Your style = Street style

Your style = Street style. Every week, Bleecker Street Vintage will be on the look out for you in your own style.  Style is not about fashion, style is not about trends or labels. It's about how something is put together and worn in confidence.

Milan Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week has just finished, and here's what I can surmise:

John Richmond

The John Richmond S/S collection was a showstopper for daring men. His fresh prints and colours were effortlessly entwined with sleek blacks and greys, most notably pioneering the dress short.

Italy revealed a chink in it's fashion armour, apparently concerned that 'cooler kids', London, New York and Paris are surpassing them in the menswear stakes. An emergency breakfast summit was held by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana to "announce a new unilateral policy dedicated to keeping them atop the league table of oomph."

Salvatore Ferragamo

The Salvatore Ferragamo collection displayed large shapes, embracing baggy, but tailored looks with a Roman-inspired casual feel. 

Versace

Umit Benan

Versace let Kinesio tape do the talking. (I'm quite mad for this, but also fairly adament it wouldn't be sexy off-runway.) Turkish designer Umit Benan put on a masquerade to showcase his old-world-casual glamour, and Vivienne Westwood channeled east-Europe also, "borrowing from Persia and Morocco contributed to a colorful undertaking of menswear, painting with great character oversize tunics, graphic shirts, relaxed jackets and more."

Vivienne Westwood

Accessories featured prominently - the best 40 can be seen in this photo essay by the New York Times.

 

Little mention was made of the sentencing of designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for tax evasion. The D&G collection comprised three-piece suits, temple and country prints, Bermuda shorts, and also an impromptu nude piece by a mystery streaker.

Bleecker Street Vintage: some of our 2013 Milan favourites from the runway, and street style.

Blouse with pussy bow - sample

Blouse sample

Here is another sample I'm working on. The original blouse belongs to a silk linen three piece suit from the 60's, which still has the original tags on it. (See below)

Original blouse from the 60's

The blouse is fitted & has a zipper down at the back. The bust & waist darts make the piece very flattering on the figure as you can see from the first photo.

When I was making this sample, I made the mistake of using a jacket zipper, but that was all I could find at the time, plus I thought, 'It's a sample, so it doesn't matter.' WRONG!!

Additionally, I did a lap zip finish which has (I wanted to see how it would look) resulted in the back appearing unbalanced.

In the next draft for this blouse, I will be dropping the armholes 1-2cm, create facings and use an invisible zipper instead. I'm not really looking forward to inserting an invisible zipper. If you have ever used this type of zip, you know how time consuming they can be! Grrr! 

I shall be repeating the mantra 'Practice makes perfect' whilst putting in the zipper and crying at the same time!

New bags in store & online!

We've been busy at Bleecker Street Vintage sourcing new products for our customers. In store and online are a delightful new range of soft canvas bags with leather details. Available are three types of bags. A tote, a shoulder bag and weekend bag.

Canvas and leather shoulder bag

This canvas and leather shoulder bag is fully lined with two pockets inside. It can also be zipped up, so your belongings will never fall out.

Canvas and leather weekend bag

Going out of town for the weekend & travel light? Well, this soft canvas & leather travel bag is perfect for you.

This travel bag with zipper is fully lined and comes with a small pocket for a smartphone and a larger pocket complete with zipper.

Canvas tote bag

This is a cute tote bag for shopping, going to the beach or for storing documents when travelling to work.

Dimensions
40X40X13

Please note because of the production process there may be a sight variation in colour.

French bread boards are in store & online

After a long search, both high and low we have finally found these great reproduction french bread boards. Our vintage french bread boards have been popular, however some customers were after something that could be more functional than decorative. Each one is 55 cm in diameter and can be purchased either online or in-store at Bleecker Street Vintage, SO:ME Space, South Melbourne Market.

Giveaway time!! Hooray!!

This Saturday, Bleecker Street Vintage will be holding a vintage talk at 1pm in the LG Kitchen at South Melbourne Market  in collaboration with Audrey Scarlett Vintage. 

Catherine Fraser,owner of Audrey Scarlett Vintage & collector of vintage frocks will be chatting to guests about fabric types, frocks throughout the eras, (yes, there will be show & tell) and perhaps a little quiz for the brave!

To celebrate our first workshop at Bleecker Street Vintage, we are giving away two tickets for two lucky people. To enter is simple, just mention why you'd like to attend in the comments below & 'Like' Audrey Scarlett Vintage on Facebook. Easy Peasy!!

Winners will be announced on this blog on Wednesday night & on the Bleecker Street Facebook Page. We'll also be contacting the winners via email too, so don't forget to leave some details for us to contact you peeps!