This week the new Frankie magazine came out – not only is it my favourite mag (and the only one Circa subscribes to) but it features six pages of vintage clothing tips from yours truly!

Starting with the 1930s, each page features a dress from Circa and useful advice about how to recognise it when you see the real deal – and what to look out for in reproduction styles.

As well as the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, it covers the 1960s and even the ’70s.

Although most of my stock is bought from private collectors, I’m amazed at what you can still find out there in unexpected quarters – recently a friend found a pair of 1820s dancing shoes in a Tasmanian op shop and over the years I’ve bought several ’20s and ’30s dresses at flea markets and quite a bit of Victorian cotton underwear in op shops too.

The important thing is knowing what to look for, and enjoying the treasure hunt!

Apologies for not posting many photos recently, I think this post will make up for it a little, especially with the glamour quotient, which is higher than usual!

Last week we had a film crew in the shop, filming for a New Zealand TV programme. At the same time, Super Kawaii Mama dropped by with her visiting friends Violet le Beaux and Jimmy America. So of course Fiona and I had to dress them all up in some of the great frocks and suits that are currently in store.

Somehow I neglected to take any shots of Jimmy looking very smart in a pinstripe suit – perhaps he’ll put up a photo himself? If you go over to his blog, you’ll see some great photos from their Melbourne visit including my favourite – parasols at dawn and an action shot of Fiona fitting Violet. You can see that the camera crew seemed to be enjoying themselves too.

If you’re in Perth, look out for an interview in today’s Xpress magazine. A friend sent me this scan:

click on it to see in full – thanks Hayden!

Here is the online text version (sans pretty frocks) – scroll down for the piece. Soon I’ll have a proper version too.

Hmm, I think it’s about time I set up a proper media page – with all these interviews, TV appearances, radio guest spots…it’s getting a bit hard to keep track.

For those who missed last Friday night’s episode of ABC1 “Collectors”, here is the segment where I talk about vintage swimwear – and the lovely Candice deVille does a wonderful job modelling some of my ladies designs. You’ll also get to see a bit of Circa, which has recently been expanded to include a better fitting room area, complete with rose print carpet.

It will be repeated on ABC2 on Monday night. The full episode can be viewed online for a limited time.

If you’re received this post via email subscription, the above embedded video may not be appearing – in which case, please click on this link.

Since the book has come out, I’ve been doing a bit of writerly publicity – there are a few magazine articles still to come out, an appearance on Deborah Cameron’s ABC radio show in Sydney and a nice big article in the Age by James Cockington (I’ll post it when I get around to scanning it, so that you can see the photos too, but you can read it online here).

Recently I got to go on national ABC Radio for the Coodabeen Champions. Tim has edited the segment down to the 13 minutes we chat about the book and vintage. Click on the link below – be warned, it starts to play right away!

Nicole on the Coodabeen Champions.

There was also a mention of the book in a reading guide included in the Sydney Morning Herald and another mention in the latest Qantas inflight magazine. Also: lots of blogs (which is especially wonderful)!

As well – look out for the Collectors segment on vintage swimwear this Friday at 8pm. The episode guide is already up on the ABC website – if you look very carefully you can see a tiny image of me in my wisteria-print dressing gown, admiring shop mannequin Clark in his shiny ’40s bathing trunks. Can’t wait to see Candice parading the women’s swimwear.

From the website:
Nicole Jenkins literally parades her collection of vintage and retro swimwear, with familiar names like Jantzen and Speedo going back to the 40s. The ladies’ one-piece cossies from the 50s make for a very attractive tableau.

It will be repeated on Monday evening, and available for download from the website after it screens.

Last Friday we had a film crew at Circa to shoot a segment on vintage swimwear for ABC programme The Collectors.

I spoke about my love for vintage, as well as mens and ladies swimsuits from the ’20s to the ’70s. I set up the window for the annual swimwear display (usually it happens when it’s actually summer but allowances needed to be made), and best of all – Candice modelled some of the best pieces from my collection.

Here you can see Candice dressed in an ultra-glamourous strapless ’50s Jantzen style made from ruched lace. She looks the part, doesn’t she?

Photo courtesy SuperKawaiiMama/Candice.

You can see some of the other swimsuits I talked about here – some will be in the shop soon, available for new homes just in time for summer.

You’ll have to wait until it screens on December 4th (8pm on Channel ABC) to see how good Candice looks in them, though.

UPDATE: The ABC has bumped it back a week and the episode will now be screened on December 11th.

A great new online fashion magazine has arrived – The Fashion Birdcage.

Especially nice, there’s a long interview with yours truly, featuring some pics you might recognise from Circa’s blog. It was written by the lovely Louise of Catwalk Creative. Louise is a fellow Vintage Fashion Guild member and also has her own blog.

Click here to see the First Issue. You’ll see the interview on pages 114-119. Thanks to Louise of Catwalk Creative and Enkha of The Fashion Birdcage.

This month Circa is featured in Lady Melbourne’s fashion feature in street magazine Fashion Journal.

Lady Melbourne has styled a few outfits based on the influence of designer Luella, and created some lovely romantic Spring looks.

Here’s Lady M in one of our frocks, you can find it on Circa’s day dress rack:

Late 1940s puckered nylon sundress – photo courtesy Lady Melbourne.

We have a few copies of Fashion Journal instore if you’d like one – or you can see it here online (although it’s much easier to read with the magazine). Thanks LM!

Circa’s menswear and a nice frilly blouse worn Dandy style, was highlighted recently in an article in Cherrie Mag:

Photos courtesy Cherrie Magazine.

Bianca Christoff writes:
It is simply not necessary to spend a fortune on looking fantastic if you have the right awareness of style, rather than fashion. With an ever increasing demand by the consumer, as well as designers, to create ethically, it is no surprise that the resurgence of vintage and recycled clothing is more evident now than ever before.

For the style conscious, vintage and second-hand clothing stores are quickly becoming the Mecca of fashion shopping.

You can read the full article here.

It’s been an exciting month at Circa, with three interesting ladies featured in the media wearing garments from Circa. They’ve each found different ways to put together a look that expresses their personality.

Anna Knight, featured in “Golden Years”, Frankie Magazine March 2008
1950s cotton dress by Circa.

Nicola Trethowan, featured in “The Melbourne Look”, The Age (Melbourne) Magazine March 2008
1940s rayon crepe dress by Circa.

Kali Rose, featured in “Street Seen”, The Sunday Age M magazine, March 9, 2008
1950s cotton shorts by Circa.