The way we wear clothes has changed a lot in the last few decades, in particular with regards to underwear and accessories - the overall casualisation of clothing isn’t always a good thing, I think.

Vintage clothes were designed to look their best with vintage foundation garments - these days, you don’t have to strap yourself into corsetry, suspender belts or girdles unless you want to, but we can all benefit from the goodness that is a decent petticoat.

Our grandmothers understood it well: a nice petticoat will make your clothing fit and look better as well as add to your comfort. It also makes dressing more of an occasion - walking around whilst you get ready of a morning (or any time you change outfits) is easier and more glamourous whilst wearing the equivalent of a sexy, sultry slip of slightly sheer fabric that covers and enhances your assets. After all, has Liz Taylor ever looked better than she did in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Butterfield 8?

Circa is currently closed so I can’t show you any of our beauties, instead here are some lovely examples from other vintage shops: far too nice to be limited to your boudoir, many will happily double as evening frocks, especially for the hot summer nights ahead.

Clicking on each image will take you to the full size version (and believe me, they look much better in full size) and there is a link below each that will take you to each shop for more information. All photos remain the property of their respective websites.

Stockings and suspenders are an essential part of creating a vintage look for a modern gal, but even Dita can’t duplicate the saucy elegance of old photos and the irreverent look of an immoral woman.

Beneath the cut are some of my favourite pics, collected over the years from assorted Livejournal communities. Dating from the Edwardian era to the early 1960s, all are work-safe: containing luscious thighs and scanties but no actual nudity….many were exceedingly racy back in the day and many are fetishistic: then as now. I’ve displayed them roughly in era order, so you can observe the different approaches (and increased raunchiness) as we go.

A good friend mentioned that her husband enjoyed a post I once wrote about vintage stockings…so Chris, this one is for you and also for the rest of us who hanker for a bit of vintage sexy-style glamour - the best sort.

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Along with my two younger brothers, I was born in Sydney. One sunny day early in 1975, the whole family piled into dad’s vintage Studebaker and crossed the Harbour Bridge on the journey of a lifetime.

Over a few months, we drove first to Melbourne and then on to Adelaide - where a tiny cog in the almost-fifty-year-old car wore out. A new part had to be made to the original US specifications, and so mum, my baby brother and I flew the rest of way to Perth whilst dad and Evan killed time in Adelaide until all was ready to drive the car across the Nullarbor plain.

Their arrival in Perth caused quite a stir - and made the front page of the state newspaper “The West Australian”. Dad kindly sent me one of the photos taken - I present it here courtesy The West, who own the copyright and hopefully won’t mind me publishing it here.

1928 Studebaker GB (Big Six), with Brian and Evan Jenkins arriving in Perth in 1975 (you can see the old Boans department store in the background).

As you can imagine, there’s a lot of attachment to the Stude in my family - nowadays she’s safely ensconced in dad’s Perth garage, undergoing restoration. She still bears the colour scheme that she received during her original restoration in the early ’70s: black and burgundy - not dissimilar to these lovely examples, who also have loving homes - they’re from a great website called Old Car and Truck Pictures. All photos owned by their original owners.

1927 Studebaker Commander 4 door sedan, Big Six - I suspect this is the model before dad’s. Owned by Jerry White of Grand Island NE, USA.

1928 Studebaker Director Royal Sedan - owned by Steve K. of Sydney, Australia.

1928 Studebaker taken at Yarmouth County Museum, Yarmouth, NS USA by J. Stuart McLean. Perhaps this is the same model as dad’s?

On Saturday August 2nd, Circa participated in an Art Deco fashion parade organised by Chris Horne, for the National Gallery of Victoria as part of their Art Deco exhibition. High Tea was held at Sofi’s, and quickly sold out - before we knew that we would be involved - otherwise I would have invited you all!

Here are some shots from the day - there were over thirty outfits in total, all are original to the period 1910 to 1939. The first seven outfits (one for each model) were the last ones out, and all are from the late 1930s. All garments and accessories are from the private collection of Chris Horne, my own or from Circa. More pics will be posted as they’re available!

Many thanks to Chris, for allowing us to be a part of this amazing event, and Doug Cloud for the photography. Click on each one to see the photo in full.

Amanda in Vermont, one of the fabulous ladies of the Vintage Fashion Guild has introduced me to a great Vogue site featuring an archive of old covers.

I’m still making my way through the 1920s but can’t resist posting some of my favourites - after all, who doesn’t love a flapper? Inger, I’m looking at you!

Click on the pics for the full version, click again to see it full size.

Pics pinched from the above mentioned Vogue site, with love and appreciation.

We’ve been in the Blue Mountains this week to photograph some select couture pieces from Charlotte Smith’s Darnell Collection. Here you can see Charlotte sharing a fabulous beaded 1920s silk gown with us.

Charlotte is featured on this evening’s ABC programme The Collectors
Charlotte Smith’s collection has been described as “two centuries of elegance”. Three years ago Charlotte became the custodian of her godmother Doris Darnell’s world-renowned collection of vintage clothing and accessories, the largest of it’s kind in Australia. Dior, Versace, this collection has it all and it’s a treat indeed for the couture loving prof when he joins Charlotte for some high-end fashion ‘time travelling’.

You can see some more snaps I took during the session here. (more…)

Part Five of the series on Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

I must confess to loving the ‘twenties - oh those rebellous flappers and all that rule breaking! We’ll probably never see their like again and still I’m in awe. It takes a lot to convince a young woman, heck, any woman, that showing off your feminine wiles isn’t important. I’m also in awe of the consistency of the ’20s ladieswear; there are minor deviations, sure, but what you generally see is a long tube shape of a dress (or suit or top and skirt) and a concerted effort to counteract female curvaceousness. It makes it a very easy era to date - the simplicity of the silhouette is counteracted by the luxury of the silk fabrics and the detailing: glass, steel and anthracite beading, gelatinous sequins (whatever you do, don’t put a sequinned flapper gown in water!).

I’m particularly impressed with Loel’s collection of ’20s: simple and embroidered cotton day dresses and extravagant evening gowns. It’s hard to appreciate the beadwork without closeups but if it looks fabulous, believe me, it is.

Click on the link for more (more…)

This one is from a while ago, but I can’t resist sharing it with you. Both gowns are French silk couture, purhased from an exclusive Collins street boutique in the late 1920s and from the wardrobe of a local lady. Both have now found new and appreciative homes - the gorgeous floral on the left is now owned by a lovely blonde lady, the owner of Melbourne’s best lingerie boutique.

I quite like the way the lighting is rather fey, with lots of street reflection.

A clearer shot of the frocks can be seen here (more…)