This week Circa welcomed a new sales lady, Carly from The Lindy Charm School for Girls. It seemed like a good opportunity to introduce her to some vintage lovers as well as the Circa coterie, for High Tea at the Park Hyatt.

What I found particularly interesting, of course, was what everyone chose to wear – Vic dressed in 1930s, Candice wore a ’40s inspired printed 1980s frock and most of the rest of us were somewhere in the 1940s or 1950s with the exception of Jules, who wore a sweet 1960s inspired creation of her own.

Looking around at the diverse outfits, I couldn’t help thinking that here were a variety of dresses that were originally intended for a particular type of occasion and yet in the 21st century all are appropriate for an afternoon of tea and cakes. It’s one of the aspects of vintage that I love the most: how easy it is to create your own personal style.

Tim and I were early, so raised a toast to the impending afternoon:

Most of the ladies arrived in quick succession and took their places around the table – it was especially nice to be able to introduce people who knew each other online but were yet to meet in person.

Julie from Ballarat Vintage Style, wearing a gorgeous nylon late ’40s picnic dress, Kesenya from Alice Jeans in a floral party frock (love the red beads) and Jules from Poppet wearing one of her own designs, soon to be available from Poppet Vintage hopefully.

Circa’s new lady Carly in a fabulous 1940s cocktail dress, with Esther (also Circa) in a late ’40s picnic dress.

Hubby Tim Hamilton with Maria from Vintage Suburbia in another of those ever popular picnic dresses, this one from the early ’50s. Perfect for afternoon tea! Maria accessorised it with a great floral bag too.

Candice from Super Kawaii Mama in a bold 1980s floral with Claire from HarbourMaster – wearing a silk ’50s party dress.

Marianne from Esme and the Laneway in a cute ’40s day frock, Victoria (from Circa) in ’30s floral rayon afternoon dress and Eszter from Kitty’s Drawings in a 1950s cotton print sundress.

Tamasein from Underground Cinema in an early 1940s dinner dress (I have dozens of these and I never get tired of them) and Fiona, burlesque dancer Foxtrot India (and also Circa) in a 1950s petticoat and polka dot skirt.

Now you’re probably wondering what everyone’s dresses look like in full? Here’s a group shot minus a few who had to leave on time – the rest of us seemed in no hurry as it was such a lovely way to spend an afternoon!

Thank you to everyone who came: it was wonderful to see you all and we must do it again soon!

Next week’s talk on vintage clothing at Heritage Hill is sold out and there’s an impressive waiting list, so we’ve scheduled a second talk.

This is to accompany the Hart & Hand exhibition of vintage clothing at Heritage Hill museum in Dandenong, although the exhibition will finish before the second talk. Copies of Love Vintage will also be available for sale.

From the Star News:
Ms Jenkins will reveal how and why she became so fascinated with vintage clothing and where to find it.
She will bring several antique and vintage pieces from her own extensive collection to use as illustrations and encourages participants to bring garments of their own for discussion.

What: Love Vintage: A Collector’s look at Antique and Vintage Clothing – presented by Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage Clothing.
Where: Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens – McCrae St, Dandenong
When: 2-3pm, Tuesday March 30th.
Cost: $12 includes afternoon tea.
Bookings Essential, very limited places – please phone 9793 4511

More information at the Heritage Hill website, although it’s yet to be updated with the second talk.

At last Friday’s talk at the City Museum, I brought 23 frocks and talked about them, as representative of different times in the 20th century (the frocks covered the the years from the 20s to the 80s). It worked well, although went on for much longer than planned – I’ll use a similar format to this, but bring mostly different frocks so that people coming to both will get a different perspective. I’ll see if I can bring some pre-20s as well.

A couple of lovely ladies came into Circa today with some fliers for the new Red Door Burlesque evenings at the Order of Melbourne. I have a soft spot for burlesque and with the fabulous Miss Emma Peel DJing and the equally fabulous Mr Andrew McClelland as Master of Ceremonies plus special guests, what’s not to love?

Details:
Red Door Burlesque
Sunday 28th February
The Order of Melbourne – Level 2, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Doors open 6pm, show starts 7pm
$20 entry – To book, call 9663 6707

Red Door Burlesque will be happening on the last Sunday of each month – the last time they were on, the line ups were wonderful and they quickly sold out. I’ll be along next Sunday to see what’s in store.

More information at the Facebook page. And if you happen to see any ’50s frocks printed with fruit in outer space, let me know. Apparently they’re in demand. They’re certainly wacky and I like that.

It’s going to be a busy week –

On Wednesday evening is the group tour to Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection. Now, the tour is fully booked but it’s likely we’ll do another one soon for those who’ve missed out. If you are coming, please meet us out the front (35 Greenaway Street, Bulleen) just before 7pm.

On Friday evening I’m doing a talk on vintage clothing at the City Museum – please phone the City Museum on (03) 9651 2233 for bookings. I’ll be bringing some garments from my collection.

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced office or studio space, a friend of mine is looking for someone to share in Collingwood – Circa’s stockroom is at the Langridge Design Centre so I can vouch for how good it is – more information can be found here.

Coming up: on Tuesday March 2nd, I’m giving another talk on vintage at Heritage Hill in Dandenong. Please phone phone 9793 4511 for bookings.

As well, the 20% off Sale continues at Circa all week – here are some of the goodies in store now, all are available at a nice discount – thank you to my wonderful model and shop lady Victoria.

Hi all,

I’m organising a group to see Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

Loel is a private collector who has dedicated her time and resources to the collection, preservation and display of two hundred years of Australian fashion. Many of her pieces were included in my book Love Vintage. I’m sure that she has the best collection of Australian fashion in the country, as well as jewellery, accessories and lace. There’s also an impressive tea cosy collection!

When: Wednesday 17th February at 7pm.
Where: The Costume Collection, 39 Greenaway Street, Bulleen.
What: Tour and talk on 200 years of Australian fashion.
Cost: $5 which Loel donates to a local nursing home.
Bookings: call Circa on 9419 8899

For those who are interested in social history, the history of fashion or just beautiful clothes, I thoroughly recommend this visit. Numbers are limited and RSVP is essential.

Here are some links to photos that I took on previous visits – please note that Loel often changes the displays so you might see some of these but you’ll probably see others from her collection of over 3,000 pieces:
Early 19th century dress.
Victorian era.
Edwardian era.
1920s dress.
1930s dress.
1940s dress.
1950s dress.
Swimwear.

1950s swimwear from Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

UPDATE 8th Feb: As sufficient numbers have been received to fill the group, we’re now taking names for any one who might be interested in a second tour, hopefully in the next few weeks. Please call the shop on 9419 8899. Thank you.

As you know, some of my older garments are on display in an exhibition at the City Museum called “What Women Wore”. It was with sadness that I read on the weekend that the museum will be closing.

Thankfully it won’t be until the latest exhibition on vintage toys finishes on the 14th of March – and in the meantime, I’ll be giving a little talk on vintage clothing to accompany the What Women Wore exhibition.

What: “Join Nicole Jenkins – long time vintage lover, author of Love Vintage and proprietor of Circa Vintage Clothing in Melbourne – for a lively discussion. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. ” Copies of Love Vintage will also be available for sale.
Where: City Museum, Old Treasury Building, Spring Street Melbourne.
When: Friday 19 February, 6pm.
Cost: Adult $10 / Concession holders and children free (incl glass of sparkling wine).
Bookings: please contact City Museum on (03) 9651 2233.

If you’re interested in cultural events at the City Museum, please see the latest newsletter.

1920s silk devore dress and 1920s silk embroidered coat – in the background you can just see the polka dots of a silk 1950s dress, couture by Le Louvre.

For Sydneysiders who missed the Melbourne launch of “Our Girls”, Madeleine Hamilton’s lovely new book about Aussie pin up models of the ’40s and ’50s, come along to Berkelouw Books’ Wine Bar this Saturday for your chance to get a signed copy from the author.

What: “Our Girls” Sydney book launch
When: 4pm Saturday December 5th
Where: Berkelouw Books’ Wine Bar, 70 Norton Street Leichardt (above Berkelouw Books)

Please RSVP to info@arcadepublications.com

Click on the above invite to see in full size.

Last week saw the launch of Madeleine Hamilton’s fabulous new book – Our Girls, Aussie Pin-ups of the ’40s and ’50s.

It was a wonderful night: Wes Snelling MCed, Caroline and Kay from the Tap-Pets tap-danced in purple sequins and Circa was there too, with a mini ’50s fashion parade and beauty pageant with glamourous modern day pin-ups Candice DeVille, Nici Blue Eyes and Becky Argent.

Here are some pics of the show – hope you enjoy. As always, click on the image to see in full, click again to see in full size. That’s author Madeleine with the microphone.

My fav outfit of the night: Nici resplendant in red satin and lace party dress – available now in Circa for a happy new owner. Here worn with a matching ’50s style petticoat.

All photos courtesy Tim Hamilton.

More about the night can be seen at Candice’s blog and Stomper Girl’s blog. Official photos by Louise M. Cooper here. Review by The Enthusiast. Oh – and Lady Melbourne was also there! As well, Style Melbourne have also covered the event.

As well, it was filmed for the ABC’s 7.30 Report. Hope to have news about screening date soon.

We spent two days and one evening at the Sydney Vintage Clothing Fair. The official launch was on the Friday night – usually I like to come for the evening and then fly back to Melbourne so that I’m in the shop for Saturday trading at Circa but this time not only did I stay the whole weekend but so did Tim, Victoria and Candice. It was a bit like travelling en famille…en vintage famille.

The pictures tell the story – some highlights;
- lucky me got to wear two fabulous hats (the leopard print is by Schiaparelli).
…and three frocks (the floral one you can’t see here, but you’ll see it when I talk about swimwear on The Collectors, December 4th).
- Tim and Victoria got to quaff sparkling wine in celebration. I put my glass down…somewhere….
- Charlotte Smith gave two talks about the Darnell Collection, in particular the items that are included in Love Vintage. Charlotte has her own book coming out next week about the DC, I’ll post about that soon.
- Spending time with the wonderful ladies of the Lindy Charm School! They’re hosting another Melbourne workshop next month, must post about that too.
- I bought some great stock for Circa including lots of mens suits, cravats, a tie lined with an image of a scantily clad lady, party frocks, purses, handbags and waistcoats.
- Delivered perhaps the only ’20s Chanel that I’ll ever get my mitts on – to a very happy (and deserving) new owner.
- Tim entered Friday night’s best dressed competition, and the Lindy Charm ladies kindly said he should have won.
- Candice and Heather won Saturday’s best dressed competition!
- What a wonderful fair, with so many best dressed competitions…
- I didn’t win any best dressed competitions, but I did get to launch my book – and meet lots of lovely people and chat about our vintage lives. It’s an event I’ll never forget…a highlight of my life.

When the lovely chaps from Arcade Publications asked if I could put on a mini-fashion parade for the launch of Madeleine Hamilton’s new book “Our Girls – Aussie Pin-ups of the ’40s and ’50s”, how could I say no? It’s been pretty busy down at Circa but we had to fit it into the schedule – not least as the author Madeleine was married in one of our gowns.

What: “Our Girls” book launch with Circa ’50s fashion parade and other stars.
Where: The Order of Melbourne, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
When: Wednesday November 11th at 6pm
Cost: Free entry.

Image courtesy Arcade Publications.

Signed books will be available for purchase on the night – $18 each.