Weird & wonderful things abroad and share your books!

Back again! Sorry for the wait, which was a bit longer than just a couple of weeks. Just too busy! And no vintage finds from Perth either. But beautiful views from the plane taking off...

 

Though I had a good poke around Perth's Northbridge, which has lots of second hand and vintage shops, I didn't find anything exactly vintage.

But there was also no time to visit all such shops. However, Fi & Co in William Street had super-cute dresses by Elise Design, who do very cute retro inspired dresses, and one of those went home with me! Northbridge has lots of restaurants, bars and old-fashioned or strange little shops:

 

 Kakulas Bros. - the old-fashioned way to shop for imported food and spices of all kinds. Loved it!

 

The Butcher Shop - it is an old butchery, but now sells, (spray) paint, clothes, cards, small art works and other things.
But the CBD has interesting - or weird - things too if you keep your eyes open - even in busy Hay Street Mall: 
Or of course the monument to Percy Button, which you can barely photograph without people though. I got lucky on early Saturday morning.

 

  

St. Georges Terrace holds quite a few interesting views... like the oddity that is London Court. It's been there for a long time already, and remains one of the things I clearly remember even from my first trip to Perth as a kid - 21 years ago now!

 

Yes, the flowers are all plastic, and most shops in there are souvenir shops - and it is "just a façade", it's been kept in good shape and I kind of like it. If this were in England, I'd call it cheesy, but in Australia, it's something else. Also, seeing how it's surrounded by high-rises now. I hope they never get the idea to tear it down! 

Speaking of St. George's Terrace, just a two blocks further on, there is another small oddity between all the glass and concrete. It's so small, you might in fact even overlook it, but if you're looking for a nice breakfast around there, this is the way to go: the Greenhouse! They serve beautiful, thick home-made toast with raspberry jam.... yummy!

Note the façade is all covered in small planting pots! Water is being served from watering cans, and the door pull is made from a spade!

Over the last four weeks, I have acquired more vintage though than I ever thought. Quite a bit of it has made it to my Etsy shop now, so check it out! One of those weeks I spent in Vienna, and our scouring of six different Humana and a few other thrift shops brought even more success! I'll be blogging those as we go a long. But speaking of oddities, Vienna is of course a pretty good place for those too! 

 Read this one carefully... someone must have had a good laugh when they put it up!

 Fish or sausage, anyone?

One thing I particularly like in Vienna is the Offener Bücherschrank - literally an "open bookcase" where people can leave their old books for others to take - and of course take books for free. Don't ask me how many times we stopped by there! Its's just fascinating to see what might be there. I must say though, it is also being well run. It's obvious the books are being sorted regularly (as in at least once a day) and stamped, so that nobody gets the idea to sell the books on. I think it's a great idea! This time I picked amongst others two trashy-looking books that may be interesting or not, but their covers already looked so great that I had to take them:

Not so trashy, but unusual was this book of what seemed to be Arabian stories or fairy tales, and which was printed in 1942 in Munich (which I find most remarkable as a fact!).

I researched the author's name, and her story is one of those that sounds more incredible than anything you'd think Hollywood could dream up - check it out here: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djavidan_Hanum .
This place is also being used by Bookcrossers, which is how I was introduced to that great idea! I have since released a book that my friend had picked up for me there, and one of mine that already has an interesting story! Zurich sadly doesn't have an open bookcase, but it has an official BookCrossing Zone and some it seems quite active Bookcrossers, so I'll be paying a visit there soon. But I admit, a whole case ful is more fun. The thrill of the hunt is a big part of the fun, no question!

Well, that's all for today. Lotsa vintage fashion coming up soon!

The coat issue

Please excuse the long wait - it's been a bizzy and exciting time in several aspects since my last post. But then I have some really exciting vintage (and new) things to show! Due to my latest finds and the enduring icy cold weather that we have been experiences, I will mainly talk about coats today!

First off, on my new year's trip to Vienna, my friend and I of course scoured the Humana secondhand shops. Nicely enough, they had a lot of winter stuff already at reduced prices, and in a shop that we visited the first time, I found the cutest coat ever. On a rack of winter coats and jackets displaying roughly the trends of the last 20 years, almost hidden between the all those heavy item, lurked a pink light little coat, that definitely had nothing to do with winter! I picked it up right away, though I doubted first a little that I might fit my behind into it since it looked so tiny. But fit it did, and putting it on I really saw what it was - a sweet little 60s spring coat or even a coat dress! It is very well made, with quite a bit of hand finishing. The only label it carries is an Italian one detailing the dry-cleaning methods to be used. And the best thing about it? Being on that rack with winter coats, it was reduced like the other ones too!
Vintage short gloves a second hand hatbox-style bag add vintage flair, plus modern heels to add some pizzazz too!

Beautiful details!

This little coat reminded me so much about Francie doll in her first, oh-so cute and demure outfits, and look! Her Shopping Spree is quite similar!
My next coat find wasn't as inexpensive, but no less exciting - and not much newer either. One of my regular visits to my local Caritas shop yielded this incredible probably late 60s Courrèges rain coat. Let's just say that I had slightly weak knees holding this in my hands! It looked very tiny in the shoulders, but again, it fits! I was never faster running to the next ATM to get the money... and I can safely say there is no other clothes store in this city that I spend as much money per year in than this Caritas shop!

The coat is made of a luxurious, heavy, slightly shimmery cream-colored fabric with a beautiful texture.The label - Couture Future was one of Courrèges' two Ready to Wear-lines, started in 1967. The A it seems denotes the size. The logo-printed lining leaves no doubt who by this coat is!
Plastic snaps with Courrèges-logo.
The pockets have big zips under the flaps.

Styled with vintage dark brown all-leather Bally boots (also from the same Caritas shop!), vintage NOS dark brown leather handbag and a vintage poly scarf.And since we're talking coats already, there is of course also no better way to stay warm and stylish in an icy winter like this one! For example: this graceful 1950s winter coat is heavy and has an extra warm lining between the outer fabric and the "nice" inner lining. It has a chic shawl collar, wide sleeves, a nipped-in waist and lovely wide skirt.
Elegant winter booties from Pertti Palmroth's current line, soft black leather gloves from Sauso (Finland), soft black jaquard scarf from Chinese shop.
And if you can't do vintage... go secondhand! My other two winter coats/jackets are stylish secondhand pieces. Even if they are "only" by H&M, they found a new owner and didn't end up in a landfill when their previous owners didn't want them anymore!
Metal and mother of pearl brooch: vintage. Purple scarf (from same Humana shop) and purple knit gloves (Migros) add some color. Vintage Coach handbag, reflecting Bambi hanger from Design Forum Helsinki, "skull" accessory by Sixxa (Vienna), dark jeans by Tally Weijl, classic black Italian riding boot-style leather boots by Passo per Passo.

This cute hanger-style jacket has a little secret... it's a kid's size. No kidding - it's a size 164 H&M Young jacket.
Brooch: vintage. Gloves: Sauso. Boots: Pertti Palmroth (my favourite ones!).I found this great mustard-colored coat by H&M some three years ago in another Caritas shop here in Zurich. Though it's a swing style, it has a bit of shaping around the upper body, which I like. This one was as good as new when I bought it. Maybe someone bought it and realised they'd been more courageous thant they usually are. It's certainly not a piece for those who don't like standing out, but it will also brighten up any dreary winter day!

And to come back to the Caritas shop in my neighbourhood, this shop is a reason why I wouldn't want to move from here. Just a week before finding the Courrèges coat, I found an incredible baby pink wool bouclé suit there. The construction techniques used and the label inside already spoke volumes:

Rosmarie Amacher is probably Zurich's only couturière. She owns her own salon, a ma chère (http://www.a-ma-chere.ch/), where she also sells Haute Couture fabric. Funnily enough, this shop lies between my super-duper dry-cleaner's whom cleans all my vintage things, and one of my old work places.
This beautiful suit hung between a range of normal brand and no-name suits, not even on the "designer" rack that the Caritas shop has, and the price, a mere CHF 75 made me shake my head inwardly. Of course I snapped it up at that price, as it also fits me - but still, it makes me sad to think that such a high-quality piece that was so well made, would be sold for so little. And the reason for that probably was partly also because it didn't bear a well-known name. The people in this city who know who Rosmarie Amacher is are probably few. Either you can afford her clothes, or you're in the fashion business - at least that is my guess. I mean, this suit is of such superior quality than many of the Escada or Prada RTW things on the "designer" rack, but sold for less... Oh well, enough moping, I have a great new suit and had some fun styling it too! Somehow it reminds me a little of the late Princess Diana who wore a lot of those pastel-colored bouclé suits in the mid to late 90s (check out http://www.polyvore.com/princess_diana_blue_chanel_suit/thing?id=17287581 or http://coolspotters.com/public-figures/princess-diana/and/clothing/versace-90s-pink-suit/media/1676073#medium-1676073). I'm guessing this suit would roughly be from that time too as I remember this style being popular then.
Boots: Pertti Palmroth, gloves: Clair'es, sunglasses: Nine West, scarf: from Chinese shop. Hat box: vintage Barbie vinyl travel bag.This is it for this cold Sunday afternoon! 'Til soon - and don't forget - wear vintage and have fun with it! (I certainly had fun styling these coats *lol*...)

Rock your vintage, autumn trends & the next scarf

Today I have been working on some of my vintage - photographing a few things that I haven't had a chance to, before I will put it away when I do my closet cleanup next week and repairing some "new" vintage stuff.
This cute 1950s playsuit has become quite a favourite with me. Made from soft, airy cotton and fitting beautifully, it's a super piece for hot day at the office. I bought it from VFG Member Miss Martys. Yes, they were originally thought to be worn at the beach, but I think for today's standards it is quite "covered up".
I have also already blogged about this 1980s Akris silk dress, whose fabric I loved so much, but have only been able to show it on my manni - so here are some "live" pics!

Since October has started (my, doesn't time fly?!), there has of course been another scarf to unpack! In keeping with the time of the year, this one comes in autumn colors:

My newspapers' article on the autumn trends has been interesting, but I absolutely do not agree with the editor's opinion that the 1940s and 1960s trends are nothing to follow. Hey, we do know that designers like to look back - as long as they don't look back on times that I remember myself, that's pretty much ok with me. She thinks the 40s are too much work "because you have to do it all - make-up and hair too". Erhmmm... I don't think you have to do it all - yes, I love the 40s look, but let's be honest, you can't do the full look in every day situations, and people would probably think that you're "dressing up as" if you try too much. I too am trying to go less "period" and a little more "modern" with my vintage and do it with more subtlety. The Miu Miu Fall collecion that the newspaper refers to didn't go full-on 40s everywhere everywhere either and I think it shoes a few pretty good 40s inspired hairstyles that are not too hard to re-creat - check it out here (not that I like all of it - the shapeless coats with overly-wide shoulders are pretty hideous in my eyes... but some of the dresses are nice).
I would say: take one 40s piece and mix it with modern things, do a nice modern makeup (but red lipstick please - no nude lips!)... and the hair? Well, you can do little 40s inspired without it being too much work when you have long hair, but I think it works without it too:
This is the 40s dress that I bought in Helsinki, and which I have repaired today. Add colorful/textured/patterned modern pantyhose to relieve the black dress, a pair of slightly chunky shoes and a big brooch - voilà!
Also the top of my 1940s Eisenberg suit is a wonderful piece to mix with current pieces:
The black capris are from H&M's current autumn collection. "Indian" slippers by Aldo (some years ago).
The suit really is a dream, made from shot cotton, unlined, with soft shoulder pads and beautiful mother of pearl-buttons.

As for the 60s trend, the newspaper editor seems to think that it's only Twiggy-style babydoll dresses - well, yes, those really aren't for anybody less thin or older than Twiggy was at the time, but there are other cool things like accessories and coats in popping colors that are perfect. If you need any more ideas, check out the Vintage Fashion Guild's Fall Vintage Inspirations!

Last week and even still this weekend, the weather has been incredibly warm, so have been taking the chance to wear the two beautiful late 1940s cotton print dresses, which I bought from Tangerine Boutique a few weeks ago. They were both new old stock and fit perfectly! I gladly took a few other things to the Caritas shop instead - where I happened to find a cute hot pink cashmere cardi, which goes beautifully with one of the dresses:
(though they look very 80s, these shoes are actually only a few years old - and from Aldo too)
With a modern jacket and vintage 70s Coach handbag (reflecting accessory from the Design Forum Helsinki - nearly every woman in Helsinki seems to have such an accessory in some shape or other dangling from their handbag).

This gorgeous dress has a lovely print in purple/pink/grey/green and the fabric is supposed to be needing little or no ironing! The detailing is also incredible - both the collar and the pockets are edged with fabric loops, and the buttons have rhinestones: