Apologies for all the fair and market announcements; I need to post some actual content soon to make up for them but I can’t help it if the calendar is quite busy at the moment!

The largest vintage fair in Melbourne is happening again – it’s only on twice a year and is the largest dedicated vintage market, in so far as it may not have as many stalls as some other fairs but you will find the most real antique, vintage and retro clothing from the last two centuries.

What: The Way We Wear Fair
When: 10-5pm Saturday June 19th and 10-4pm Sunday June 20th
Where: Williamstown Town Hall, Ferguson Street, Williamstown
Cost: Adult $12 Child (10+) $6 Family $30

Photo courtesy The Way We Wear Fair. For more information please see the official website

The theme for this fair is “And the Bride Wore…” and there will be many vintage wedding gowns on display from Australian and UK collections.

The Way We Wear Fair has generously provided us some free tickets to give away to Circa readers. A contest is open to all who are able to visit the fair, and there are four double passes to be given away.

All you need to is comment to this post saying which is your favourite wedding gown from history and why? For example, perhaps you like Grace Kelly’s, or Queen Victoria’s or perhaps what Liz Taylor wore to marry Richard Burton – the first time. Or there is always Jean Harlow or for something bolder, Dita von Teese. I quite like the elegant silk dress Marilyn wore to marry Miller in 1956.

The contest will run until the Sunday June 13th and then winners will be chosen. Good luck!

Next week I’m visiting the city of my birth for the latest (and best) vintage clothing fair in the country.

What: The Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery and Textiles Show.
When: Friday 16th April 5.30-9pm, Sat 17th April 9.30-4.30pm, Sunday 18th April 9.30-4.30pm.
Where: Canterbury Park Racecourse, King Street, Canterbury, Sydney.
Cost: Adults $12, Pensioner $10, Children 10-16yrs $5, Under 10yrs free, Family $30

There’s always plenty of events, in particular I’m looking forward to:
Don’t miss the exhibition of vintage clothing by world renowned designer Adolph Schuman of the Lilli Ann label. The exhibition will feature 10 sumptuous coats from the 1940s to the 1960s and will highlight the quality of clothing from these eras and the design ability of Schuman.

As well, the Lindy Charm School for Girls are running workshops, Charlotte Smith (author of Dreaming of Dior) will be giving talks, there will be a parade of reproduction ’40s and ’50s fashions by Retrospec’d and Swingtime will be dancing up a storm.

Get there early on the Friday night for the “Best Dressed in Vintage” competition at 7.15pm – I’ll be judging as well as signing copies of “Love Vintage” book.

More information can be found at the website. Hope to see you there!

From the in-box:

This is a TWO DAY event on TWO LEVELS Sat 30th and Sun 31st of January from 1pm-6pm and both days offer different stall holders with a variety of different stock. We will have Djs Mohair Slim and Jim Dandy from Bama-Lama! who have their own show on PBS, spinning Original 45s -78s.

What: Hello Sailor Vintage Fair
Where: The Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith st Collingwood, Vic, 3066.
When: Saturday Jan 30 and Sunday Jan 31, 1pm to 6pm.

I went to the last Hello Sailor at the Grace Darling (a beautiful old pub) and there were some lovely things there – I snaffled a bunch of red tulip lights for the shop (I have two bunches now, I really like them). Also met some lovely people too – prices are very reasonable and the music was great.

More information at the Facebook Page.

UPDATE: this fair is a fundraiser for Haiti victims – Circa has donated a gift voucher for the raffle prize pack.

From the in-box:

This is a Special Xmas TWO DAY event on TWO LEVELS Sat 19th and Sun 20th of December from 1pm-6pm and both days offer different stall holders with a variety of different stock.

This is not a trash and treasure market. Hello Sailor offers quality vintage items and recycled designer stock that is in good condition at a reasonable price.

What: Hello Sailor Vintage Fair
Where: The Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith st Collingwood, Vic, 3066.
When: Saturday Dec 19 and Sunday Dec 20, 1pm to 6pm.

More information at the Facebook page

From the in box –
We know you have always wanted an excuse to don your pillbox hat and gloves and you just don’t feel pious enough to attend that early morning Sunday service. Never fear, the Sunday Best Jumble Sale is here.

Records, clothes, shoes, accessories, bric-a-brac, cornflake crackles and fortune telling all under one roof! Featuring Clairy Baby Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes. Hallelujah for Sunday Best!

What: Sunday Best Jumble Sale
When:Sunday December 6th market 12-5pm, bands 5pm-10pm
Where: my new favourite venue The Order of Melbourne, 401 Swanston Street.
Cost: ?

More information at the Facebook page. It’s on a Sunday so I can pop along for a little bit too.

The long running Hello Sailor fairs are starting a dedicated Vintage Fair around the corner from Circa in Smith Street. The stock available promises to be less trash and treasure, and more “quality vintage items and recycled designer stock that is in good condition at a reasonable price.” Sounds good, doesn’t it?

What: Hello Sailor Vintage Fair
When: Saturday November 28th and Sunday November 19th, 1pm to 6pm.
Where: The Grace Darling Hotel, 114 Smith Street, Collingwood.
Cost: ?

More information on the Facebook page. This will be a regular event, alternating with the usual Hello Sailor event at the Carlton Hotel.

There’s been a big increase in vintage markets lately and here is a new one – just a few doors down from Circa on the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets in Fitzroy.

What: Vintage fashion, Australian designer fashion and jewellery, artists and craftspeople, live music, DJs, food and drink.
When: Saturday 5th December – 11am to 4pm
Where: The Worker’s Club – corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets, Fitzroy.
Cost: ?

More information here.

The bi-annual Melbourne vintage clothing fair is on again.

What: The Way We Wear Fair
When: Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November
Where: Williamstown Town Hall
Cost: Adult $12 Child $6 Family $30

More information about the fair can be found at the Way We Wear Fair website.

At Circa we have two pairs of free tickets to be given away – please leave a comment below and two winners will be picked at random on Friday. Winning tickets to be picked up from Circa.

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.

I can’t believe in all the excitement, I almost forgot to post about the best vintage fair in the country – and of course – my book launch for “Love Vintage” at last!

Opening Friday next week, the Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery and Textiles Show will continue all weekend.

Where: Canterbury Racecourse, King Street, Canterbury
When: Fri Oct 16th 5.30pm-9pm, Sat Oct 17 9.30am-4.30pm and Sun Oct 18 9.30am-4.30pm
Cost: see website for ticket prices for the fair. There is no additional cost to attend the book launch.

Come early on the Friday night for the book launch – it starts at 6.30pm, followed by the Best Dressed competition (always a highlight). You might like to allow time for queuing as there will lots of like-minded people.

I’ll be available to sign copies of “Love Vintage” on the night, and for most of the weekend – if you can’t make it to the launch but will be there at some other time during the weekend, please look for me at the Carter’s stall. I’ll be displaying some of my favourite gowns from the book, including the blue ’50s party dress that graces the cover.

Charlotte Smith from the Darnell Collection will also be displaying gowns from the book, and she’s giving a talk at 2.30pm on the Sunday on antique and vintage fashion.

The full programme can be seen here. Stay tuned for news of the Melbourne launch, which is on Wednesday October 21st and includes a vintage fashion parade.

Lovely ladies in vintage – Photo reproduced courtesy the Sydney Vintage Clothing fair.