Melbourne Vintage Curated.

I have been shopping Vintage stores in Melbourne for over 25 years and some are a standout!

Looking for 80's and 90's retro?
A great mix of old school and cool to be found at American Vintage.
I am talking Kylie Minogue early neighbours and Molly from a Country Practice, Molly Ringwold and Shannen Doherty of 90210 fame.

Cute Kylie in cut offs riding nice and high.

Kylie - rockin' it in the oversize jacket and batwing sleeve leather jacket!

Molly - there are no words that can describe her look but I will say fuchsia was a definitive shade of pink at the time. 

                   Molly Ringwald 'Pretty in Pink' the 80's film is a fashion experience - a great blog has her entire wardrobe from the film here. 

Bad girl Shannen in here signature highwaist pants, lace bodysuit and choker. 

Cool Western boots and looks with attitude? 60's and 80's specifically.
Iconic footwear and looks at Vintage Soul.

This vintage steadfast specialises in Tex Mex think Uma Thurman in Even Cowgirls get the Blues.
A huge collection of Western style boots, from amazing snakeskin originals to some 80's hightop retro sneakers.

The very lovely Uma Thurman looking perfect here.

Wonderful lifestyle vintage?
60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.
A whole lot of goodness at Hunter Gatherer.

These ladies shop there for sure!

 I may have found some perfect 99 styles from my fave store Hunter Gatherer.

Everything from tea cups to canisters, a cross pollinated selection of brilliant vintage a something for everyone shop. This is possibly the best handpicked vintage stock you will find in Melbourne. I never leave here empty handed - ever!

Dapper Dan's, Ladies and Gentile Men?
1940's and refinement.
Suits and selected elegance at Circa Vintage.

A wonderful treasure trove of apparel awaits - you can thank me later and remember it doesn't have to look like a costume...How to get it right!

Unlikely Vintage Inspirations that are Completely Queer

I love a bit of vulgar culture. Fashion offers up a plethora of fodder especially during those most perplexing of decades of the 60's and 70's. Recently I was discussing the true hideousness of some of the television at that time. The recollections of truly questionable character portrayals and fabrics that were as confronting as the sideburns presented.

The worst offenders were the British - UK TV. 

Are You Being Served?

Now I do not mean to be unkind but what was the casting brief here?

Ever questionable physical comedy. 

Resulting in cringe worthy intimacy leaving you reeling and queasy not unlike car sickness. 

The Stoic and the Flamboyant counterbalance apparently resulting in hilarity.

Now I don't know what happened in my head as a small child taking this all in but somewhere amongst the mix of abrasive voices and the bad comedic premise I fell in love. I turned...

To this day I love this look above.

Something about her powdered look, his true degree of maturity and dapper refinement and most of all the fabrics and the past its use by date of early 1960's fashion being worn on and on. Perhaps that is the reason I collect nasty nylon night wear that I am sure that Mrs S could have swanned about in. Oh the harsh nylon goodness, the smell and look of the old 'Taft' hairspray, talcum powder and face compact heavily layered, lavender eyeshadow and pastel pink lips. 

Or as I like to call it...

Old lady Grunt.

This image is such a great exponent of what I am on about. Besides the almost Groucho like face on the dark haired man these folks are totally and completely rocking it. 

With an attitude adjustment these people could be positively sexy. 

The foxy redhead wins hands down to me...Go Mrs Slocombe!

Wikipedia...

During its run, the series attracted some mild criticism for its reliance on sexual stereotypes and double entendres, including jokes about Mrs. Slocombe's "pussy" (cat) e.g., Mrs Slocombe, "Animals are very psychic; the least sign of danger and my pussy's hair stands on end".

Come to think of it you could spell her name in an all together different way...upon reflection perhaps they weren't so clueless.

Sultry Sexy Sex Kittens of the 1960's ::: The Ladies

NOTE: They were referred to as 'kittens' implying an innocence, a naivety, a softness a harmlessness.
Behold the 1960's Sex Kitten and her beguiling, charming, enticing allure. Don't fret I am already considering Sirens for another blog post, for now its the nymphets. These felines smell of powder and hairspray, use bobby pins and fold fresh linen.

The incredible Brigitte Bardot - who later became a siren. Squeaky clean and very preened a model of good manners and coquettish temptation. 

 

Jean Shrimpton is said to be the worlds first super model. Too thin for my liking but a perfect example of the Sex Kitten. Perfect touchable hair, smouldering lips and dramatic made up eyes. Pure yet arresting images.

This is my favorite 

BAM! Supreme elegance and pared down sexy style.

  Natalie Wood

Ahh these women had something that cannot be replicated today.

Clean cut and enticing, her lawns would be perfectly manicured no doubt. She would would invite you in for a glass of milk or something more. The scent of her powder puff would be left in her wake.

These women offer sweeping fantasy's of opulent puritanical yet decadent lifestyles, of swimming pools and perfect twinsets, of cocktails and finery, of smouldering kisses and highly defined eyes.

 These females were represented as ladies...

A lady?

Feminine, refined, strong, self assured, pretty, elegant, intelligent and mighty sexy.

They might have been more covert but they sure look switched on and alert, why they might even coo and pur, swish their tail encircle your legs while giving you sweet come hither stares. Ahh the sweet fond softness of the Sex Kitten.