Arthur...

Everything in life has a cause and effect, whether it is actions, the people who surround you or the decisions you make!

Of course we all know the people who influence our lives the most are our family. Their traditions and values shape who we become and ultimately who our children become.

In my family it was music, whenever I look back to my childhood there was always music filling the spaces otherwise filled with chatter and food. Arthur my grandfather played jazz piano and his brother the saxophone, my mother played both piano and 12 string guitar and growing up I was either playing clarinet, guitar or singing at one stage or another.

Arthur was a gentle mannered man from what I remember, he passed when I was 12 but I still have a very vivid memory of him! He wanted to be a pilot but being colour blind meant he was unable to do so, he worked on aeroplanes his whole life and he knew every make of plane possible even having an uncanny knack of hearing it fly above the clouds and knowing exactly what make and type of plane it was…just by the noise it made!  

My earliest recollection of jazz music was dancing in the lounge room with my grandfather and my sister to Twist Again by Chubby Checker…to this day it is still one of my favourite songs. Little did I know at the time that one little song and a whole lot of old age influence would an obsession with vintage begin!

At about 18 I started listening to Frank Sinatra because it reminded me of my grandfather and all the happy times surrounding the music and what it meant to my family, Then my Jazz music obsession snowballed into a love of the fashion, romance and lifestyle of the 50's which would mean i slowly started dressing and styling my hair to reflect the era, I guess it takes time to realise how much of an influence your family actually have but I think its pretty amazing and humbling at the same time.

This photograph is one of my favourites, It was taken whilst my grandmother and grandfather were on their second date I was told that there would always be photographers taking snaps of couples walking around town during the evening and I love how candid and happy they look...love it!

So there you go, a little sneak peek into my family history, id love to hear how you all became equally obsessed with vintage I am sure you all have some fascinating stories!

Xx  

Pastel Dream...

One drab wednesday night i was flicking through Etsy on my phone while warming my tootsies by the heater...when i found this incredible tulle pastel dream of a dress in near perfect condition, normally i have found these dresses with fabric pulls all over...so lucky...plus it was a complete steal at $40 and i mean lavender and blue come on!!! I naturally bought it straight away and then spent a few agonising weeks waiting for the postman to deliver it!

I am a firm believer that every woman should have a ready-to-go ball gown (just in case) in her closet and i sure am glad to add this adorable number to my wardrobe even if it is to twirl around my apartment in!

I have cute visions of it being worn to a school dance in the 50's paired with some cream gloves and a flower corsage (cute overload) i guess thats half the excitement about vintage dresses you know they have seen so many things in their time but we just have to use our imaginations as to what those things may be!!!

(Vintage dress purchased from FemaleHysteria)

Ballerina...

I had the most wonderful realisation that Spring is just around the corner!! Im a transition weather kinda girl, Autumn or Spring i feel are my seasons possibly because they are the prettiest! The flowers are coming into bloom and im sure i will be leaning away from stockings very soon! (erm...that totally rhymed) this dress is possibly the shortest length i have in my wardrobe i tend to shy away from a higher hem not only for comfort level but i feel more like a lady with a little 'leave it to the imagination' it has an adorable almost leaf design in a mulberry colour (possibly suited to Autumn more..but hey! lets break the rules) and im a sucker for a high collar.

The ballerina brooch was given to me by the owner of an antique store, she saw me eyeing it in the cabinet whilst she was putting my purchases through and without me knowing slipped it into my bag! when i got home i had the loveliest surprise and i immediately set about passing on the anonymous warm and fuzzy's (even just buying the next persons coffee in the morning is a good way to start the day).

So my week has been quite relaxing, although i did go on a first date which was...interesting! Makes me feel like i am completely out of the game these days you forget how awkward and hilarious it is..even in the end if all you do is make a great friend then its all worth it!   

Hope you all have a fab weekend planned, i am catching up with a few friends for cocktails and squeezing in a little family time too..

Xx

(Wearing: Vintage dress, Vintage belt, Vintage brooch, Varga heels, Vintage purse) 

Vintage Finds...

As promised here is a few things i picked up at the Claremont Vintage Fair last weekend, I have been looking for a Shabner print for awhile but they were always so overpriced, i was also hoping to get a beautiful bombshell like these which i am sure i will add to my little collection in time but i found buried amongst the vintage glassware a 'Puppy Love' Shabner print and decided it had to come home with me...her eyes are so intense almost creepy like she is looking through my soul...but i love it!

They had quite a few amazing condition records i spent some time trawling through, but after much thought i decided Buddy Holly was missing from my collection! Its already on constant rotation!

I also found a kitten ceramic 50/60's set but after getting home and researching them a little i realised it was actually missing another one so i am hoping to find their lost partner floating around the internet somewhere!

Hope your Wednesday was swell Xx

Pattern Love...

On Saturday i decided to check out the Claremont Vintage Fair to hopefully find some summer dresses for my mini trip to Singapore (which is next week..yipee) armed with a new music playlist, comfy shoes, emergency trail mix and water (i like to be prepared) i was ready to start a day of vintage bliss!

But to my dissapointment i only found racks and racks of 80's/90's elasticated waist polyester dresses....the devastation! I definitely dont want to turn this space into a rant...but...watching ladies fight over $10 'vintage' dresses that are sad imposters...makes me want to cry inside! (although i dont want to upset ladies who enjoy these types of dresses)

Anyhoo...i did walk away with a few amazing homewares i will share during the week and two vintage pieces of clothing including this incredible skirt! Everything about it is amazing the pleats, the print and the lining is still in prefect condition. I also love it when i pull something from a rack take it home without trying it on and it fits!!!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Xx

(Wearing: Vintage skirt, Cotton On cardigan, Op Shopped top, Hobbs heels, Vintage purse & Handmade hair flowers)

Details...

Sometimes all you need is a little detail, a cute red belt a vintage brooch or a dress with an amazing collar! And sometimes you can have all of those things in one outfit too! The weather has been absolutely bucketing down and all i feel like wearing are cardigans and tights...it does make dressing up feel a little bit more like a chore when you are jumping around in the morning pulling on stockings in the freezing cold! So ive gone back to the good old 'Lay out your clothes' technique, its cutting off at least 20min in the mornings...makes me wish i had done it all along and then that gives me extra time to catch up on cartoons and sip coffee before work! (much more important things)

This little bird brooch was given to me by my grandmother she has an amazing eye for vintage brooches and i am going to be hunting around at a vintage fair with her tomorrow so hopefully some of her good luck will rub off on to me!

Now to announce the winner of the giveaway from last week (Winner has been chosen by random number generator)! Thank you so much to all of you for entering and writing such AMAZINGLY kind words! You all are really too sweet. Drum roll...............Heidi Castaneda! who also wrote the cutest message too..Congrats pretty lady!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned! Xx

(Wearing: Vintage dress, Vintage belt, Vintage brooch)

Lately...

Sorry i havent had an outfit post for you this week but for Friday i most definitely will! Huzzah! In the meantime here is a little catch up of my week so far from Instagram, dont forget to enter the giveaway below if you havent! Xx

1 - High Tea in a vintage hat of course! Always delicious!!

2 - Mr Boris, he has gone to another baby sitter for the rest of the week and i already miss his squishy face

3 - Visiting Grandma means looking through all her old photos, she let me keep a few which i will be framing!

4 - Walking to and from work has its perks..beautiful sunsets!

5 - Rainy days and red lipstick.

6 - A selfie in one of my favourite 50's dresses! I was having a crummy day..but i went out for mexican so that made everything right again!

7 - My new favourite "Limoges" brooch it has the most fascinating clasp and the painted porcelain is amazing!

8 - Pulled this 60's dress out for a strangely sunny Sunday afternoon (say that fast 5 times) i still adore the print so much!

Follow me on Instagram if you dont already @allyvintage Xx

Vintage Valley Giveaway...

In celebration of reaching over 1,000 followers on this humble little blog of mine i have decided to treat you all to a little giveaway to thank you all for being so smashingly amazing!!! These are a few of my favourite things (when the dog bites..when the bee stings...when im feeling saaaad) ok ok...enough singing but in all seriousness this classic book (beauty from 1904) a cute printed headscarf and a vintage sunflower necklace could be yours!

All you need to do to enter is comment below...no tricks or jumping through hoops just plain old enter and win..and what the hell enter a few times if you want..cause thats just how you roll!

Thank you for reading and commenting on the Vintage Valley blog and making me feel my ramblings do make sense..it really is something i hope i can continue doing for a long time!

Winner will be chosen at random on the 16th of August. 

Good Luck! Xx 

Black as Night...

I had the most incredible weekend possible! On Friday my best friend was proposed to by the love of her life and i am simply busting with pride and excitement..then to top it all off her pup came to stay with me for a few days, he is the most well trained, sweet and cuddly guy possible and he has sure brought me some laughs! okay okay ill admit i did attempt to make him sit still enough for me to put a bow tie on him but he was not having that..he stole it and chewed it to teach me a lesson! but..i did manage to get him to sit on my bedroom chair for long enough to snap a picture...dosent he look happy about it hahaha!

I was also having a black top to toe day on Saturday! I changed into it after filming my hair tutorial which i will pop up on Wednesday to head out for coffee...we had so much sun i didnt even need a jacket! (and this is our winter..crazy) i have also been putting together a little somethin..somethin for Friday so make sure you check back in to scope out what it is!!

Hope your weekend was swell Xx

(Wearing: Vintage pencil skirt, Op Shopped top, Op Shopped scarf, Hobbs heels & Vintage purse)

Stoxbox...

I am sure you are all aware but i dont tend to endorse alot of products on this little blog of mine, if i do it is generally because i am in love with it or to support the amazing sponsors i have since i love everything they do anyway! But....when i was approached by Stoxbox to try out their hot diggity product i was pretty chuffed!
I am not the most organised person out there (check that drawer out..) i do have some method to my madness though but when it comes to organising my stockings..well its a drawer of madness! The genious lass behind the design of the Stoxbox would come home with new stockings and keep finding double ups in her drawer! she thought there had to be some way of organising these things! and voila the Stoxbox was born!


They are so simple to use just place the box inside one leg of the stocking & gather together making sure the window is easily accessible near the gusset and the material is stretched over the box evenly.

Then stuff the rest of the stocking in the window! It will end up looking like this.

And so your stocking collection will start to look like this..organised and easily recognisable! I also found that not only can you use the boxes for stockings but hair scarves too, since i usually just jam them in my drawer and scrounge around until i can find the one im looking for the boxes help to get some kind of order happening!

If you are thinking of your top drawer at home and it needs some loving then pop on over to Stoxbox they are also offering a 10% off discount to Vintage Valley readers simply enter the code VINVAL86 at the checkout during the month of August.

Xx