A VERY ZOMBIE HOLIDAY

I know I post this up every year but hey it still makes me giggle.  So sit back and enjoy your christmas eve where ever you are and of course watch out for zombies.

Yay...more packages

As the year draws to a close I tend to realize that I still have gift vouchers from last Christmas that I need to spend.  No I'm not the gal that forgets she has them only to find them two months after they expire, rather I get vouchers for places where the choices are so overwhelming that it takes me for ever to decided on what I'll get. 

Thankfully I was finally able to decided on a few items from one of my favorite Queensland stores called Berserk.  You may not know who they are so I'll let you know they are a great team based in Bowen Hills in Queensland Australia who have been bringing some of the coolest items to our shores since 2001.  

Plus their service is amazing, I ordered my pieces at 5pm on monday afternoon with regular postage and had them in my hot little hands Friday lunch time.  I mean how cool is that, plus with the parcel ID I could even see when it landed in Melbourne and the postman had picked it up for delivery.  Over all I couldn't be happier.

Right now I guess your saying to yourself "Sure the service was great Tiki but what did you get???"  Well....I got all the items from the images on the left. Yep that's right I picked up a sailor dress, Ariel the mermaid singlet and cute sailor top.  Plus I also picked up a couple of magazines for a bit of quiet reading.   I was also so pleased to find that measurements displayed online were exactly what was delivered.  As I'm sure we all hold our breath the first time we try something on from a mail order purchase.  But yes everything fitted and I couldn't be happier.  So to Fleur and all your team a big THANK YOU as I now have some of the coolest things to wear to work.  

Gotta Love Vintage

Alright ladies its time to start counting those pennies you've been saving for the The Love Vintage Clothing Show & Sale at Sydney's Canterbury Racecourse Function Centre.  For some of us it means hopping a flight up to Sydney for the weekend (September 14th-16th) but when great fashion calls what else are we meant to do???? 

Come on what is a girl meant to do when she is presented with some of the best vintage dealers from all over Australia selling retro, vintage and antique clothing and accessories, antique and vintage jewellery, linen, lace and textiles and small collectables. Not to mention that there will be vintage fashions on the stage, lectures by guest speakers, workshops and demonstrations of vintage makeup and hairstyle techniques and other fabulous entertainment.  Ok I'm tired just thinking about how much I will have to fit in while there. 

So are you thinking about coming yet?  How about knowing that they are even doing a Mini-makeover – Before & After; with a lucky guest being chosen at the ‘Red Carpet’ event to receive this special treatment on Friday night!  Plus the Friday night ‘Red Carpet’ preview features the Best Dressed Parade with wonderful prizes to be won plus lots more entertainment.  So start working on those outfits ladies.

And for the low cost of Adults $14 (2 day pass $26 and 3 day pass $38) why wouldn't you be there?  You can even book online to saw yourself time waiting in lines when you could be shopping.  So grab your glad rags and we'll see you there in a few weeks.

Walking home and I saw....

You never know what you can find when your walking home from walk and last night was no exception.  I am a big fan of window shopping as the right window can inspire a new look or at the very least get you to walk into a store you may of never considered before. 

As we head towards the warmth of spring here in Melbourne we are starting to see the first burst of 'happy colors' hit our stores.  I am so glad to see so many pastels hitting our designs that breath new joy into a wardrobes.  These shots were taken as I walked past Forever New and its clear to see that there are still lots of vintage inspired pieces are coming back again with beautiful soft color touches such as the above felt 1940's style hats and quilted ballet flats.  I think a trip instore might be needed for me tomorrow.

Oh no there goes more of my wages *giggle*, so keep your eyes peeled.  

St Trinians

One of the Maiden's of St Trinian's

 Greetings all......

This morning I am feeling the need to have a bit of a retro geek moment.  Growing up I was lucky enough to be introduced to St Trinian's, nope not the 2007 version with Russell Brand.  Instead the classic movies from the mid 1950's which will always hold a special place in my heart.  Not only did it inspire me to learn all the lyrics to the theme song, start drawing the St. Trinian's logo all over my school books but in my mind it was a great way to see that we can all be accepted exactly as we are.

With all this mind I have begun my hunt for some of the classic books these movies were based on. 

Hurrah for St Trinian's (1948)
The Female Approach (1950)
Back to the Slaughterhouse (1952)
The Terror of St Trinians (1953)
 

If that fails maybe a day of movies.  The playlist looks like this

The Belles of St Trinian's (1954, the first film)
Blue Murder at St Trinian's (1957, the second film)
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960, the third film)
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966, the final film of the quartet)
The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980, with Maureen Lipman taking on the Joyce Grenfell role)
St Trinian's (2007)
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009)

So I thought I would share some images and the theme song with you all. 

Vintage Vixens Hair Workshop by Sideshow Annie

Have you ever fancied looking like Betty Grable or Betty Page well if your in melbourne I may have just the thing for you. The Amazing Sideshow Annie's Costume parlour is holding a Vintage Vixens Hair Workshop on Sunday November 27th from 10am till 1pm.

To help you get inspired I have listed some information for you so you can let your inner bombshell out.

"Come and enjoy some vintage tunes, meet new people and learn the difference between pin curls, victory rolls, pompadours and bee hives whilst surrounded by the gorgeous costumes and vintage accessories at Sideshow Annie Costume Parlour! You will need to bring with you some bobby pins, a rat tail comb and hairspray.

Sideshow Annie Costume Parlour
735 Nicholson Street, Carlton North, VIC 3054

Cost: $50 per person
Deposit required upon booking of $25

Only 12 places available.
Email sideshowannie@gmail.com to book,
or call on (03) 9380 5889 during our opening hours to book your place

details from Sideshow Annie website

Time to go shopping

Its no secret that I love vintage inspired homewares and my new online store that I'm in love with is Alice Jean's Soda Pop Shop. I first met the amazing Ms Alice Jean when we were models together up at Wintersun last year. A year later and a lot has changed as the online doors of her store open.

When you jump online you will be greeted with so many great treats its hard to know where to start. For me it was jumping straight to the bath and beauty page, I just can't help myself when I see such stunning items. For instance who can resist a soap that looks like a chocolate cupcake!!!! I will just have to remember its soap and not a snack for when I'm relaxing in the bath.

If beauty and bath products aren't your thing then check out the beautiful childrens clothing, books, games and handmade art and even car hire. So if your looking for something special to brighten your day or the day of someone you know make a trip to Alice Jeans Soda Pop Shop.

Tarantula Clothing Company

Are you like me? Often looking in that wardrobe and thinking I have nothing to wear. Yep its a common problem us ladies often have. However I have recently found a new clothing label that will answer your prayers. The great team at Tarantula Clothing Company are hear to answer to all your sexy prayers.

If you haven't heard of the Tarantula Clothing Company its the brain child of David C. and partner Albert R. David is the main designer and pattern-maker. Everything is hand crafted in Downtown Los Angeles. All pieces are 100% originals. Many pieces are considered collectibles as once they run through fabric it is not guaranteed they will find the same fabric ever again. No other company is quite like them and if you buy a piece of tarantula you’ll know why! Tarantula continues to work with only 3 members of their crew, who live the lifestyle and so should you!

So I highly suggest that you jump online and have a look at their stunning designs, hey its almost christmas so why not treat yourself.

On the Bookshelf

Due to my many hours on public transport going to and from work I have been able to pop in my head phones, tune out and read some great books. Yep I'm the gal singing to herself hiding behind books with pink covers on the trams.

This week I have been indulging in a great read called Dreaming of Dior by Charlotte Smith, and yes I do love the fact the front cover is bright pink!!!

A Bit of a Book Description from Haper Collins

Charlotte Smith has had more than her fair share of fabulous dresses and adventures. Born in Hong Kong and raised in the United States, she lived life to the full in London, Paris and New York before falling in love with Australia and discovering she had inherited a priceless vintage clothing collection from her American Quaker godmother, Doris Darnell.

Then the boxes started arriving, with more than three thousand treasures dating from 1790 to 1995, from originals by Dior, Chanel and Balenciaga to a pioneer woman′s daintily mended best dress.

But when she unearthed her godmothers book of stories about the dresses and the women who wore them, the true value of what she had been bequeathed hit home. This wasn′t a mere collection of beautiful things, it was a collection of life. Women′s lives. Tiny snapshots of our joys and disappointments, our entrances and exits, triumphant and tragic.

Personally I find this book a great read as its part history and part inspiration. For most of us lovely ladies our dresses hold memories of tears, joy, youth; some even hold the memories of first kisses and first heartbreak. After reading the 'Secret lives of Dresses' by Erin McKean this true life tale from Charlotte makes me smile with every page I turn. So please put of your favorite frock, head to the bookstore and get reading.

1940's fashion - A Vintage Guide to Glamour

The modern world holds many wonderful things, the internet for starters. Ok so that's a pretty broad statement, but dear readers sometimes you stumble on some rare gems of wisdom that make you glad for places like youtube. It was on one of my many 'surfing' sessions that I came across this following clip.

Enjoy ladies

Art on a budget

Ok so I woke up bitten by the art and craft bug this morning. So after a much needed planning session and a perfect excuse to have Bavarian Apple pancakes it was time to put on my 'arty' hat and create.

Now if your like me you have a lot of wall spaces and a limit on just how much you can spend at your local art gallery. So with this in mind it was time to get creative.

My answer to this......use what I've got. I like to collect patterns of vintage clothing so why not make this a cute feature in my home.

What you will need
- Photo frames.
- Patterns
- Glue
- White paper - used as a backing sheet
- Colour Photocopier - I went to my local Officeworks

First thing was to hunt around my craft room to find my box of patterns. For this project I've used ones I've collected over the years from Vogue when they have re-released their designs. The really cool things about these are the great images and they have a date of release on them.

I've gone for plain black certificate frames that I picked up at a stores closing down sale. In fact I managed to get a box of 2o frames for $5 so this really reduces the costs of this project. However you could use any frame that you desire which suits your home.

Then a quick trip to get color photocopies of each design, an even quicker bit of cut and paste and there you have it. Once all stuck down and in frames, simply hang and stand back to admire your work. Easy as!!!! The great thing is with this as the images are just photocopies you can change them with any new pattern you find or when ever the mood changes you.

For these designs I've hung them in age order starting with 1949 all the way up to 1957. Because of the cheap frames the total project cost me under $10 for all of the art work and materials!!!!! See you can have amazing art on a very small budget.

Hello Sailor Vintage Fair

Right so this month is going to be expensive but.... if your not able to make it to the Way we Wear fair you might be able to make it to this months Hello Sailor Vintage Fair being held at the hub of State Of Design Festival, Melbourne Central Shot Tower on Fri 22nd, 10am-10pm, Sat 23rd, 10-6pm and Sun 24th July 10-6pm.

Hello Sailor offers quality vintage items and recycled designer stock in good condition, at reasonable prices. This Event will specialise in 1950's - 1980's wares. The event will have 25 stalls over 3 levels.

Half of the stall holders will be selling vinyl and the other half vintage wares.

We have some of Melbourne's best vinyl collectors selling:

Blue Grass, Doo Wop, 60's Surf Garage , Soul Blues, Swamp Blues, Rhythm' n 'Blues, 60's French Pop, Tropicalia, Kraut Rock, 60's - 70's Hard Psych, Psyched Funk, Hard Rock, Glam Rock, Disco, Latin Jazz, Mariachi, Psychobilly, Punk Rock, New Wave, Post Punk, Folk Rock, Country, Industrial, Noise, Experimental, Hardcore, Doom core, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Sludge Metal, Black Metal and more

The White Wedding Dress

Sure its not quiet August yet but already I'm planning a road trip to Bendigo to the Bendigo Art Gallery for the White Wedding Dress exhibition.

"Wedding dresses also unlock memories and awaken emotions. Lovingly preserved, sometimes by several generations, their fabric and form conjure up the physical presence of the bride on one of the most momentous days of her life and form a tangible link between past and present. This exhibition highlights the histories of the dresses, revealing fascinating details about the lives of the wearers and offering an insight into their circumstances and fashion choices." from Bendigo Art Gallery

According to the website the exhibition comprises over more than 40 wedding outfits, including those of bridegrooms, alongside a selection of accessories including wreaths, veils, hats, shoes, corsetry and lingerie. Reproductions of contextual material, such as wedding photographs, will be shown alongside exhibits to assist in telling the story of the wearer. Also on display in the exhibition will be gowns by celebrated designers, including Vera Wang, Norman Hartnell, Christian Dior, Zandra Rhodes, Lanvin and Lacroix. Also included are sumptuous wedding dresses worn by celebrities Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani.

And we all know I'm a sucker for a vintage wedding dress but this exhibition will be well worth the 2 hour drive from my little house in Melbourne. Not to mention I will have attended the stunning The Way We Wear Fair the weekend prior and will still be floating on a dream of lace and taffeta.

Hopefully I can also help organize a group tour; probably with the VVLCG (Victorian Vintage Lingerie and Clothing Group) I'm part of, so if your interested please let me know and we can make a day of it all you vintage lovers.

Admission fees apply for this exhibition

The Way We Wear

Its time to check the bank account, dress up in your favorite winter vintage garb and head to the 11^th Melbourne ‘The Way We Wear Fair’; which looks like the biggest ever. Not sure what your going to find well here’s a hint with dealers from all over Australia you’ll find vintage, designer and retro clothing for sale plus fashion accessories, jewellery, buttons and bows and linen and lace, fashion ephemera such as patterns and women’s magazine PLUS for the first time they are including retro and vintage home wares from the 1940’s to 1980’s.

Plus, as with each of these amazing fairs these a theme, this year Fairgoers will enter the foyer of the Town Hall to see the first part of the ‘Dressed for the Voyage’ Exhibition with original ‘Titanic’ era costume and the ‘stories’ that go with each of the costumes. On the stage, there will be the second part of the exhibition.

If that wasn’t enough at approximately 2pm on Saturday and Sunday there will be the ‘Dressed for the Voyage’ FASHION PARADE with original costume be modelled and the story about who would have worn the outfit aboard the ‘Titanic’.

Want to know more - then visit:

www.dressedforthevoyage.co & www.titaniccentenarydinneraustralia.com

SATURDAY 23 & SUNDAY 24 JULY 2011 See you there!!!!!

On the road

Its almost the end of the month which means its time to find a fabulous frock and get ready for the Inaugural Melbourne Vintage Clothing, Jewellery & Textiles Show. What could be better than 3 days featuring over 60 exhibitors from all over Australia, selling vintage and antique clothing and accessories, antique and vintage jewellery, linen, lace and textiles and small collectables.

Apart from the fantastic exhibitors selling all manner of fantastic gems the show will also feature a presentation of vintage fashions, lectures by Guest Speakers, Swing Dancers, Demonstration of Vintage Makeup and Hairstyle Techniques and other fabulous entertainment - see program page for more details.

When: 27 - 29th May 2011

Fri 27th May 2011 5.30pm - 9pm

Sat 28th May 2011 9.30am - 5.30pm

Sun 29th May 2011 10.00am - 4.00pm

Where: EXHIBITION HALL, MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS

Epsom Road, Ascot Vale VIC 3032

Tickets available at the door

Single Day

Adults $14, Pensioner $10, Children 10-16yrs $5, Under 10yrs free, Family $30

Two Day Ticket

Adults $24, Pensioner $16, Children 10-16yrs $8

Hope to see you all there!!!!

Quick Note

Just a quick note as I head out to meet the Vintage Shopping Society in the brisk Melbourne Spring. Today we hit chapel street, Melbourne CBD and maybe Brunswick street. The mission is to find some vintage race wear for the upcoming race season here in melbourne. So hats, hats and more hats. Fingers crossed we find a bargain!

RetroStar Finds

So I thought I might show you some of the great finds that I picked up at Retrostar last weekend.
First one was the cute cheongsam, its a form-fitting, knee-length dress with a mandarin collar and slit on the side. It needs a few stitches here and there, as well as a few press studs but well worth the $10 investment. skirt. It needs a few press studs replaced and a stitch or two in the back but for $10 its worth the effort.
Then there were these two mid calf length 'tartan' mid weight skirts. Great additions for autumn or spring as they can be worn with a range of tops and even knee high boots. Again at $5 each a great find, or two.Next came these two mid weight tartan style mid calf length skirts.

I also found this cute early 1960's print dress. I will need to fix a couple of buttons but otherwise perfect.


And because I can't go past a nice slip this one at $5 also had to come home.


I even managed to find for $10 this modern version of a classic style dress. This one may actually make it to the races this season....maybe with a few sparkly additions.

Star Sale

What do you get when you combine the following

1. A bunch of retro vintage shoppers
2. A warehouse sale
3. A sign saying nothing over $10
4. Wallets with a bunch of $10 notes

Well most of the retro/vintage shoppers of Melbourne also had the same idea, which was shop like a crazy person while you can get some great deals. Especially since the prices were $10 dress/jackets, $5 skirts/shirts/pants, $1 rings/sunglasses.

So after a lunch of yummy food and wonderful coffees we headed to one of the backstreets of Brunswick in search of new/old finds to make us smile. The interesting thing about this shopping trip is that all the members of the group are into different eras and styles. Including 1940, 1950, 1960 and 1970's plus the ideas of mod, classic, alternative.

Which meant as a team of 7 we could go through the racks and not only find things for ourselves but as a team could grab pieces we thought would fit/suit others.

So what was the result? Well I picked up a winter jacket, 2 wool tartan skirts, 1 blouse, 1 silk slip, 1 silk dress, 1 wool turtle next and 2 rings. Pictures to come so you can see them all.