Rose Jackson (left) and Claire Gormly, a passion for all thigs vintage.
‘We just live in op shops and recycle boutiques, in fact we rarely buy new clothes, jewellery, hats, handbags – you name it.’
But Claire Gormly and Rose Jackson don’t just dress up in vintage clothes, their passion for all things vintage is a way of life. As their magazine Glory Days illustrates, vintage touches most things, because most things have evolved and have a history: classic motor scooters, films, furniture, food; the list is endless.
Behind vintage objects lies social history; the lips of suffragettes boasted deep red lipstick as a protest proclaiming that women should wear what they wanted. Up to the 1900s, red lipstick was the mark of a harlot.
This memory box is one of Claire Gormly's favourites. A 1937 calendar, paper dolls, blue bow and velvet flowers all cosseted in a chocolate box. These were an anonymous girl's treasures.
Vintage is more about style rather than fashion – fashion is commercially driven and transient. Then there’s the psychological side,
‘wearing vintage garb makes us feel confident and we radiate that confidence to others.’
Claire picked up these vintage dresses for $30 or $40 but some vintage clothes can cost $600 upwards because the market is international thanks to the web.
All things vintage has also caught on with men, this often translates into displays of etiquette and good manners.
‘When a man opens a door for a woman it makes them both feel good’, say Claire and Rose.
