Tag Archive | Fashion

It’s Extraordinaire…..It’s The Sydney Fair!

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to the Sydney Fair. It is Sydney’s largest antique fair. It was full of art deco, vintage and 20th century pieces for sale from over 50 dealers. It was held at Randwick Racecourse in the Kensington Room.

There were so many amazing items. I was in awe at the rare vintage fashion, unique items and antiques!!

There was furniture, fashion, jewellery, lighting, sculpture, silver, glass, ceramics, books, prints, arts and vintage couture from all eras.

I took some photos of items at the fair to share with you. Enjoy!

There were stalls and stalls of incredible items and well worth a look. I have been into vintage for a long time and there was some fashion I had never had the opportunity to see before this fair. There were so many rare decor and furniture items. As well as stunning artwork.

Seven news visits the fair:

https://fb.watch/5SY1L7WvGY/

The Sydney Fair is in other states of Australia. I definitely know that it is held in Melbourne, so check it out if you are in Australia, to see if it is in your state.

The Sydney Fair is the perfect opportunity to view and touch rare pieces that you have only seen in pictures,
talk to experts,
try something vintage on and take photos,
You can also buy something to wear, collect or decorate with….

It is well worth a visit.

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

O! How Stylish

Nov9

Jackie Kennedy Onassis was one of the most stylish ladies and renowned for being at the forefront of fashion. Her style was copied by women around the world and still is today. She has remained an influential figure in the fashion industry. Her famous styles and renowned look is known as the Jackie O look.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy_Onassis

Jackie Lee Bouvier was born on July 28 1929, in New York. Jackie began riding horses at one year old and by eleven, she had won several national championships. While at school, she learnt ballet and French. She continued her studies at college where she studied history, literature, art and French. She completed studies in Paris too.

Jackie started her first job in 1951 as a photographer for a newspaper, where she met John F Kennedy. They married and she became the youngest ever First Lady.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jackie-kennedy-letters-shine-light-her-marriage-mourning-n104191

Jackie was renowned for wearing oversized glasses and these became her signature eye-ware. This famous style of glasses are often coming into fashion over and over again and are still known as Jackie O glasses.

https://www.smartbuyglasses.co.uk/blog/brand-spotlight/thats-so-jackie-o-statement-sunglasses.html

Another statement fashion item of Jackie’s was the pearl necklace.

Pearls were appropriate with any outfit!
According to Jackie

Many images of Jackie show her with either short pearls, or in the late 60s and 70s she would often wear long strands of pearls with mini dresses.

https://www.pearlsonly.com.au/blog/jackie-kennedy-wearing-a-triple-strand-pearl-necklace/

Jackie also popularised the pillbox hat. She usually wore a pillbox hat that matched her dresses and jackets.

https://www.popsugar.com.au/beauty/photo-gallery/46358023/image/46357999/Jackie-Kennedy-Fashion-Show-US-State-Department-1962

In 1964, Jackie purchased six Gucci handbags, known as The Constance. The bags instantly became a hit. These Gucci Bags later became known as the iconic Jackie handbag, as a tribute to Jackie Kennedy. This bag was considered the first boho or bohemian bag.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/t-magazine/gucci-jackie-1961-saddlebag.html

There was a new Jackie handbag introduced in 2009. Released by Gucci and created by Frida Giannini. It was again hugely popular.

https://www.icon-icon.com/en/the-jackie-by-gucci/

Jackie was also famous for wearing the Chanel suit. Her pink Chanel suit is her most famous outfit in history and remains her trademark. In the late 1950s and early 1960s the Chanel suit was a strong symbol of the modern woman of high society with political views, sophistication and independence. This is what Jackie represented. The colour pink was also an element of traditional feminist attributes!

Her pink suit was one of John F Kennedy’s favourites. The sad significance of the suit is that she was wearing it at her husband, John F Kennedy’s assassination. She attempted to protect her husband, leaving her suit blood stained. It is stored out of public viewing in the National Archives.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/110338259608536387/

For casual outings, Jackie would often look chic in a shift dress or matching top and skirt or pencil pants.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/6-new-season-trends-borrow-jackie-kennedy/

https://www.instyle.com/fashion/jackie-kennedy-style-lessons

https://www.dimplesandtangles.com/2014/06/fashion-inspired-by-jacqueline-kennedy.html

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g1370/jackie-kennedy-onassis-style-0111/

Jackie O was often dressed by designers such as Oleg Cassini, Chanel, Christian Dior and Givenchy.

https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/fashion-designer-hubert-de-givenchy-dead-at-91-details/

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g1370/jackie-kennedy-onassis-style-0111/

Jackie O captivated the world with her style, intelligence, beauty and grace. She is someone that I have admired over the years for her style, and in my eyes will always be a fashion icon.

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

Snow Bunny

May25

How to be the cutest snow bunny when you hit the slopes

With these cold winds blowing, I thought it was a fitting time to get out my parka. I have some extra time on my hands, and I thought my parka was too plain… so it seemed the perfect time to spruce it up!

I will run you through the steps to show you how to decorate your parka.

What you will need:

Parka
Chosen fabric
Cotton
Scissors
Pins
Iron
Sewing machine

Steps:

1. Choose your fabric and iron it

You need to iron it so it’s easy to sew. Plus you won’t be able iron it once it is on the parka!

2. Cut out the fabric piece and hem the edges. This will stop future fraying. Then, I would spray the piece of fabric with scotch guard. This will protect the fabric from liquid, dirt and stains.

3. Work out the best placement for your piece of material on the parka, and pin it in place.

Try the parka on to make sure it sits alright on the parka. If it’s perfect, you can start sewing!

4. If you want more features, you can sew some of the material on the front as well. Follow the same steps above!

I am pretty happy with the final product. What do you think?

I hope I have inspired you to refurbish your parka. Send me photos of your finished product, I would love to see!

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

Hot Diggity Dog

May1

While staying at home, I have been doing a lot of craft and sewing. I recently purchased a denim vest for my dog and decided to spruce it up and add a rockabilly twist!

Here is what you will need:

Dogs denim vest

2. Patches, buttons or cool fabric

3. Scissors

4. Thread

5. Needle

6. Iron

Find patches, buttons or fabric that you want to attach to the vest. You can get these from items laying around at home, on eBay and Etsy or vintage market stalls. Before attaching, lay your accessories on the vest to work out the best positioning for them.

Once you have worked out the best layout, taking a photo is a good way to remember! Then you can finally iron on patches, sew on your buttons or fabric swatches.

To make your iron-on patches secure, I highly recommend sewing them on! Dogs can get rough, and you will want this cute denim vest to be durable and last.

If you are extra creative, you could also choose to embroider on the vest or paint designs with fabric paints.

I would recommend only decorating along the back of the vest, that way nothing will irritate your dog or be likely to fall off. Also, it means all your creative work will be always visible!

As you can see below, your finished work will help your dog be the coolest dog in the park. 😂

I hope my blog has inspired you to create a cool dog vest for your four legged family member. You could go for any theme or colour scheme you wanted… Go wild! Send me photos of your dog in his/her vest. I would love to see them!

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Ridiculously Retro

Earrings as Art

Jan30

I have a creative and practical way of displaying and storing my earring collection!

I will show you the the steps of how to make this earring holder artwork. It is easy and only takes a couple of hours.

Materials you will need:

Picture frame
Fabric of your choice
Spray paint
Chicken wire
Small screwdriver
Staples
Staple gun
Hammer
Wire cutter
Pliers
Spray adhesive
Pinking shears

Instructions:

1. Discard the glass from your photo frame, and remove the backing board.

2. Spray the frame in your desired colour. I chose a similar colour to the fabric I am using. Leave to dry.

3. Cut the fabric slightly bigger than the backing board using the pinking shears, which helps stop fraying. Spray the backing board with spray adhesive. Lay the fabric upon the board flat, being careful to press out any bubbles. Leave to dry for a few minutes.

4. Cut the chicken wire with the wire cutters slightly bigger than your frame.

5. Lay the chicken wire over the backing board. Using the pliers, bend the overlaying wire around the backing board pulling firmly so it remains taught. Once that is completed, I went around all the corners and edges with the hammer to flatten them to ensure they are tight. Cut off any excess wire behind the board with the wire cutters.

6. Undo the rope that holds the frame up. Just pull the staples out with your small flat screw driver on one side only. Now you are ready to place the backing board back into frame. It will be a tight fit, so do one side at a time.

7.. Then re-staple your rope for hanging with the staple gun.

8. Cut off any excess fabric or wire. Your earring artwork is ready to hang your earrings on.

I hope this inspires you to make your own earring holder. Send me photos of your finished artwork. I would love to see it!

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

Back to Basics: Your Guide for Channelling the 1950’s

Oct12

In order to achieve the perfect 1950s fashion look, you need to know and understand the fashion trends of the era. I have done some research over time and here is what I have found are the key pieces:

Swing dresses
Petticoats for fullness
Slim sheath dresses

I hope this has helped you gain more of an understanding of the fashion trends of the 1950s, to help you achieve your look.

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

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Style Me Vintage

Jun19

If you were looking for some step-by-step instructions or some inspiration on how to recreate and achieve vintage looks in clothing, makeup, hair or accessories then I suggest Style Me Vintage! Style Me Vintage are an excellent range of books to guide and teach you how to achieve some great looks. There are also editions focused on recreating a vintage home and hosting a vintage tea party or wedding.

There are a variety of Style Me Vintage books to choose from:

10.

Inside each book you will find so many wonderful ideas! Here are my favourite examples from the five books that I have purchased:

1. Style Me Vintage Accessories…

If you need help to achieve your final polished authentically vintage look, this is the book for you! It provides a guide on how to correctly identify items to attain your look, in terms of sunglasses, jewellery, hats, gloves, scarves, bags and shoes. The book provides looks ranging from the 1920s right through to the 1980s.

2. Style Me Vintage Home…

This book is a fantastic guide to help you achieve the vintage home that you desire. It will guide you from the 1920s to the 1970s on what was the classic look of each era.

3. Style Me Vintage Clothes

This book has plenty of information on specific details of vintage clothing, from the 1920s to the 1980s, and how to recognise vintage labels. There is also some handy tips on how to repair and maintain vintage clothing, and some great tips on developing your own unique vintage style!

4. Style Me Vintage Hair

This book has some useful step-by-step easy guides on hair styles such as: finger waves, pin curls, 1940s waves, victory rolls, the poodle, and beehives. There are also great guides on how to incorporate accessories, such as headscarves.

5. Style Me Vintage Make-up

This book is FULL of fabulous tips to help you achieve your classic makeup look. It gives you the tools and step-by-step guides for all the classic makeup looks from the 1920s to the 1980s.

Whatever is your vintage style, I am sure that you will find the collection of Style Me Vintage books exceptionally useful as they are full of handy tips and information to guide you through. Let me know which Style Me Vintage books have helped you. I would love to hear!

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

DIY Denim

Apr17

Do you have pairs of jeans or denim jackets, and find that you aren’t wearing them as often anymore? I decided to make some changes and up-cycle my denim to portray more personality. Here are some different ideas to make your denim extra fancy and express yourself!

1.Denim Jacket with Tulle Hemline

I purchased this jacket already like this, but this an easy DIY project. This denim jacket has tulle added to the bottom and bling badges pinned. All you need to do is purchase tulle and sew it to the inside of the hem of the denim jacket. You can sew on as many layers of the tulle depending on the look you desire or you can gather the tulle and sew along the hemline.

2. Painted Denim

If you are a talented artist, or know someone who is, then you can paint on your denim! Make sure you draw your image first, using fabric pencils. Then with fabric paint you can go ahead and paint your desired image. You can do basic images or fancy depending on your preference. Be careful to never iron straight on the paint.

3. Iron on Transfers on Denim

Image

If you’re not too artistically skilled, another option is to purchase an iron-on transfer. You can find many excellent retro inspired designs online. Follow the instructions, but most just require ironing upside down onto the fabric. Be careful to never to iron straight on the transfer, when ironing your denim, as it may melt!

4. Patches on Denim

Image

You can purchase retro patches and sew or iron them onto your denim. Patches are an easy and affordable option to decorate your denim, and there are so many designs to choose from online, at markets or sewing shops.

5. Embroidered Denim

Embroidery is a super fun DIY if you already have the skills, or are willing to learn! There are plenty of online videos and tutorials making it easy to learn. I am planning on embroidering cherries on a pair of denim capris, so check out my blog in the next few weeks! Some sewing machines also have embroidery functions.

6. Fabric on Denim

Retro fabric can be sewn onto your denim, for a fresh look! To make it look professional I like to sew the fabric along the sewn sections of the denim, such as collars, pockets or the back seam of the jacket, like above. Place the fabric over the area you want to sew it on, and cut it about 2.5cm bigger. Pin it to the area while tucking the edges under, for a tidy edge. Now you’re ready to sew! Try sewing as close as possible to the fabric edge. With excess fabric you can also make matching headbands, scarves or bags.

Double denim was big in the 1950’s, and I have achieved this look by sewing the same fabric on denim pants and jacket!

I hope this inspires you try up-cycling your old denim items. You can even purchase second hand denim from op shops, markets or vintage clothes shops to try out your DIY ideas. Send me photos of your finished products, I would love to see them.

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

1950’s Ladies Gloves

Mar7

In the early 1950’s, ladies were required to wear gloves as etiquette and as part of fashion. They wore gloves that match their shoes or their outfit, while some ladies wore traditional white gloves. Fashionable ladies would wear striped gloves or patterned with matching scarves. Not only fashionable, gloves were also worn to warm hands.

1950s Glove advertisement

The 1950’s glove etiquette for ladies was that gloves had to be worn in most public places, including the streets of cities and large towns, at church, to a luncheon or dinner, reception, a dance, theatre, restaurant, wedding and any official function. Smart ladies wore gloves on trains, buses and trams.

When wearing formal wear, ladies needed to wear elbow-length gloves. This made a person look fashionable and glamorous.

Everyday gloves were not fancy or piped or in contrasting colours. Ladies kept everyday gloves very simple, like all the basics in their wardrobe.

Brides had to keep their hands covered. A bride wearing short sleeves had to wear long gloves but had to slip her hand out easily for the wedding ring.

Bracelets could be worn over gloves but never rings.

Marilyn wearing bracelets over her gloves

Some ladies wore leather gloves. They could be deerskin or cowhide. For warmth some wore theirs lined with sheepskin but this meant the gloves looked bulkier.

Ladies wearing their gloves

A lady only removed her gloves before eating, drinking, smoking, playing cards or putting on makeup. Long gloves remained on at all times at dances. Gloves even remained on when shaking someones hands. At a restaurant, a lady removed her coat, then was seated and could only then remove her gloves.

To me, I think gloves are very stylish and I love to wear them at formal outings to match my vintage outfit. What do you think of gloves? Stylish or not? Let me know your thoughts.

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Ridiculously Retro Xx

Fashion Icons of the 1950s

Feb20

The 1950s saw a huge change in fashion. The transition from the 1940s post war fashion moved from the saloons to the streets. It was easy care fabrics with speedier manufacturing. This meant fashion was available for the masses! Designers such as Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chanel were influential designers in the 1950s.

1950s Fashion

Christian Dior nipped hourglass shapes which created a new era in women’s fashion. After years of fashion oppression and fabric rationing during the Second World War, the era of Womanliness was here.

1950s Dior

Designer Cue Hubert de Givenchy, a Parisian designer whose designs were worn by the likes of Audrey Hepburn. The most famous being the black dress worn by Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the famous gold embroiled gown worn in Sabrina.

1950s Givenchy

Coco Chanel was creating fashion since 1910 but in the 1950s she created the famous ‘Chanel Suit’ as we still know it now. It is a slim tweed jacket and skirt with contrasting bound edges. It is an elegant look.

1950s Chanel

Fashion icons of the 1950s were stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Sophia Loren, James Dean, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelley. They were the first to showcase the fashion.

Audrey Hepburn mainly wore Givenchy gowns. Audrey epitomised elegance and was an example of less is more. She always relied on her little black dress when out on the town. Her pixie haircut was her trademark.

1950s Fashion Icon – Audrey Hepburn

Marilyn Monroe was one of the greatest and most recognisable fashion icons of all time, she defined glamour for generations to come. She was famous for her platinum blonde hair, red lips and her beauty spot.

1950s Fashion Icon – Marilyn Monroe

Elvis Presley was the poster boy of the 1950s. He invented his own brand of preppy rockabilly. His style was biker chic, guyliner and high waisted trousers.

1959s Fashion Icon – Elvis

Sophia Loren made famous the fashion item eyeliner. Also her hourglass figure accentuated her feminine fashion style.

1950s Fashion Icon – Sophia Loren

James Dean was one of the most handsome and iconic men of the 1950s. Dean has an effortless fashion style with his leather jacket, blue denim jeans and collars always up.

1950s Fashion Icon – James Dean

Brigitte Bardot wearing a bikini in the Cannes Film Festival, 1953, stole the show. This secured the bikini as a must have fashion item.

1950s Fashion Icon – Brigitte Bardot

Elizabeth Taylor’s style was brave, admirable and inspirational. She loved elegant jewels. Elizabeth liked to push boundaries with fashion and start trends, with her plunging neck lines, fur wraps, feather boas and eye catching head pieces.

1950s Fashion Icon – Elizabeth Taylor

Grace Kelly both on screen and off screen outfits, were the most talked about and copied of the decade. Her wedding dress in 1956 was one of the most memorable and elegant wedding dresses of all time. Grace epitomised classic and timeless beauty with her wardrobe.

1950s Fashion Icon – Grace Kelly

1950s fashion was, without a doubt, one of the fashion industries favourite decades. What do you love about 1950s fashion? I would love to hear.

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