You Guys Will Probably Like The Clothing Exchange

Good thing I never pretended to have my finger on the pulse with this blog, because Oh My Godfather am I behind the times when it comes to all the hep-cat things happening Down Town.

Take, for instance, The Clothing Exchange. This nifty little enterprise has been running for quite some time now, but it took a lazy leafing through the Age last week (and i think it was an old copy of the Age…tragic) for me to get on the bandwagon with this thing. Which I am now doing.

Stakeout: The Way We Wear Fair, Williamstown, 14 – 15 June 2008

I was seriously looking forward to this 1940s-themed fair, as will be seen from the total gush-fest I posted last week.

So, now for the question – was it everything I hoped it would be?

Zip Tips: Factoids on Zips in Vintage Clothes

Oh, how I slaved to think of a pun on ‘zip’ . Sadly, I failed, so we’re stuck in a pun-free zone for today. Fortunately I managed to work the word ‘factoid’ into the title to make up for this sorry, sorry lack.

Also, I have learned that the creator of what became the modern day zip was named Whitcomb Judson, so the world of zips hasn’t been a total loss as far as gags are concerned.

Anyway, here’s a brief and hackneyed history of the zip

Go See ‘Black in Fashion’ at the NGV – You Can Thank Me Later

Every time I make the effort to go to the NGV, I think ‘this is great – why don’t I do this more often?’ (I go through the exact same process every time I make soup or visit an aquarium).

And at the moment, vintage lovers in Melbourne should be particularly keen to make an excursion to our state gallery in order to see an exhibition entitled ‘Black in Fashion: From Mourning to Night’.

Stakeout: Yooralla Bargain Shop, Carlton

This op, located at 135-136 Elgin Street Carlton, was canned in the Treasure Hunter’s Guide (THG) way back when in 2005. I can’t remember exactly what it said, but it was something along the lines of ‘you won’t find any treasure here’.

Now, I’m not sure if they just went on a bad day or matters have improved in the last three years (aside: do you sometimes refer to the THG and think – ‘hang on, this was written three years ago – can it be trusted?’ I do) but this op ain’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Storing Vintage Clothes: The Nightmare Continues

I actually did finish sorting and cleaning my clothes recently (finally, hooray, champagne corks popping, dancing in the streets etc).

Then I remembered. Lurking in the back room, in a shipping container as old as the hills, was a bunch of clothing that I had nae even cast eyes upon since 2003.

So I ventured out the back, and, gingerly, lifted the lid on this Crate of Wonders. And froze upon witnessing what lay within.

Rescuing a 1950s Lace Dress From Certain Doom

I was basically shivering with happiness when I found a lavender coloured lace dress from the 1950s with matching opera coat for $6 at my local op shop (which is  deserving of a post all to itself).

In fact, a woman sauntered over to me as I held it over my arm and said, ‘wow, that’s a great ensemble, have you tried it on yet? Does it fit?’ to which I replied ‘one false move and I’m breaking out the mace, gleaner!’ (or actually ‘yes…now be gone with you’, before disappearing into the racks of clothing vampire style…or maybe I just murmured something and slunk off, either way).

OK, the taffeta opera coat is a bit matronly – it looks a bit odd, really, and doesn’t seem like it would be wearable today, unlike the dress, despite the fact that they were made for each other. Strange how some things get better with age while others are left looking like relics of a bygone era.

Anyway, the dress is awesome. The workmanship is beautiful; it has an old style metal zip, it’s lined and the shape (which doesn’t really come through in the photo) is unbelievable. Sure, it takes me about twenty minutes heaving like a Bulgarian weightlifter in the Olympic finals to get the dangblasted thing on and the zip done up, but That’s The Point; you’re supposed to pose and perhaps sip on a mint julep whilst wearing this thing, not attempt to do something ridiculous like slouch or use the ‘powder room’.

Alas, all was not well with my new find.

Media Watch: Dita Von Teese, Thandie Newton and Forbes Talk Vintage

I am sick as a hound dog at the moment (slight exaggeration), so today’s won’t be a long post. However, I am once again astounded by the extent to which vintage is making the headlines…

1. Dita Von Teese has been interviewed in the New York Times and talks about her various vintage collections – this is really an insight into decadence.

Rich Dudes Reviving Halston and Ossie Clark: What Gives?

The more I think about the relaunches of iconic fashion labels Halston and Ossie Clark, the weirder the whole situation seems.

Originally, this post was just going to be ‘blah blah blah, what do you reckon about the clothes – too 70s, too literal, or awesome?’ but I think these relaunches raise meatier issues than that.

The Perils of Dating Handmade Clothes

Chloe and Friend are looking at a high waisted, sleeveless apricot coloured dress with a full skirt, in some kind of heavy synthetic fabric (not poly) which Chloe purchased at a market in Sydney where it had been labelled ‘1950s’.

Chloe: My guess is that it’s 1960s, given the high waist/full skirt combo.

Friend: Yeah, but you never know with handmade stuff.

Chloe: Well I know it isn’t earlier – it has a plastic zip. And that colour is fairly 60s reminiscent.

Friend: Hmmmm. Check this out