Hi all,

This is the third talk that I have coming up in the next few weeks and it’s dedicated to the wonderful accessories that ladies and gentlemen wore to spruce up their outfits during the ’20s to the ’50s – with a definite Art Deco slant. I might even sneak in some items from the Deco revival in the late ’60-early ’70s.

What: Nicole presents a talk on Art Deco accessories
When: 7.30pm, Thursday 5th August2010
Where: Racecourse Hotel, cnr Waverley Rd & Princes Highway, East Malvern
Cost: $15 which includes coffee, tea, biscuits and mini-muffins.
Bookings: Complete the booking form on this page and send in no later than 30th July 2010. We also have some booking forms at Circa.

More information at the Art Deco and Modernism Society

Copies of my book “Love Vintage” will be available on the night.

UPDATE: this talk is now sold out.

Hi all,

This is the second talk that I have coming up in the next few weeks. I’ll be talking about ladies fashions of the 20th century and will bring original garments from each decade to discuss. topics will include cultural and social history, fabrics, design and construction.

What: Talk on ladies fashions of the 20th century.
Where: Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
When: 12.15pm Wednesday 25 August (talk will go for one hour)
Cost: free

Ballarat is one of my favourite towns, and the Art Gallery is one of the best regional galleries in Australia. I’m honoured to have an opportunity to present a talk there. This one is especially good for vintage lovers in Ballarat and nearby towns.

UPDATE: This event is now sold out. Kingston Library are taking a list of names interested in a future talk.

Hi all,

I have three talks on vintage clothing coming up and this is the first one:

Join Nicole Jenkins, author of Love Vintage and owner of Circa Vintage Clothing in Fitzroy, for afternoon tea and a talk about ladies fashions from 1940 to 1960.

Nicole will bring several original garments to illustrate cultural history, design, fabrics and construction. Bring your own classic garments for discussion too!

What: Talk on ladies fashions 1940-1960.
Where: Kingston Library, Chelsea Library Branch, 1 Chelsea Rd, Chelsea.
When: 2pm Friday July 30th (talk will go for an hour, followed by afternoon tea).
Cost: free
Bookings: Phone the Library on 1300 135 668. Please note that numbers are limited.

Click on the image to see larger.

I’m particularly looking forward to this one, as I usually talk about a century of fashion and this is a rare opportunity to concentrate on my current favourite decades: the 1940s and 1950s, the golden years of couture.

Starting with WW2 “make do and mend” it will go post-war with Dior in ’47 and the haute couture of the ’50s, through to 1960 when elegance had peaked and begun it’s decline into the youthful fashions of the ’60s.

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.

To accompany the Hart & Hand exhibition of vintage clothing at Heritage Hill museum in Dandenong, I’m giving a talk about antique and vintage clothing. 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 2nd.
Cost: $12 includes afternoon tea.
Bookings Essential, very limited places – please phone 9793 4511

There are two more talks associated with the exhibition:

Tuesday 16 February, 2pm
History of Hand Made Lace – presented by Patricia Begg O.A.M

Tuesday 23 February, 2pm
History of Machine Made Lace: presented by Patricia Begg O.A.M

More information at the Heritage Hill website.

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.