Exciting news for the Brisbane fashion-lover

A new store is about to open in the shiny new Wintergarden complex: Designer Archives.

Designer Archives is a depository of designer clothing and accessories for those of us who might lust after a Chanel 2.55 and are happy to accept a version from a season or two ago.

The brain child of three sisters who have sourced selected wares from all over the world; auctions, stylists and film wardrobes. Designer Archives will stock pieces that are from previous seasons and items that were immediate classic sell-outs at the time.

Prices will reflect that these are no longer fresh items, but that they are still designer. If you want Chanel pumps you pay for them, even if it is at a quarter of the price. It’s a kind of high-end vintage op-shop in the manner of vintage stores or flea markets you find in European capitals, where you never know what genuine treasures you might stumble upon. They will also be opening an online store in the next few weeks.  

I cannot afford the latest designer wear. However, I have learned from the purchase of the one current designer piece in my wardrobe – a pair of vintage Bally heels – that provided you choose well, the investment is well worth it. They are amongst the most comfortable shoes in my entire collection, despite being 3inch strappy stilettos. Though I may not technically be able to afford even the cut-price wares at Designer Archive, I suspect I will become a regular visitor because when I spot those Blahniks that I fall instantly in love with, I will be happy to lay down my credit card to make both my feet and my wardrobe happy.

Designer Archives in Wintergarden. If a city-based friend checks it out, I’d love to know what you think! 

Designers for Target: Roberto Cavalli

Some people knew this back in August, but for the majority of us, it’s news: the latest designer for Target Australia has been announced and it’s a bit exciting.

Roberto Cavalli has designed a 42 piece capsule collection for us delighted Aussies. It is to be released online and in store on 31 October 2012. It has also just been announced that Cavalli will be making the trip out down here himself to unveil the collection at Target Bondi Junction on the 31^st.

The range will be even more affordable than Target’s previous design collaborations, with only one piece over $99. So the big decision: to shop or not to shop?

Exciting ASOS news for the Aussie shopper

This might get some of my internet-shopping-addict friends excited. ASOS is soon to release two  Australia-first collections; a beach collection and a salon collection.

It appears Australians drop a ton of money on ASOS. So to thank us as a nation for our monetary commitment and because we have opposite seasons to the ones being spruiked by the main UK site, Australia is getting a preview collection, available to Aussie customers before anyone else in the world.

The collections are out 8 of October, but you can get a sneak peak online and also register for the first notifications.  

I don’t normally buy through ASOS, though I have been tempted in the past. One or two of the items in this Australia-first collection might make me change my mind. 

I want those earrings!

Why you should buy vintage and second hand - pt. 2

The excitement of the perfect fit.

Op shopping is always a game of chance. The chance you're going to spot something you like, the chance it is in your price range and the biggest chance of all – that it will Fit you.

When I take friends op shopping for the first time they struggle with one and three of these. The way to beat chance number one is to not be looking for anything specific and broaden your mind to what you would and wouldn't wear Price is often not an issue unless you start looking at original 1950's prom dresses and the way to beat chance number three is ...compromise.

A lot of vintage clothing has sizes but not all. Really anything pre-1970's you're lucky to get a size. So much of it was hand made or made-over the notion of it being a size 8 or a size 12 is laughable. You have to know your size, hold up the clothes and guess if it is worth trying on. Sometimes you get it horribly wrong, like I did one day when I dreamt I could fit into a leather mini dress … that poor dead-cow-tube never stood a chance …

Other times you try something on that is so obviously too big but you love it anyway and you will it to work. I did this once in Copenhagen. I'd been travelling for 5 weeks and worn nothing but jeans. There was a party that night and I was determined I would wear a dress. I could have made it easy on myself and gone to H&M but Copenhagen has such amazing vintage shops there was really no question. Working within my travel backpack and budget parameters I fell in love with a dress that was certainly a size 14 on my size 8 frame I bought a belt for it an voila! Instant outfit. I still have the dress today and I still wear it with the same belt; it is mightily comfortable.

A couple of weeks later, the dress (left) gets a second airing at a random French guy's birthday party. No full length photos available with me looking halfway sober.

For the record – I was the only person at that crowded party not in jeans and sneakers. I felt pretty silly at first but some charming Danish students persuaded me otherwise

Then there is that occasional, wonderful moment when you try on a dress, a pair of pants or a top and … it fits! It fits perfectly, like it was made for you. Like you could rewind the decades and have the same gasp moment when the dress maker brings out the finished cocktail dress. This happened to me late last year at the Brisbane Vintage Fashion and Homewares Fair when I found this 1960's cocktail dress. The moment when a dress fits so well you have to buy it.

For me, the joy of finding that almost miraculous perfect fit in amongst a rack of clothes at a second hand store is so much more rewarding than having it at Target or CUE or Dogstar (as much as I love them). I know what size I am in all these stores and if there is a problem I just pick out a different option. There is no other option when vintage shopping. You either take it or leave it but if you're lucky enough the dress will help you decide.

Naughty but nice accessories

Damn you buy nothing new month!

I hate you already!

I rarely buy myself jewellery and then even more rarely do I spend a decent amount of money on it. I don't know why, but I haven't yet formed the habit of buying 'investment pieces' (Vogue terminology).

So it ironic that one of the very few times I am prepared to put my credit card on the line I am in Buy Nothing New Month. Stupid buy nothing new ….mumble mumble, expletive etc.

Lochers, a Parisian jeweller make beautiful 'naughty but nice' pendants. To look at from a distance they're girly and pretty and cute, but then you get up a little closer and they say things like;

and...
I love 4, 10, 15 and 23. So maybe it is a good thing I have to pause on purchasing for a month. This gives me extra time to decide...

Buy Nothing New October

I get a particular financial newsletter in my inbox every fortnight. I received the newsletter last Friday 30 September, opened it and 3 minutes later had signed on for Buy Nothing New October.

I'm not sure exactly why or how this happened but some part of my brain that has superior control over my motor functions clearly thought it was a good idea. I am trying to organise my finances, set long term goals and get my life sorted for 2012, so in theory at least the 'pledge' – yes, pledge – that I have taken is a good idea.

Buy Nothing New Month according to their website is:

Buying Nothing New is not about going without, nor is it Buy Nothing New Never.

It’s about taking October to reassess what we really need, think about where the stuff we buy comes from (finite resources), where it goes (landfill), and what our alternatives are.

It is about conscientious consumption and by not spending on stuff we don’t need, increasing our savings for the things we do need.

You can still buy essentials such as food, drink and medicines. If you want anything else you need to ' beg, borrow, barter, swap or buy secondhand'. It's a great concept actually, though I don't suppose retails want it to take off. We all do tend to buy too much 'stuff' and this is about taking a month off from that, taking the time to realise just how much money you spend on things you don't necessarily need and hopefully saving a bit of moolah.

The only problem for me if that I don't buy that much new anyway. I op-shop and vintage shop. The challenge for me is to not be consumerist in the Paddington Antiques Centre or my local favourite Endo's. That's harder for me than it might appear because I am always seeing fabulous second hand and vintage finds that I want to buy. But no, if I can't put away my consumerist tendencies for one month then I have some problems.

Buy Nothing New Month – a great idea and a good personal challenge.

That being said, I do need some an A5 ring binder folder to organise my papers … if anyone has a spare going begging?

For all of you t-shirt fans out there…

…and I know there are a lot of you. It’s so wonderful to find a fun, fabulous t-shirt that’s a little unique.

You can’t get any more unique than these.

Made In The Now is a design project that releases a new t-shirt design every day, inspired by the news of the day. The last week has seen designs commemorating the last bull fight to be held in Spain, the appointment of a Town crier to the city of Liverpool for the fist time in 200 years and the death of a Hungarian pensioner after they won a dumpling eating competition.
It’s gorgeous and the designs are clean and fresh. If you like t-shirt or even a bit of couture satire, you should check it out.

Oh – and an added incentive – the t-shirts are only available for purchase for 24 hours. After that, there is no going back. You can’t purchase yesterday’s news, only todays.

T-shirt for 29 September 2011.

Why you should buy vintage and second hand - pt. 1

Today I started a new job. It was my first corporate job in 3 years to Ever. I spent a whole weekend for shopping for acceptable work clothes. My last 2 jobs were in a coffee shop and a delightfully relaxed arts organisation, so it's been jeans and t-shirts for 3 years. So I went out and bought pants, knits shirts - new and from some of my favourite op shops - but that's probably going to feature in a later blog blurb.

What I want to rave about right now, reason to buy vintage no. 1. is quality bargains.

Last night I decided what I was going to wear to day 1 of new job and I put it out. I was that excited / prepared. Very day 1 grade 8 it was. I had a new navy (love navy!) CUE dress and old vintage heels. I love my new dress but I love these shoes so much more.

They're Bally - a luxury leather goods brand founded in the 1850's in Switzerland and still among the highest-quality leather goods brands you can buy in the world. I bought them in a London vintage shop for £25. More than I've spent on most of my op-shop / vintage purchases.

They're navy (love navy!) 100% leather made in Italy and everything about them is high-quality, designed, thought-out, made to last. You can tell, when you put them on that they are beautifully made shoes. It's not just about how they look - and they look stunning. Or the details, such as the snake skin feature on the heels where no one can really see it. What sells it for me is that after 9 hours in them, getting up and down, many flights of stairs and walking to the coffee shop, they still felt great. No blisters, no aching feet like I would get during a drunken night out. I am a big heels person but I've spent the last 4 years of my life in flats. I was really worried about how I'd do in heels this first day because I didn't think it would be a good first impression to change my shoes half way through they day.

But my beautiful, quality Bally shoes were the best choice. I just wish I could duplicate them and have an ever-lasting pair.

My vintage Bally heels. Because I sure as hell can't afford a new pair.