Round she goes fashion market

Here's a few photos from the latest Round she goes fashion market Sunday before last at the fittingly retro Camberwell Centre. It was the busiest one so far, with crowds of people throughout the day and lots of great new stalls. I bought a fabulous 1960s black cocktail wiggle dress for myself. Look forward to posting some pictures when i finish a few little repairs.

The next fair is Sunday 4th of October - mark it in the diary! In the meantime check back soon for more info on the upcoming 'mini' Round she goes vintage market at a Melbourne central eco-fashion event in August.

4711 - hip like grandma & grandpa

My favourite fragrance at the moment - i love having a few on the go - is 4711, the original eau de cologne launched by the design house of Muelhens in 1792. It's a secret blend of essential oils with head notes of bergamont & citrus fruits, heart of lavender and rosemary and base notes of neroli (bitter orange blossom extract) which together make a fresh unisex fragrance.


I think it's the packaging i like best though, can't go past the colour combination of peacock blue and gold - think early seventies French riviera. Check out some great vintage TV commercials here.

Nike even released a 4711 design sneaker in 2007!

Rocco's hand made shoes

Age 14 saw me obsessed with sixties rock bands and I tried my best to hone my 'hippie rock' look. First stop was Rocco's shoe store on Station street, East Malvern, Melbourne where my older sister's arty boyfriend took my to get some bespoke black suede pull on pointy boots.

Rocco Bufalo is an Italian-born shoemaker who has been hand making shoes and boots for around 40 years. Now in his early seventies, his son is learning the craft of shoemaking to carry on the tradtion. Bands and artists such as The Strokes (Albert Hammond Jr seen here wearing said boots), Bon Jovi, David Bowie have been known to put in their own orders.

His style is very much fifites and sixties rock & roll, but you can be as crazy or classic as you like. First step is to browse the shop and pick out some favourites from the display shelves. Choose one pair for the heel you like (flat, medium, cuban heel maybe?), another for the leather (leopard print perhaps!) another for the style (pull on boots, zip up mod style, flat lace ups.....). Finally, Mrs Bufalo will take your shoe size by placing foot on a sheet of A4 paper and tracing it.

In a few weeks, for around $200, you'll have your own bespoke boots. I'm planning a visit soon so I'll be sure to post the final result - stay tuned!

Round she goes

Round she goes pre-loved fashion market is on Sunday 22nd March at Tivoli, 291 Dandenong road Prahran, 10am-3pm and entry is $2. Round she goes features second-hand designer clothing, vintage clothing and garments & jewellery by local designers. My stall will feature some of the more unusual and special items I've been collecting recently - hope you can make it.

Check out the website http://www.roundshegoes.com.au and join the facebook group. The market is held at the German Tivoli club in Prahran, so after some serious shopping you can enjoy a schnitzel and beer in the restaurant!

Hello Sailor vintage fair - THIS SUNDAY!

Come down to the Carlton Club on Bourke street and say hi....

Bringing back the Swatch

Most people don't wear watches any more, myself included up until recently, but I got sick of pulling out my mobile phone every time I wanted to check the time. I kept buying cheap second hand Swatch Watches from the 80s, maybe it was nostalgia, although mainly I actually like the design. The standard ladies is the perfect size for a small wrist and the early to mid eightes models are simple and minimalist - especially love the men's 'white out' model from 1987 pictured above - white face, band and hands. Might need keen eyesight to read the time but who cares, it's looks great. Keep an eye on my Ebay store for Swatch watches from time to time.

Ethically sound el-cheapo sandshoe

As much as i do love my cheap as chips $9.95 Big W sand shoes (as featured in my very first post), in my heart I know there's a reason they're $9.95 and it's probably not only because they're made of canvas and rubber. I've just discovered Gideon's shoes, an 'ethical sneaker brand' with working conditions in line with Australian standards of employment. Another reason to upgrade to Gideon's shoes - $5 from each pair (they retail $39.95) goes to HipHoperations desert project, a programme which aims to empower young indigenous people through music. They're also a fine looking unisex canvas shoe in a colour for every day of the week.

Buy Gideon's shoes online, or at General Pants.