Melbourne Love Vintage Show 2012

The word vintage is often thrown around these days. To clarify, by definition clothing which was produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique, while clothing from the 1920s to 1960s is considered vintage.

The Melbourne Love Vintage Show was held in the Royal Exhibition Building last weekend. The cathedral roof and stain glass windows set the scene for the freezing cold afternoon perfectly. Women roamed the hallways with French curls; cats eye make-up and corsets. One woman I spoke to had been planning her outfit for the past three months. Her garments originating from early 1900.

Most stalls were manned by similarly passionate people, dressed to the absolute nines in authentic antique or vintage fashion that they had sourced in their travels to Europe or the States.

The stalls of note for myself were:

Vintage Style
Occupied by two gentlewomen who had been sourcing and selling vintage since their early teens. Not only were the garments, accessories and dolls mostly still adorned with their original tags or in their original boxes, the garments were exclusively American or Australian designers. They stallholders knew their stuff and were more than happy to walk me through where they had gotten each piece (amazing memories) and how it was acquired.
Contact: 0409 360 352

Chapel Street Bazaar
This stall had plenty of home-wares and children’s toys. There was a 1950s rocking horse along with children’s “church” shoes. The Bazaar, located in Prahan, hosts over 70 stalls with items ranging from the 1920s to modern day.
217 Chapel Street, Prahran, VIC, 3181
9529 1727

Bonnie Rose Vintage Clothing
Bonnie Rose hosted a Fashion Parade during the fair showcasing the “Best Of British” vintage styles. Her stall was one of my favourites, containing amazing lace pieces and more tulle than any girl could dream of. It was one of the busiest stalls throughout the day. I had to fight shoulder to shoulder just to get some shots.
bonnierosevintage.com.au