The Colour Issue

I adore colour and so when I saw Aussie Vogue's new 'colour issue' hit the newsstands the other day, I knew I had to grab it. For the lead editorial Vogue travelled to Mexico, the flavour of the shoot dictated somewhat by Prada's lushly eccentric Spring 2011 collection (I love this collection so much). Miucci Prada just keeps setting the trends, doesn't she?

I love the embroidered Prada shift dress in the fourth pic, stylist Meg Gray has used a vintage dress to gorgeous effect in the fifth pic, and the Mulberry silk dress in the last image is to die for. Shot by Nicole Bentley, this pretty pictures give me some idea why everyone I know seems to be coming and going from Mexico at the moment.

Oh, and you know what I lust for most of all from the latest colour-tastic Prada collection? The shoes, oh golly gosh, the shoes. I'd quite like the blue and white pair, thanks.

Crushing on vintage lingerie

Doesn't MTV VJ and sometime model Ruby Rose look gorgeous in this vintage bra, courtesy of Sydney's The Vintage Clothing Shop. She appears in an editorial, photographed by Todd Barry, in the April issue of Aussie Vogue.

I honed in on this image immediately as my interest in vintage lingerie has been piqued, just as underwear as outerwear has exploded on the international catwalks.

Some months ago I purchased a brand new corset to wear under my wedding dress but - thankfully for my ribs - I've managed to lose a few kilos in recent months and, provided I can avoid too many cakes over the next fortnight - I think I can discard the corset and spare my frame.

But during my dress rehearsal last weekend I noticed there was still something not quite right about my silhouette. The reality is that vintage clothes often call for vintage lingerie and the bust on my beloved dress is somewhat torpedo in shape, in line with 1950s fashion. So at the eleventh hour I went hunting for a bullet bra, which aren't that easy to find.

Here is the one I did find however, and have ordered from Ballyhoo Vintage. The one saving grace is that it is relatively easy to find small sizes in vintage because, despite all genetic evidence to the contrary, I have grown up with nary a bosom in sight.

Nothing screams 1940s or 1950s quite like the bullet bra as by the 1960s the style was well and truly on the out. Fingers crossed this fairly subdued example gives me oomph in all the right places. Ballyhoo Vintage stocks a heap of new old stock, so if you are a little bit squeamish about wearing someones discarded smalls but like vintage styles, they are worth checking out. I absolutely adore the classic peach pink colour of vintage lingerie, which you can see in these examples from the 30s and 40s.

And this blue satin teddy looks like it would feel absolutely luxurious between sheets.

Slips are having a renaissance this season, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 1990s. To me a classic negligee or cami never goes out of style, and the no fuss lingerie of the past appeals for its femininity and simplicity. Well, except for some of those pelvis crunching girdles.

One modern label that has caught my fancy with its retro sensibility is Lonely by Lonely Hearts. Lonely Hearts is a quirky fashion line from New Zealand, and their second collection of yummy silk lingerie has me salivating. Their bras are very 1930s in look and come in pastel ice cream shades that would look great under a sheer blouse.

Check out these great editorials from Oyster, 1am and Harper's Bazaar.

Meanwhile I'll keep you updated on my bullet bra experiment. I'm not expecting to look like Jane Russell or Jayne Mansfield. Maybe just Lana Turner lite ... with a breast reduction.

Am I ready to relinquish lycra?

During the 1940's and 50's swimwear was made from lastex fabric, cotton or nylon and often included boning for support and zips so ladies could get them on and off. The introduction of lycra in the 1960's revolutionised swimwear design, and I guess you could say we've never looked back except that some swimwear designers are starting to do just that. There is something very appealing about a simple cotton swimsuit and there are a couple of Aussie swimwear designers - Zoe Elizabeth and My Sister Pat - who are creating retro inspired swimsuits from beautiful cotton fabrics.

The brains behind label Zoe Elizabeth has a fondness for florals, polka-dots and classic Liberty Prints. Her 2009 collection includes a very 1950's like one-piece and a number of bikinis - halter-necks, bandeaus and under-wire among them - which have me seriously in lust.

My Sister Pat swimsuits are unabashedly 1950's inspired and are created from limited edition cute-as-a-button novelty print fabrics. Stocked in The Vintage Clothing Store in Sydney (amongst many others ... you can email Rosemary on info@mysisterpat.com.au for more info), these togs make me want to chill out on a deck-chair by a country beach and devour a Penguin Classic.

So am I ready to take the plunge and forgo the fit, stretch and feel of lycra for the vintage fabulousness of a cotton swimsuit?

My first vintage suit ...

Because to be honest I haven't worn a suit for much of this decade. They kind of went out of vogue and I don't have to dress in corporate wear for my job, thank goodness.

I think I need to make a resolution to not look in The Vintage Clothing Shop for some months because I always go in there just to have a quick look at the jewellery or the bags - just for a bit of fun - and I always come out having bought something that I never had any intention of buying. Though having said that everything I've bought there has been at a very low cost - usually on sale for under $100 - and absolutely gorgeous.

Now my latest find is this cute summer suit with bolero jacket and mid calf skirt, which I'm taking in and up so it sits on my natural waist and is knee length. I think it'll look a bit more contemporary shorter. It is very, very cute and I'm completely in love with the pastel balloon pattern fabric which is nice and shiny. I think it is silk but can't be entirely sure as the suit is handmade, so there is no label.

I modelled it for Mum and my grandmother on the weekend and they love it. It reminds me of something Peggy on Mad Man might wear, after the gay BF make-over. Sorry no pics of the skirt as yet. I still have to adjust it.

http://www.thevintageclothingshop.com.au/