 of Bettina Rheims' images will be presented.

The young androgynous models she photographed for this series, were scouted off the street.

9 February – 19 May 2013
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney

Free admission

       

Retro Bike Baskets

In a surf store recently with my friends Kylie and Sarah, we saw a picnic basket that reminded us of the groovy bike baskets we had as kids.

I haven't really thought about these baskets as an adult but now I realise just how sweet they looked.

Audrey and dog friend looking very chic

  

Not a fan of the over the top flowers, but I like the colour and shape of this bike. All that is missing is a retro fake flower basket :)

Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong

January 3, 1905 - February 3, 1961

Anna May Wong was an American actress (third generation American born Chinese).

She starred in The Shanghai Express (1932) and The Thief of Baghdad (1924)

Born Wong Liu Tsong , she was the first Asian American to become an international star.

Her career spanned both silent and sound film, television, stage, and radio.