What sparked your love of vintage?
A love of nostalgia and the craftsmanship of vintage is the underlying thread. Even as a child I was fascinated with old things and dug up from our yard beautiful coloured glass bottles. And I am sure being a teenager in the 1970s helped too. It was an exciting era of teenagers sewing their own clothes.
Victoriana and hippy silhouettes and the weird and wonderful stores of amazing craft and vintage at Cook Street Market. So much vintage inspiration. I can still remember the pink and blue 1940s applique crepe dress I bought at Cook Street for $10.
What’s a wardrobe staple you’ll wear forever?
Interesting wool coats and trench coats are a staple for winter. They are my cheat ways to pull off a put-together look. And togs for summer. Summer is for swimming.
What’s the best vintage find you’ve ever had?
Probably my 1970s Narnia hand-block printed dress found in the Mangawhai Op shop for a fiver. The dress is in mint condition and still smells of incense, which was always the scent in the Narnia boutiques. It's a dreamy piece to wear, and takes me back to excitement of visiting those stores.
Is there an item you’re currently looking for?
No. I need to get wearing my own wardrobe. I've been slack and pulling on the same pair of Japanese gardening overalls for about a year now, a small but ineffective protest against consumerism. I am ready to get back to the joy of clothes, but wearing what I have.
What era do you find yourself drawn back to again and again?
I am not really drawn to an era but my own wardrobe spans 1960s all the way to Y2K era. I always liked timeless but fun, effortless-to-wear pieces, and hopefully pieces with some fashion history. I particularly love jumpsuits from the 1970s and 1980s.
If you could only source vintage or pre-loved from one place, where would that be?
The joy of sourcing vintage is the hunt, so I don't know that I would ever want just one place to source. But shout out to Kate at Deadman Vintage, Lenard at Byegone Vintage, and Jo at Go-Jo, all three love vintage deeply. Jo deserves a community award for her dedication to providing a place where people can bring in treasured pieces and know they will be honoured.
What’s something you’ve seen, heard, or read recently that’s inspired you?
The Tale of Silyvan - one of the New Zealand International Film Festival movies I just watched. It's a story that explores choosing nature and old ways of life over economic prosperity. It's a beautifully shot film reminding us how to make our time on Earth worthwhile. The perfect inspiration for these dark times.