Nora Finds

<Meet My Dealers> Lady Vintage Wears

This month’s Meet My Dealers post is a special one. First, because Lady Vintage Wears is a local business based here in Australia (Gold Coast to be exact). Second, because there are two owners and they are sisters! They are so lovely, and I’m really excited to introduce you to them! They have recently contribute a beautiful Erstwilder brooch for my mental health awareness giveaway, and I was tempted to keep it for myself!

I chatted to the beautiful Lizzy and Emily about their love of vintage and the shop.

What vintage stereotype you loathe most? 

Lizzy: That all vintage dresses are small (like tinny weeny). Yes, many of them are small (women were physically smaller back then) but, there are some 30” plus waist dresses out there you just need to know where to find them. 

What vintage decade is your favorite to wear?
Lizzy: 40’s and 50’s - I especially enjoy it because I sing with a swing/jazz band and love dressing the part when we gig. 
Emily: I really like wearing looks from the 60’s because of the great patterns and colours - plus my hair has been short and pixie like recently so suits the era perfectly. 

What vintage decade is your favorite to sell?
Lizzy: There is something special about the moment someone walks out of your dressing room in a fabulous 40’s or 50’s dress - you just know the have to have it when it looks that good on someone. 
Emily: We recently had a stunning 30’s inspired gown with velvet flocking which a young lady bought to wear as her wedding reception dress. That was a very special moment. 

When did you decide to start a vintage business?

Lizzy: I have been collecting vintage clothing and home wears since the 90’s - as my first home was totally decked out with original furniture and nick-knacks from the 1950’s. Plus I was into the rock and roll dancing scene for a number of years while living in Melbourne and the Gold Coast. As long as I can remember, I have been a stall holder a various markets and fairs around the place, even dabbling with items on consignment in a local vintage store in the early 2000’s. I have a ‘normal’ job in the day as a sales assistant in a women’s fashion store. Emily: The first time the idea came up to start a vintage clothing stall was while my sisters and I were walking through the streets of Paddington browsing the local antique stores. Lizzy said how one day she would love to just have a small hobby business selling vintage clothing, I remember saying to her what a great idea that was and put it down to something that would happen ‘one day’. Later that year Lizzy was talking about the upcoming Brisbane Vintage Fashion Fair where she mentioned again that how great it would be to look at selling some stuff as vendors at the fair. I had also been selling items on ebay for the last 6 months with stock waiting to still be listed. So from there we decided to gather up our combined stock, price, steam, sort and hang everything we had and so ‘Lady Vintage Wears’ was born. I have a regular job in the week working on the Gold Coast in the community sector with The Smith Family - a national children’s charity helping young Australian’s in need reach their full potential through education. 

Name two of your ultimate vintage muses (one vintage, one modern but wearing vintage) and tell us why.
Lizzy: Doris Day had that real ‘girl next door’ look but could still look stunning in an evening dress. Reece Witherspoon always looks very polished when she wears vintage couture on the red carpet. 
Emily: My vintage muse would have to be Elizabeth Taylor, classic beauty, always immaculate, worked what she had despite the decade or her age. Plus wasn’t her jewellery collection just fabulous? I also really love Drew Barrymore’s style, I love that when she commits to a vintage look (she really rocks 1920’s and 1960’s in my opinion) she totally commits: hair, makeup, accessories, the lot. Love it. 

Some people are still scared about wearing vintage. Is there any tips you’d give them to start wearing vintage?
Lizzy: Go to a local fair and see what the stall holders have to offer, tell them what you like and they are sure to have heaps of suggestions. Also check out the other patrons at the event, because they were just like you at one point, you have to start somewhere. 
Emily: Wear what makes you feel good, if it is a cardigan from the 80’s or a ballgown from the 1930’s, fashion is about expressing who you are. An easy way to get into vintage is to get some ideas from the web either through blogs (like Nora’s ) or even google searches can be a great way to generate some inspiration. Start small, raid Mum or Nan’s jewellery box - you can never have to many brooches or earrings!

What do you think is the biggest advantage in wearing vintage? What about in wearing reproductions?
Lizzy: As so many of the original vintage pieces have SUCH a small waist, that is really where the reproduction items allow women of all sizes the chance to wear something from an era gone by. Plus as a women with curves myself, I find it hard to find original items to wear, so enjoy the reproduction items as much as our customers 
Emily: There are so many great things about wearing vintage, in many cases you will not see anyone else wearing your garment (especially if you have a piece from 1950’s or earlier). If you are a savvy shopper you can pick up items for less than you would pay for a brand new item in the stores today. It’s a great way to experiment with different makeup looks - have you always dared to wear a bold red lipstick or rock an Edie Sedgwick eye look? Well when you are wearing vintage, you can! Finally the craftsmanship of many of these pieces have already stood the test of time, with vintage lovers the world over still wearing these wonderful garments even today. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed the interview, and please check our their lovely shop on Facebook. Though they are quite new, they have really great stocks. If you live around Gold Coast, please check them out as well! And with that, I’m off to Japan! There will be some new outfit posts as I’m away so don’t forget to come back and check :)

Love,

NoraFinds

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