Come into my studio with Creative Spaces for The Finders Keepers

 I was recently asked to be part of a project The Finders Keepers are working on where they have a gander around the homes and Creative Spaces of Australian independent designers...of course I said 'yes!' - I am as guilty as anyone of being rather partial to peeking into other peoples lives!

On a recent Sunday afternoon the delight that is Renee Baker popped over to take some photographs of my large loungeroom in which all and everything I have ever made has sprung from. In fact, I have been using this beautiful space for so long, I can hardly imagine what it would be like to divorce my 'home' life from my 'studio' life! I'm sure it would make it very much harder to spend hours knitting together these Knitted Knickers and the like without the constant interest/distraction of myriad costume dramas and cups of tea...

images: courtesy of Renee Baker exclusively for The Finders Keepers

Once the business part of the visit was over, we had a good natter over a cup of coffee and some freshly baked Coffee Crumble Cake (could not be recommended highly enough - a never-fail cake if I ever baked one!).

It was an absolute peach of an afternoon!
And I hope you enjoy this little tour through my home as much as I did.

rabia
{for g&j}
xo

Fashion History - Edwardian

Having recently watched the absolutely beautiful Downton Abbey (BBC, but coming soon to a television set near you!) I was reminded of my love for late Edwardian fashion.
Also know as the Belle Epoque, this era lasted from the very late 1800s up until World War I and was loosely categorised by it's teeny-tiny hand-span waists and puffed 'mutton chop' sleeves.
I think the period which I find the most beautiful and fascinating stretched just beyond this, loosely contained in the 10 years between 1908 and 1918.

 

Toilette d'Ete by George Barbier

Costumes Parisiens, 1912

from: Panteek

Upheaval was rife in all areas of life - industrialisation was well under way and modernisation inevitable, women were poised to get the vote, gone was the bustle and the s-bend corset (awful!) and for women sillouhettes had become more true-to-life.

The Deliniator and McCall's Magazine, popular fashion Magazine's from 1913

from: my own collection

Clothing had a playfulness about it and a sense of practicality in the flattering draping. Colours were cleverly matched in a cacophony of muted and rich hues and softer fabrics were favoured.

 

Toilette de garden-party by Victor Lhuer (top) and Robe a retroussis by Gerda Wegener
Costumes Parisien, 1913 and 1914
from: Panteek

As for hats; gone were the heavily embellished, wide brims of the late 1800s. These essential accessories were smaller in size, but heavy on the decoration; feathers, birds, flowers and ribbon were all used to great effect. In fact, many of the more outlandish feather trims I have restored to use in my pieces were made in this period!

 

Modeles de Marcelle Demay by B. Berty
Costumes Parisiens, 1913
from: Panteek

 

The three Crawley sisters of Downtown Abbey

from: BBC

Ah yes, the delicious Downton Abbey. Set in 1912 and concluding just as the War has been declared (although a 2nd season is being filmed as I type!) it is truly an aesthetic delight.

 

In fact, beyond the odd spot of meddling and brief love affairs, the women of the house seem to do little more each day than get dressed several times!

Oh! If only.
xo
g&j

AW 2011 'Last Years Kisses' preview...knitted knickers

Just the tiniest peek at these little hand-knitted beauties from our upcoming winter collection 'Last Years Kisses'.
Can you think of anything more delightful than to don a pair of these super comfortable Knitted Knickers and stretching out in front of the fire?

Check the cute button up detail at the side...adorable!

(and the book you can see that we are currently flipping through with much delight is Polaroid Day from playground).

More from our new collection very soon...

xo

g&j

New Sydney stockist - Estate of Mind!

Yep, we have a new Sydney stockist in Estate of Mind - a sweet new boutique which has opened on Crown St just south of Grandma Takes a Trip.
Estate of Mind are stocking a small but dedicated number of our hats and headpieces, with stock changing with the seasons.

Run by the lovely Sylvie Cornu, Estate of Mind stocks only local and emerging designers- there's clothes, jewellery and accessories galore including...
Michael Lo Sordo, Lucy K, Serpent & the Swan, Ashleigh Taylor, Tale Told, Flowers for a VagabOnd, Virgini, Love & Luck, St Looi Blues, KeilanaSkye Industries, MOSS by Mia, Ghoullery, Cherrytree Road , Maskarada, How typical of Metal and Abe & Sara.

 

all photos: onthestreetsofsydney.com

Read a little interview with the delightful Syvlie about the shop here

What: Estate of Mind
Where: Shop 34, 277 Crown Street, Sydney
Hours: Mon and Sun 10-5; Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-6; Thurs 10-9

xo
g&j

For the Love of...Tweed

If there's one fabric we've particular affection for, it's tweed. And with Winter slowly creeping upon us (and with all the rain, it certainly feels like tweed weather!) it's time to pay homage to this amazing fabric.
We own quite a number of vintage tweed skirts and jackets now, and no amount of 'librarian' name calling will make us stop!
They go with everything, they're practical and the woven texture of the fabric is dreamy. What's not to love about essentially wearing a lovingly tailored woolen blanket?!

1950s Turquoise Tweed Skirt

from blondiesvintageshop

$42

Long Grey Tweed Button Down Skirt
from vintagecalling
$24

Vintage 1940s Blue Tweed Suit
from nemres
$67

 

Brown Tweed Skirt
from summerturbanvintage
$19

 

Rainbow Tweed Skirt
from eastermarie
$16

 

Grey Tweed Breeches
from Rokit
$49

 

And you know what goes just perfectly with tweed?

Gorgeous, soft, hand-knitted jumpers and cardigans of course!

Green Handknit Cap Sleeved Top

from nemres

$22

 

Vintage Square Neck Sweater
from CustardHeartVintage
$28

 

Vintage Peach Mohair Sweater
from BetaBoutique
$31

 

1970s Green Apple Chevron Sweater
from ReallyTruly
$18

 

Vintage French Grey Sweater
from narmster
$26

 

Oh, go get warm already!

xo

g&j

Melbourne Market Specials

As with every market we do, we like to make some super special little runs of things specially for the market itself. Below are some of the goodies we have been pulling together for the Melbourne Finders Keepers markets next week...

Gorgeous handmade Bowtie Headbands - made using recycled ties from the 1950s and buttons covered in antique kimono fabric...from $50

Art Deco drop earrings - using semi-precious stones and pearls, including these cute little carved coral flowers...$25

Botanical Globe lockets - these super cute vintage ball lockets have been fancied with some lovely brass findings. Another previous sell-out piece, we found a few more of them during a recent cleanup!

Jewellery Rolls - these beauties were a complete sell-out at the last Sydney Finders Keepers. Made entirely from antique kimono fabric and lining, with leather tie and vintage button detail, they are sumptuously practical.

Staring at the Stars pendants - using super delicate 1950s cabochons depicting different star-signs...too beautiful for words.

 

 If there are any you want to reserve, email letters@ginnyandjude.com!

xo
g&j

Runway Report - Carven

We were super delighted to come across the cute and quirky Parisian brand Carven whilst out meandering in the wilds of the internet recently.

Image: Carven

The brand was founded by the formidable Carmen de Tomasso aka Madame Carven in 1945 in the burgeoning post-war fashion years just before the 'New Look' would take off in 1947, (yes, our favourite fashion period) with the rather noble idea of style over ostentation. 

A complete novice to fashion and decidedly removed from the rarefied world of Haute Couture, Madame Carven sought to produce beautiful, interesting clothes for young people; to "offer accessible luxury and to capture the spirit of the moment through her simple and refined designs".

The fashion house remains at it's original location at Rond Point des Champs today. 

Madame Carven stopped designing for the company at 84 and amazingly will celebrate her 102nd birthday this year!

How delightful!

Carven models in Vogue, June 1956

from: Classic Style of Fashion

Carven Dress, 1960s

from: vintageperfumevault

Carmen de Tomasso aka Madame Carven in one of her own creations from 1951

from: vintageperfumevault

Make your own Carven original with this Madame Carven pattern from 1960!

from: vintagekt3

Madame Carven's first design from 1945

The Green and White stripe would become her moniker, gracing the bottles of her famous range of perfumes.

from: vintageperfumevault

Carven dress in Brazilian Magazine O Cruzeiro, September 1960

from: classicstyleoffashion

Now for Carven fashions from today!

I love that they have stayed true to those initial aspirations of creating exciting, youthful and accessible clothing:

Carven, Fall 2011

all runway images from vogue.com