A morning walk......

I havent really done anything that is particularly vintage of late (although I am very much looking forward to my trip to Sydney's Rose Seidler house later this month) but I wanted to share some of the beautiful images on one of my morning walks in the riverside village of Koondrook....visual inspiration followed by a coffee at my favourite cafe - who could ask for anything more !

  

A railway retreat....

Located at the boutique Carriages Vineyard in Echuca, Victoria is this most exquisite of retreat destinations. I simply had to tell you about this darling little secret hidden gem! My friends, David and Lyndall established their award winning vineyard in the early 1990's, and at the same time restored three beautiful 1890's railway carriages as their very own distinctive home. Now they have added stunning boutique accommodation to their impressive list of accomplishments.

Nestled amongst the vines at The Carriages Vineyard this property offers relaxing, private & peaceful surrounds. The beautifully restored antique rail carriages capture the glory and charm of a bygone era, with all the modern convenience and comforts of today. Spacious yet intimate, the accommodation houses 3 double bedrooms, has a fully self- contained kitchen, a large outdoor decked area, with BBQ facilities. An idyllic location catering for all seasons.

Let me just say that this retreat is perfect, not only for historic train enthusiasts, but for anyone wanting a luxurious, peaceful escape from the stressful rat race. Take your copy of 50 Shades, grab your partner and get away for some "us" time. The chance to unwind with an award winning wine, a good book and the love of your life in the picturesque surrounds of the winery - and within proximity to the historic river port of Echuca -  is an experience second to none.... girls getaway weekends, men's retreats, couples retreats or small groups (up to 6 people) are well catered for...... isnt it always time for some 'timeout with that special someone'?

Burlesque Bargains Galore.....

If dressing to thrill is your bag baby, then you simply must attend this event......

Brought to you by the beautiful girls from HiBall Burlesque, this is what you can look forward to....

Hi Ball Burlesque presents The Burlesque Bargain Bonanza...

CLICK ON 'SEE MORE' FOR A PREVIEW OF ALL THE LOOT :)

Over the last 10 years, the Hi Ball ladies have accumulated enough costumes, props, gowns and supplies to support a whole army of showgirls. Our wardrobes ar...e screaming for mercy, so it’s time to make some room. We’ll be selling top quality stuff at crazy prices… Many new with tags, and all at a fraction of what we paid!


BRANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

What Katy Did, Leg Avenue, Siren Doll, Feather.com.au, Crystelle, Paper Doll Lingerie, Alannah Hill, Maria George, IC France Lingerie (USA), Wittner, and many genuine vintage 1950s pieces.


TYPES OF STUFF WE’RE SELLING:

Showgirl essentials - Bras, knickers, girdles, garters, stockings, gloves, shoes, pasties, hats, head pieces, rhinestone jewellery, eyelashes.

Costumes – Complete costumes, props, group costumes with multiple matching pieces.

Sewing and craft supplies – Feathers, rhinestones, sequins, beaded motifs, trims and decorations.

Vintage clothing – gowns, cocktail dresses, separates, jewellery, handbags, mostly 1950s vintage and many larger sizes.

Most items will be between $1 and $25… So don’t miss out, because a sale like this only comes around once every 10 years!

Living Doll - Miss July

Living Dolls are mothers, nurses, models, photographers, graphic designers, grandmothers, students, teachers - infact you name it, they come from every walk of life but have this one thing in common - they love and live vintage !

It is such a thrill for me to introduce our adorable Miss July - my beautiful, vivacious, stunning friend, Miss Bonnie Rose !

What does 'vintage' mean to you?

Vintage to me means style, glamour and sophistication

 What was it that first prompted your interest in vintage culture?

My interest was first sparked by watching the old movies on a Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. I adored the costumes from the musicals with Ginger Rodgers and the class of the Hitchcock femmes blew me away. I wondered how on earth would I be able to find clothes like these?

I also used to spend a lot of time with my Nanna who lived in country Victoria. I would go with her to her card playing afternoons where the ladies would all be dressed so immaculate and the afternoon teas were so amazing. The stories the ladies would share delighted me and inspired me to carry myself the same way. Even the way they spoke was beautiful and a favourite saying of my Nan’s was “Right you are”which I would hear her say over the telephone to her friends during conversations.

What is your favourite era, and do you 'live it' every day? In what ways?

 Oh...that’s a really hard question.

I love so many eras. My absolute favourite era is the 1930s. I love the opulence of the feathers, furs, velvet and sequins. I try to work something 30s inspired into my wardrobe, even if it is just a little hair clip or I even love to mix say a 30s silk jacket with a pair of jeans. Even by doing this it can then give me a 1970s look, so I really like to mix it up.

Tell us about your favourite item of vintage clothing, kitchenalia, music, furniture or whatever!

 My favourite item is my Nanna’s engagement ring. My husband had it resized for me when he proposed and I love it so much. I also have the most amazing blue velvet opera coat with a snow white Arctic Fox collar from the 30s and also a glorious 30s Ostrich feather cape that is lavender and light green it is so lush and amazing!

Can you share with us why vintage culture continues to hold such appeal for you?

 The vintage culture holds such appeal for me still now as it did when I was a young girl, because it allows me to express myself and my personality through fashion. For me it’s not just about one particular era. I love to dress how I am feeling or sometimes I may be feeling I need a lift so for example will pop on a little 50s wiggle day dress, some ballet flats and a little lippy and I feel super glam! Vintage allows me to express and celebrate my femininity more than modern fashion which can be quite masculine in style.

Do you have any tips for anyone starting out in the vintage scene?

Don’t be shy! Get out there and mingle, go to dances or events and meet people. The one thing that I found when coming onto the scene was how friendly and welcoming everybody was. Also, don’t be afraid to go all out with your vintage outfit and experiment with different eras.

Now is your chance to provide us with an overview of who you are and what you do.

Well, I run a Vintage Clothing and Styling E-Boutique on the internet (Bonnie Rose Vintage) and curate many Vintage Fashion shows around Australia. I can create a head to toe look for any Vintage Fashionista or Vintage enthusiast. I also work as Classic Vintage Pin Up model for Some Fancy Ladies creating a range of fun and flirty merchandise in true Pin Up style.

Finally, what or who inspires you and why?

Personal: My Nanna and mum for their class, style and strength.

Celebrity: Marilyn Monroe for her self awareness, Anne Margret for her style and sassy wit, Vivien Leigh for her sheer talent and beauty and last but not least Mae West actress, playwright, screen writer and sex symbol. She was a pioneer in her own right showing and inspiring women to stand up and be not just seen, but be heard as well. Also, her bawdy double entendres were killer!

Three interesting projects.... a book, a painting and some chairs

I have been busy with projects of the non sewing variety.......

A portrait of my children and I......had a dream a few months back of this, and finally got my act into gear and put it together.....quite happy with the result actually ! Love doing this style of painting...

Some newly recovered chairs. These belonged to my Grandmother and were very worn. The atomic style circles were a big risk, but once again, they came up a treat...very happy !

And this is an image from the children's book I have written...full of collages from bits and pieces around the house and in my material stash, it is the story of a tree's journey of self discovery and freedom...very fanciful, and also, I hope, very insightful for my kids and any others who may enjoy it in the future.

What projects have you been digging into this year???

Quote of the Month - July 2012

"In general, I think we suffer loss of soul when we fail to heed strong emotions and 'irrational' longings.

They are strong voices, and it would be odd if they didnt have something important to reveal or teach about living a soulful life.

Following through on nostalgia could lead us into folly, but not following through could lead to a worse place - a disenchanted life!"

From The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life, by Thomas Moore