Spring!

I got a little tired of the old blog background, so its been rehashed for your and my visual pleasure, the green and pink was a bit much. So that's been my first act of revving this place up with Spring - 28 degrees today what pleasure ? Secondly I bought new bathers (right) by seafolly -an absolutely fail safe brand when it comes to swimwear.

Thirdly I deleted my facebook account, I figure its time for the good old face to face contact which reminds me yesterday I went to the loveliest shop with a extremely chatty owner.

It was called "Old Love" and full of an assortment of new and old goodies, including glomesh bags, enchanting lazer cut brooches and rings(all very much affordable), rosette headbands (made from ties, such a smart idea), vintage cameras and telephones and radios - all for ornamentation, I was told - as well lots of accessories made from local designers and a exclusive natural body care range made in Perth.

The range includes candels, soaps, body wash, lotions and bath salts. The lotions especially caught my eye with names such as: Cup of Tea & a Lie Down, Doris Day Dream and Keep On Trucking Men's Balm. Suffice it is to say I am very very excited about having discovered my first Spring a gem, every now and then I find beautiful, inspiring places whether a shop, cafe, park, lake or book store which fuel my mind with ideas and curiosity. I hope to share them with you.

Back to Old love - It's been open for about two months and stock comes in weekly, however the website doesn't show a lot of its stock, so you'll just have to visit it in person - its a must if you're anywhere near Rokeby Road, just walk down Forrest street until you get to the car park on Denis Street and you are there.

Here are some pictures

Best Vintage in Inner Perth

I've been to quite a few dives in the outer suburbs searching for something special, but most of
my successes have been, quite logically, bought in the inner "wealthy" suburbs. Some notable treasures include; Longchamp Leather Bag (real), Scanlan and Theodore Blouse, Gerald Darel Suit and a Givenchy Scarf.

Now these items all new would cost in there hundreds and it has taken me quite a while to work out where, so I thought I'd share.

Best for Designer

Subiaco, The Salvos - 86 A Rowland Street
This place gets an assortment of good quality designer clothes, it can be expensive with occasional items such as Versace Jeans (kicking myself for not buying them) or even a DKNY skirt or Salvatore Ferragamo Shoes (!) - but mostly it has Witchery, Country Road, Sass and Bide and Jigsaw. Also check out the front cabinet, it has vintages beaded bags and scarves.

Claremont, St Vincent de Paul - 26 Ashton Avenue
Although this opshop is quite small and at first does not seem quite special, this place is brimming with brand new items. It has a section for "Designer clothes" that being clothes from nearby boutiques that were unsold. I recently bought an arminee and frank http://www.armineeandfrank.com/ leather belt for $10, the original tags were priced at $150.o0. One of my favourite boutiques nearby is Atlas Divine on Oxford st, Leederville suprisingly lots of its unworn stock had been donated to the op-shop. Highly recommended.

Best for Vintage (70s, 80s)

Subiaco, Lucy in Disguise - Shop 3, 144 Roberts Road
Lucy in Disguise is a great little boutique that has some very wearable vintage items, as well as some stock from small WA designers. Pick up a 1970s cocktail dress, a pair of court shoes or a bowler hat, if your looking for a vintage dress for a special occasion, then this is the place - also to add to its charm Lucy in Disguise always have great window displays.

Inglewood, Winifred and Bance -850 Beaufort St http://winifredandbance.com/
This boutique is personally my favourite, the range of accessories is superb and well the clothes are signature items that define their era. There is so much stock, you can spend an hour looking through to find what your after. Winifred and Bance also participates in arranging vintage markets so check there website for updates. Their next one is in October.

Inglewood, Gorgeous Vintage and Collectables - 879 Beaufort St
Gorgeous stocks vintage from around the world, their items are quite rare and delicate which means, yes, sigh it is quite expensive. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gorgeous-Vintage-and-Collectables#!/pages/Gorgeous-Vintage-and-Collectables/65304901202?ref=ts


Best for Cost

Wembly: Vinnies - 334 Cambridge St
In my experience, The Salvos are almost always more expensive then Vinnies. While the Salvos mark up designer items, Vinnies seem to price based on what type of clothing it is i.e dress, blouse, skirt etc. This Vinnies has a large collection of vintage costume jewellery in the front cabinet and strangely a collection of Christian memorabilia as well. The clothing is a bit hit at miss though.

Best for Jewellery

Inglewood, Gorgeous Vintage and Collectables see link above ^

Northbridge, Turnstyles Collectables - 183 Williams Street
Turnstyles is like eye candy. They have a great collection of art deco furniture, great tea sets and ofcourse lots of random collectables from yesteryear. Their jewellery is fabulous as well - prices are negotiable and you can find great statement pieces here. http://www.turnstylecollectables.com.au/index.html

Subiaco, Good Sammy - 28 Rockeby Road
This place is huge, it has a great array of old books at the very back of the store and a fantastic rack of old formal gowns and wedding dresses. I love this place because of its jewellery. From a large display of simple plastic accessories, to the mini cabinet full of vintage brooches and finally the counter display. I recently bought an amber and silver pendant on a silver chain there for a girlfriend and for my mum - this fabulous thai silver necklace and bracelet (here) http://vintagebynumbers.blogspot.com/2010/09/mint.html
if your looking for vintage silver you can find it at a good price here.

Visited any of these? Tell me what you think

Mint

I'm very good at spending my money, as opposed to saving it up. I'm so good at spending that although I casually sell vintage clothes on eBay, I usually end up spending that money on eBay as well. Some gorgeous treasure is just a click away - there $10, $20, $30 gone in a couple of minutes.

For the most part, I use eBay because I'm sure it will have a treasure I'm after - which at the moment is 1950's rhinestone brooches, whereas trying to track one done in a Perth op-shop is a complete hit-and-miss process. And of course the eBay has a higher likelihood of it being mint - it would seem ridiculous to list primarily broken items on the platform, since they have less attraction to buyers anyway.

If you are in love with collecting certain bits and pieces - personally my addiction is to vintage brooches, scarfs, aprons and tea sets and if they aren't common op-shop loot, I'd definitely recommend eBay. It's more competitive price-wise too because you can negotiate the prices with the seller and there's a greater body of items listed.

BUT on my most recent op-shop tour with my faithful op-shop accomplice, it was a lot harder to appreciate online discoveries. I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking accessories wise, but on that day I was spoiled for options and found some items of good quality and great condition: what I believe to be Thai silver necklace and bracelet, a trent nathan scarf (pictured) a never used "Stratton" compact dated between 1950-1970 (pictured) and a few brooches to of course (pictured).

The excitement and delight at finding something unexpected was so much more thrilling, then any click and bid could be. I suppose though if I needed something it'd be so much more easier online, then hunting for something I just wanted.

So, I'll continue to spend between the two - online or on the street, it doesn't matter hugely as long as its mint like my 1956 Singer my parents found for me at a garage sale. Just Gorgeous.