A Pot of GOLD for Vintage Dress Collectors..

I hit upon a pot of gold today-hidden in a box well under under a rail of clothes in the back of an op shop-heaps of vintage new metal YKK zippers in their packets. 111 to be exact, and at total bargain at only 0.10 cents each.

There are so many colours! Sizes from 20cm-60cm these are going to be perfect for fixing up my broken zippers on old dresses as never been able to replace a metal zipper with a plastic one. Some have the metal painted too which is a nice touch!

All bundled together-why do I have hundreds of elastic bands everywhere until I need them and have to resort to hair bands as not a single elastic band in sight?
20cm zippers
25 cm zippers
30cm zippers (left) 40cm zippers (right)
35cm zippers
46cm zippers (left) and 56 cm zippers-just pink
50cm zippers -3 colours and 60cm zippers-only 2 colours

If anyone has just spotted the perfect zip to repair your beloved vintage dress then just get in touch :)

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO- This is just what blogs are for, my partner just gave me a weird look-boys don't understand- despite my comparison with vintage car parts.

Cinderella shoes for the ball!

Its been one of those weeks, I think the stress of Christmas is making everyone a little on edge and once again a case of Chinese whispers gone bonkers has made my working life a little stressful. Some women can be really mean, and I fell a little like the lamb being taken to slaughter because I tend to speak up, I probably need to learn to shut my mouth on occasion but thats easier said than done. However after having such a great morning on my vintage hunt it was hard to drag me down to the school girl level so have given up reasoning with the unreasonable and decided to rise above it all as around here karma seems to win over. So just looked forward to getting home and having a good look at my finds from the morning.

Although these will never fit my big feet, they are just a piece of art! 1950s Cinderella shoes-looks like they where actually nicked from Cinderella herself and just look so pretty and girlie! Maybe I will go to the ball this year (although not currently aware of there being one) but maybe will go bare foot and just carry these around instead.

Next up found a heap of gems-firstly a long blue 50s dress, and a patterned 50s dress both with metal zippers! I also loved this lacy pink number with huge sleeves. One of the best vintage stores I have been to had a garage sale so had lots of goodies. The guy that runs the store tends to end up with all the awesome mens shirts that my partner turns down and he appreciates them more anyway. I am always so amazed with his stock, its in Mullumbimby down an ally from the main street, called Retropolis although its small, its packed with colourful, eccentric, interesting things and a must to visit if in the area.
My next find was from a cult British designer-who dressed Kylie! I always love being able to get good info on the labels I find, you get to learn something new each time, its just such a shame there is so little information on the Australian fashion labels.
Next this is the cutest vintage jumper covered in terry toweling seagulls! Ticks all the boxes when I want to look a bit nautical!
This is one of those really cool maxi dresses,that would be actually wearable if made it into a shorter dress. I am thinking of getting the bottom half and gathering it into a second layer. I don't usually like altering vintage, especially with labels but the silver fabric is just so amazing and think it will really look nice as a mini. If I do alter stuff I try and do it well and use blind hems etc to try and do the clothes justice.
Next something I have wanted for long time-some 60s knitted short shorts! In black too-such a bonus!
and more terry cloth fun with this little 80s top with cute pink buttons.
Well now I can be a little bit at easy as not many work days left till my mum gets here! Its so much more exciting than my Christmas and birthday combined and am counting down the days. Although she has still sent me a few boxes of goodies so excited to see whats in there!

Got all my auction items all ready to go for Jan so can have a few weeks off which is the first time in a year I have done that! Ready to start fresh with new strong garment rails and spirit to match-roll on 2011.

Winners of comp! Sorry so late!

Well finally, sorry for the delay, I am about to draw the winners of the my Christmas giveaway! All new posts and followers have been added. Now I have seen other people do this and photograph the winners, however I really don't have the best hand writing, and probably spelled half the names wrong so I am just going to be writing them down as they are drawn so you will just have to trust me (but I am a very trustworthy person!)

First up for the $75 voucher in my store is............Susan L

1st runner up.....Alison

2nd runner up.....Stitchybritt (Well this was actually Susan L again! So I had to redraw)

3rd runner up.....Zigsma

So if you have won just drop me an e-mail (Jetaimevintage@hotmail.com) to let me know your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice in prize (see previous post), and prize preference will be given for 1st runner up etc.

Thanks so much for all your nice comments and hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas! Although I am sure will be posting some more finds before then!

Here a little find I forgot to share I got a few weeks back, for only 2 dollars, metres and metres of new vintage rainbow elastic, hooray!

Christmas came early..and its retrotastic!

Hooray for a fantastic (but pretty darn hot) Saturday!

Christmas has certainly come early for me, I was driving by a yard sale this morning when this fabric jumped out at me in a pile of Supre style clothing dumped on a tarp on the floor. To the untrained eye it might look quite at home and you may expect to find a mink pink label hidden in the collar....Nope! Although is covered with a fair bit of damage on the bottom hem, with some time and effort it is all fixable and repairs will be well hidden in the detailed colourful print. As I was looking at it the lady said-oh thats my mums dress she wore in the 60s. Well she might have had it in the 60s, but this beauty screams 40s, maybe even 30s. The fabric is amazing, with that heaviness and drape but so fine, very crepe like. Poppers fasten up the side, no zips, stunning fishtail cut in the back and look at the smocking on the shoulders!!!! For $5 my face still hurts from smiling!

Its going to take some fiddly work but its worth it, it looks more like 'caught in a washing machine' damage rather than being terribly weak-construction and fabric all seem in great condition!
Next up (I am having such a good day!) a $4 blue rose 50s dress with original metal zip and big sailor collar-again some repairs (well re repairs as machine zig zag stitches on the front is not acceptable to me-I always repair by hand!) but fabric is in good clean condition and a beautiful fit-project for tonight! The little red dress was the most expensive find of the day at $15 but is just so cute, and anything with a vintage London label I just cant say no!
I just love this skirt, really cool label with daisies on it too! I like the face on the little crane bird on the far right. Not bad at $7 as the print was so beautiful!
Next up, again this fabric is just the best-original retro shorts-might be mens pants but I dont care-these will be my beach shorts for the Summer. $2-deal.
Even though I am not sure where this is going to go, it was $10, and love everything about it-colours, shape, print on lino. Okay not the most classy of chairs but I dont even have my own house to put it in so all about the fun retro stuff, and cant complain at that price, with a little clean up would look much smarter too!
Finally, this made my mum laugh, being a vintage collector when I said I found the best camel bag for $2 she probably expected something a little....different? Well you have to be silly sometimes, you cant take life too seriously and this 'Camel bag' with zip open, flip back hump is what I will use when I need reminding of that.

This is the first long thing I have written since loosing my 'A' key on my computer-you really don't know what you have till its gone. Hope everyone had a fun week and check back tomorrow for the winner of my vintage prize draw! One more day left to enter so post your comments to win!

In Brisbane? Love Vintage? + XMAS FAIR

Adornments is going to present a small fashion parade at the Black Cat Cafe in Paddington ,on Thurs 9 Dec at 6.00pm, in conjunction with a presentation by Charlotte Smith; the author that inherited 3,000 pieces of vintage couture. If your in the area check it out!

Also ADORNMENTS will be holding their own Vintage Fair at Bangalow on 26,27, 28 Dec at the Showground Hall, Station St Bangalow, along with a few other vintage enthusiasts to have our own fair as another interesting addition to a day out. Open 8.00am onwards each day, so come for a visit to as I am sure you wont be disspointed!

Dollyrockers Dress and more!

So finding great stuff must be in the genes because again my mum has outdone me with this gorgeous Dollyrockers by Sambo dress from a British charity shop. Gorgeous print and reminds me of Carnaby street in the 60s!

Next a beautiful 50s party dress, hardly worn and perfect with the most unusual palstic pearly fabric stitched all over the lace, you sound a bit like a crisp packet when you walk in it but its so unusual and glam!

..and from Vinnies earlier in the week a fab long 60s maxi dress!

This morning I picked up this little 80s gem, full circle skirt in circus colours!

Fab Harry WHO 80s jacket. The buttons are just amazing-so big!

Super cute retro set of salt n pepper, butter dish and sugar bowl!

Check out the goodies up for giveaway in the last post, will be drawn next Sun so still chance to win! Head over to Sophies to check out everyone elses finds! And thanks for stopping by :)

Chirstmas Comp-LAST WEEK!

Okay well I have been stupidly busy with trying to get all my Christmas items ready, plus half of my Jan auctions as want lots of free time with my mum when shes over so I was hoping to do this a little earlier, but got round to it today and the draw will be next Sunday!

So the main prize is the $75 voucher for my ebay store so can pick out any item of clothing (buy it now items) you want, but also have 3 runners up prizes depending on what you love:
KITCHEN STUFF PRIZE-Retro eggs cup trays and boxed plate set.

CRAFT PRIZE- Couple of kids hankies, some old buttons, pack o pleats and a huge piece of vintage fabric.

GIRLIE PRIZE-set of old lucite ball bracelet and earrings, old zipper pull on card and a pearl clasp necklace.

The winner will have 3 days to claim the prize after drawn next Sun (12/12) Just send me an e-mail giving me the preferance order for the prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and your address. For runners up the first drawn will get preferance to choice of prize. If not claimed will be re drawn until has been!

I know it dosnt look like many but took me ages and seemes like heaps! Any comments or new followers during the week will be added before the draw so get posting to win and thanks so much for visiting my blog :)

Saturday op shop finds...

Lots of great goodies this week at bargain prices! Seems like schoolies are too hungover to beat me getting up early for the good finds... my favourite this week is my pair of cat salt and pepper shakers for 20cents for the pair and my cookie cutters for 50cents!
A cute little Silver pin.....

...real croc skin vintage purse with vanity case section-a little battered but was only $2.

I love this bag, its a bit cheesy but thats very me. I like nice colourful things and these flowers are great-bag in mint condition too!

GORGEOUS 60s floral butterfly blazer! This was such a find, only $3 and almost perfect.Such a nice cut and beautiful print!

I seem to be accidently collecting Prue Acton dresses and this is my most recent one-its so groovy! Covered in a rainbow mexican print. Also the most softest cotton dress ever! No wonder-apparently made of Mettlers Swiss thouroughbred cotton fabric-since 1745, it honestly feels like velvet.

Another groovy 70s Geoff Bade number and a 1950s Hale of Hawaii dress in a print ready for Summer!

Hope you all had a fantastic week-had some brilliant weather up here in Byron so have been enjoying the outdoors and feeling very un Christmasy-still cant get used to Summer being Christmas! Thanks so much for stopping by and will be drawing for the Christmas $75 give away so check back during the week.

Box of Vintage Treasures Discovered!

Fun fun fun this week with my bank account being wiped out by a dodgy ebay buyer from the US, meaning I have to take harsher measures for future customers-which sucks. Trying to pick myself up after being stuck rentless and eating cornflakes all week and for the foreseeable future I decided to get stuck into organising my store room. When I moved house I lost my little box of vintage treasures and thought they might be lost forever, however they where hidden at the back of a self so here is the contense of my treasure box-all op shop/market finds from my days before blogging. It made me pretty happy, not as happy as not being scammed but thats life, karma will do its job I am sure
Anyway this is one of my favourite finds, a box of 50s hairs combs in original box, seperated by layers of tissue. There is 12 in all, not one missing-I just love the pckaging and the fact its all together!
Next up my collection of vintage zipper pulls, I can do up all zips but hate the struggle in a hot changing room so when I am feeling lazy these come in very handy! Why dont they make them any more?

The little gold one is so cute and you can hide the chain away in the box!

These came from an old laundrette that closed down, I want to frame all my little bits and pieces like this one day and these will be the perfect addition. Some of the labels are from super expensive gowns so I guess someone has some amazing dresses out there and don't have a clue!

Some random other things including the cutest little 60s comb and mirror set! I love my London bus keyring too, reminds me of home!

Finally cutest little toy koala, he was only $1 so couldnt turn him down, and I found the instructions that came with my vintage rollarskates! I was so chuffed to find these, and in my size too-a very rare thing for someone with my huge feet, and about having big feet:

When I was a young teenager (15) I had a hard time finding shoes big enough to fit my size 8.5 uk feet and everything in my size was very ugly. My mum took me too London (I think for my birthday) and had found a 'special' shoe shop that would have 'nice' shoes to fit my feet. Off I go dreaming of bespoke footwear in fine Italian leather to my choice of design. Nope..... I was taken to a drag queen shop with not much choice of anything than perspex thigh highs and glitter stripper heels. Although I can see the funny side now I was in tears for half the day over that.

Vintage Fair- I LOVE Adornments Vintage!

Another vintage fair on this weekend in Byron, and obviously had to go and although I didnt plan on buying anything, one of my favourite vintage stores won me over.
As a 'hard core' bargain hunter it rare for me to treat myself to anything full price (not new stuff or top whack vintage, just not op shop cheap) but when I do I always end up at the same places. I have visited the Adornments store in Brisbane, (you must check it out if in the area!) and its gorgeous, full to the brim floor to ceiling with an amazing choice of vintage and antique clothing and collectables, including lots of stunning lace. Today was the best choice out of over 30 sellers there! I really could have happily bought half her rail if I had enough but was very pleased to walk way with these:
I love this piece, its so my style, its like Ossie Clark done 80s style. The dress is by zozo, have seen this brand before but dont know much about it. The spotted panels are cotton, and the rest is sheer silk-and heaps of it. It fits me like it was made for me and its just so fun and unique and the most fantastic shaping around bodice and back!

Next this cute little 50s skirt with the most beautiful print I have seen. It reminds me of home, not that I lived in a place like this, but did live right behind one! Worn with a pretty 60s crochet (op shop) knit twinset which is in mint condition!

Thank you Christine for having such an amazingly classy taste in vintage clothing! Birthday trip planned for Jan!

I ended up washing all my finds today as was such good weather perfect for quick drying! But this was a cute little find from this morning, broken mirror reveals the old backing which helps date it, makes it hard to repair the mirror but otherwise in such good condition, its such a pretty little mini travel vanity case!

Vintage Zandra Rhodes at Valentino Retrospective

So this week was half good and half bad. I FINALLY got to go to the Valentino exhibit up in Brisbane which was really great. I saw so many beautiful couture gowns so close up! The best one had to be the red one from 1959 with roses, but so many I loved and really inspired me to get back into designing. Shame my hubby was a bit of a s**t and ended up bickering with me all day till I cracked. At the start of the week had an argument with my supervisor too when all I wanted was someone to go 'there there its okay' everyone decided to just make my stressful 5 mins, 10 times worse. Walking past the LUSH shop in Brisbane I went in there as use to work there in the UK and a little treat from there always perks me up. The girls in there where so incredibly nice, even though I was a bit of a mess, it was so great to deal with people who where a bit kinder. Writting a long letter to them as people that kind deserve recognition.

Anyway at happier points of the day infront of the big sign out front as obviously couldn't photo anything in the exhibit. Plus my outfit of the day, on of the most special dreses I own, a birthday present from my mum-an original vintage silk hand painted, beaded dress with matching shawl from Zandra Rhodes.

So much detail and work on this, all edges trimmed with alternating beads and you can even remove the centre rosette on the front with little poppers. I will never part with this dress!

Its not quite Valentino couture, but I saw a few people eyeing it up at the exhibit which was great considering the competition around! Its not that I crave attention, but I am constantly surprised when people like what I wear.

A little plug for the place that turned my frown upside down-In the UK I know that they collected seaweed from one of the best beaches in England for their products-took them back and removed all the little critters off the seaweed and they where then returned to the seaside thye came from-how great is that! They sorted me out with a little free sample of their Lady Catrina Soap which I used this morning and the colour lone made me happy let alone getting to 'mell like home' again!

Finally today I was still feeling a little flat and then the nicest thing happened-I got a postcard with Je T'aime artwork on the front from one of my buyers as a thank you for the dress they bought, so feeling all happy and buzzy. The smallest things can really make the difference to someone, so off to find the bestest Vintage/Byron post card I can in return!

Looking forward to the vintage fair on this weekend-shame I am broke after the Brisbane trip!

Oh dear, spoke to soon, either someone is ransacking my kitchen or I an trouble for no reason again.