Twice a year Keith and Fiona Baverstock organise the The Way We Wear Fairs in Melbourne.

The next one is coming up soon: June 14th and 15th at Williamstown Town Hall. The theme this time is “Fashion on the Ration” focusing on one of my favourite eras: the World War 2 years.

At 1pm each day there will be fashion parades and other highlights include “drawing seams on legs” contests and ’40s fashion displays.

We have two free tickets to the fair - available to the first person to pop in to the shop on Saturday and ask for them nicely.

More information at the official website. Photo courtesy “The Way We Wear Fairs”.

Had a great time last week at the Sydney Vintage Clothing Fair.

Some of the goodies I snaffled included a great pair of 40s gold platforms, a nice red 60s short sleeved jumper, hand embroidered 50s apron appliqued with animals - and lots of nice mens waistcoats from the 40s and 50s! Here are some pics:

The lovely ladies from Retrospec’d - I love their frocks!

Some pics from the Best Dressed contest:

Already looking forward to the next one - 17th to the 19th of October. Hopefully one day I can pile a few things into the van and head north so that Circa can appear as a trader as well as a buyer.

It’s happening again - the Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery and Textile Fair!

When: Friday April 11th to Sunday April 13th
Where: Canterbury Park Event Centre
Canterbury Racecourse
King Street, Canterbury.

As always, an action packed programme is planned - this is one of the most exciting events on the vintage calendar and I can’t wait. I had to miss the last one so will be there for this one.

You can see more pics from the last fair (November 2007) below the cut, including our the fabulous Lynn Savery, who won a prize in the Best Dressed award with her 1940s suit and “doughnut” hat. (more…)

Lovely people, get ready for no less than three vintage fashion fairs coming to Sydney and Melbourne between now and the rest of the year….

First up, Melbourne’s own “Mini Fashion Market”:
When: Friday 21st September 5pm to 9pm and Saturday 22nd September 9am to 5pm.
Where: Banquet Hall, Malvern Town Hall, corner Glenferrie Road and High Street Malvern.
Admission charge: $5 adults, children free.
What: “You asked for it – the opportunity to get your hands on vintage, retro and period fashion more frequently than every six months when our major fairs happen. So we’re giving you a ‘Mini’ Fair concentrating on the main game - fabulous clothes and amazing accessories.”
More information: The Way We Wear Fairs.

Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery & Textiles Show
When: Friday 9th - Sunday 11th November.
Where: Canterbury Park Event Centre, Canterbury Racecourse, King Street Canterbury.
Admission charge: Opening night cocktail party $29 (includes entry to whole weekend, finger food and complimentary drink), single day $12 adult, concession $8, children $5, under 10 years free.
What: “There will be many exhibitors showing and selling clothing, jewellery, accessories, linen, lace and collectables. The show will also feature a parade of vintage fashions, lectures by Guest Speakers, Rock-n-Roll Dancers, A Capella Sweet Adeline Chorus and other fabulous entertainment.”
More information: Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery & Textiles Show

Final show for the year, back in Melbourne:
Baubles, Bangles and Ballgowns - Christmas Fair Special Event
When: Friday 14th to Sunday 16th December.
Where: Malvern Town Hall, corner of Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern
Admission charge: $10 adult, $6 child.
What: “There will be fashion parades, talks, fun participation sessions and, as ever, a surprise or two. And we’re planning a very special event for the Friday evening – details later. A Fair not to be missed.”
More information: The Way We Wear Fairs.

Yesterday morning, Lynn (Melbourne’ s best dressed woman) and I were on the doorstep early for the latest vintage fashion fair - this one focusing on the Swinging ‘Sixties.

What we wore:
Always the most stylishly dressed, Lynn was resplendent in 1930s black suede shoes, black stockings, grey pencil skirt, grey and cream self-knitted button up cardi (with yellowy apple juice bakelite buttons), spotty scarf and black 1940s swing coat. Black leather gloves and matching handbag completed the look.

As for me, I wore my latest favourite: the black and olive wool 1940s frock purchased in King Street’s Exclusive Vintage, during my latest Sydney sojourn, black stockings, lace up Victorian-style boots, pale olive 1940s gabardine swing coat and atop my curls, a black beret completed my ensemble.

We didn’t have much time (Circa was opening at noon to give us a brief squizz at the goodies) so we quickly moved around the twenty stalls perusing the displayed items… Clothing from the Victorian to the modern era (1990s) was well represented - mostly ladieswear, but I spotted a few men’s jackets on Vonica Vintage’s busy stall. Coats were plentiful although sadly, I was unable to find any that pre-dated the 1950s (You may have noticed that I’m particularly fond of the 1940s styles at the moment). It must be said that coats of this type are increasingly hard to find in good condition and quite sought after. (more…)

Look out this weekend for the latest vintage fashion fair, The Way We Wear Winter Fair at Williamstown Town Hall.

When: Saturday June 16 (10am to 5pm) and Sunday June 17 (10am to 4pm).
What: Fabulous vintage clothing and accessories from the past two centuries.
Where: Williamstown Town Hall, Ferguson street, Williamstown.
Cost: $10 for adults.

Circa won’t be exhibiting this time, but a number of free admission tickets are available at the shop - just pop in and request yours.