Hello Sailor Vintage Fair February

Hello Sailor Vintage Fair is a monthly event at the Grace Darling Hotel in Collingwood. I'm a regular stall holder and in February I'll be there on Saturday 27th. This month I'm extending my 'pastels & nudes' section (currently I'm drawn to anything in sorbet tones, colours that don't suit me at all but love nonetheless)......see you there!

Rare bird of fashion - Iris Apfel

It probably sounds condescending, but I always get a thrill when i spot an older person with obvious or outlandish style. Not that I think being stylish is the domain of the young, just that it seems the older people get, the more conservative they become, and it seems that dressing for practicality and comfort is number one. So when i see someone in their 70s or 80s (and beyond) who has put some thought into their outfit, or dresses head to toe in pink, or just wears some crazy jewelry, I want to cheer!

Recently while flicking through Italian Vogue i saw an article on Iris Apfel, and despite being unable to read the article (despite approximately 5 years of Italian class at school) I saw the photo of what I want to be when i grow old and knew I had to investigate further.

At 88 Iris Apfel is presenting an exhibition from her own eclectic collection of 82 ensemble and over 300 accessories gathered over more than 50 years from flea markets, top designers and world travel. A former interior designer and owner of textile and design company Old World Weavers, Apfel was a socially prominent New York style setter in her younger years, mixing high end with low end, designer with vintage and ethnic to create her own exuberant style.

Nowadays she is a 'style doyenne' who regularly lectures on fashion and style, and whose exhibition at the Met was touted as one of the most important influences on the fall 2006 collections of many of the world's most influential designers.

You have to love someone who likes to call herself 'the world's oldest teenager' and describes her style as either 'zen simple or madly baroque'!

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....