A lovely reader wrote about the Sydney Tweed Run that was held a couple of weeks ago.

You may recall my post about the London Tweed Run and how it was a pity that we didn’t do something like that here - well, our Northern cousins have beat us to it, and you can see by the pics that the turnout in Sydney was nothing short of impressive. I was also pleased to see large numbers of ladies attending, at least one of whom looks to be wearing a corset!

I hope they don’t mind, but I’ve borrowed these images from Flickr’s pool and in lieu of individual crediting, each file name declares it’s source.

We can’t be shown up like this - someone needs to organise a similar event in Melbourne! In the meantime, Pete left this comment on the London Tweed Run post:

I have scheduled a Lether Saddle Tour (for old bikes, blokes and sheilas) with my touring club on Sun 19th July. It is not in Melbourne unfortunately, but more a country tour in the style of the Cyclist’s Special 1955.

We will be doing a 60km tour from Geelong out on the Bellarine peninsula. Any classic cyclists interested in this, riding old bikes and old clothes, contact: rides@mbtc.org.au

Many people had to miss out on last month’s Salon Show so they’ve decided to do it all again - Thursday evening next week, June 11th at 7pm. Here are the details:

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is very excited to announce a second Robert Fritzlaff Salon Show thanks to popular demand.

Price includes salon show, light supper, designer talk and exhibition admission. Prices: Adults - $70; Concession/Child - $65; National Trust Members - $65; Members Concession - $60.
Bookings essential – 9827 2500

If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, here are some photos taken at the last Salon Show by Keith Glennan.

This week we’ve been busy at Circa, getting ready for Thursday’s Robert Fritzlaff fashion parade at Como House - Shaping Elegance Salon Show. Circa is styling and providing accessories to accompany the beautiful couture gowns.

Photo courtesy Keith Glennan.

There are two professional models who will be parading - here is Candice DeVille, a.k.a. Super Kawaii Mama doing a little pre-Salon modelling for the press.

Both photos courtesy Jeff Paine.

Especially interesting for students of fashion, is this great video of Mr Fritzlaff designing and making some of the gowns we’ll be seeing.

Tickets are still available, although selling fast - book now on 9827 2500.

In case you haven’t been to see the exhibition of Robert Fritzlaff’s beautiful couture from the ’50s - ’70s yet (or if you enjoyed it so much you’d like to see more), I can recommend a special event coming up at Como House.

What: Shaping Elegance Salon Show - “see a spectacular salon show in Como’s beautiful ballroom. Experience the fabulous fashion whilst enjoying a delicious morning tea. Meet the designer Robert Fritzlaff and see the exhibition that celebrates his life and style.”

When: Thursday 7th May at 11am
Where: Como House, Corner Williams Road and Lechlade Ave South Yarra
Price: Adults - $70; Concession/Child - $65; National Trust Members - $65; Members Concession - $60. Bookings essential - call 9827 2500

I’m a proud member of the National Trust and was pleased that Circa was able to contribute a small part to the salon parade by accessorising all eighteen ensembles with suitable gloves, hats, handbags and costume jewellery.

Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the closest we get these days to viewing a fashion show as it was back in the glory days of couture, the 1950s - whilst sitting comfortably, sipping tea and nibbling on a sweet morsel. Hope to see some of you there!

At Circa, we love our tweeds and the stylish chaps who wear them - so for like minded folk, may I present the London Tweed Run, held in a suitably cold English January.

Now why can’t we have wonderful events like this here? Trust the Brits to start something like this. Here are the details taken from the London Fixed-Gear and Single Speed:

Ladies. Gentlemen. Announcing the first LFGSS Winter Dress Club Run: a social ride with a bit of style.

Be sure to dress with a bit of panache, there will be prizes awarded.
Tally ho!

Here in Melbourne, we’re currently half way through the Fashion Festival - it gets bigger and bigger every year, with all kinds of events now being incorporated, including the Robert Fritzlaff exhibition (did I mention how fabulous it is?), the now finished Stitches and Craft show and the Remaking Fashion exhibition at the NGV (I finally made it to this last Sunday and it’s well worth seeing too).

You can see the full programme here. It finishes on the 22nd.

Meanwhile I was interested to see that at the Opening Party, fifteen of our top designers used vintage clothing as inspiration for catwalk creations - the eras covered start from J’Aton doing Victorian (1860) through to Arthur Galan with Edwardian (1900s) and onwards through the twentieth century until the last few designers created “future” looks.

Photo: Penny Stephens.

My favourites were Toni Maticevski recreating the 1920s in sexy flapper style and Aurelio Costarella with silvery, glamourous 1930s: a look we’re sure to see more of. The first pic is of the assembled group - all images are courtesy of The Age.

Photo: Penny Stephens.

Photo: Penny Stephens.

The last couple of days I’ve been busy at the ESMOD stand at the Craft Show - the brief was to drape Circa’s vintage mannequins in tulle and ribbon, as well as setting up the Darnell Collection mannequins, which are displaying garments from 1840 to 1990s.

It’s a great show: lots of things to do and see, free workshops on everything from fabric dyeing to knitting and scrap-booking. Today was pretty quiet, so there was lots of room and opportunity to talk with people. I bought some long strands of glass pearl beads for the shop, and met a lovely lady who can make hand mirrors for Circa, using some of the vintage fabrics I have.

I’ll be there tomorrow: if you’re in the neighbourhood, drop in and say “hi”. You’ll find the ESMOD stand in the middle of the main pavilion.

Apologies to subscribers who received an early version of this post, as a password protected file. I was trying out the security settings and found out what not to do!

This Wednesday the Stitches and Craft Show opens at the Showgrounds. There’s an impressive line-up of events (you can see a pdf show guide here), and amongst them will be the first Melbourne showing of the Darnell Collection, hosted by Sydney’s ESMOD school of fashion.

Circa has been invited to make a small contribution - we’re lending them five of our best vintage mannequins for a display on the history of mannequins. Look out for Emily (Edwardian), Fay (late ’20s-early ’30s), Lola (early ’40s), Marlene (late ’40s) and Betty (’50s).

So this week - for the first and probably last time - we’ll be without our girls and so you’ll see dressmaker’s dummies with Clark (our male mannequin) in the window and on the floor. The girls will be back next week.

Hi all,

Apologies for the flurry of posts: I’m setting up a new section called “Upcoming Events” (see over on the right, below Subscription options) which functions as a Calendar with entries for interesting fashion exhibitions, vintage clothing fairs, markets and sales.

Please feel free to contact me about relevant vintage clothing events, especially if you have any images that you don’t mind me reposting.

Thank you,
Nicole.

Four years ago today, Circa was born - here’s a photo of Tim and I on the night, yes I look (and felt) totally exhausted!

About an hour or so before this photo was taken, I was driving up Gertrude, enroute to the shop and thinking about everything that had happened to bring it all together: I was happy fit to bursting! Opening a shop is just the beginning of the journey - at that stage I had no idea if anyone would like my collection of pieces that I had brought from all around Australia over a period of over 25 years.

Fortunately, lots of you did - and do - like the things that I’ve collected - and continue to collect. A lot has changed since the beginning, but with your help we’ll continue to grow and flourish.

Here’s the most recent pic of Tim and I: at the NGV Deco opening, a beautiful car in the background instead of an embryo shop - my outfit has progressed from 1920s to 1930s but my darling Tim, are you wearing the same Anton’s jacket?! I think we need to get you into more vintage.