I don’t usually post photos of myself, but I couldn’t resist because I’ve developed a fabulous new hobby. Well, I think it’s fabulous, although not everyone agrees. My muse thinks I’ve gone mad. He thinks I’m having a bit of a ‘mid-life crisis.’ He told me this when I was wearing a screaming red caftan from the 70s, with my hair in a turban, but I digress. My new hobby is shopping for vintage clothes in the op shops. I developed my new passion after stumbling across a gorgeous dress from another era made in London. I loved it so much, I went back to the shop and found a few more fabulous things, like a purple coat from the 70s, and this blue number I’m wearing in the photo from the 60s.

The amazing thing about dressing in these treasures from another decade, is that I feel like I’m putting on a story every time I wear them. Someone, forty or fifty years ago, wore this coat. I like to make up stories about the life these clothes have lived – cocktail and dinner parties, nights out at clubs and shows they’ve been to. This coat came from a designer in Melbourne, so who knows what things it’s seen. I feel like I’m their guardian now, and it’s my duty to make sure they go out and have fun!

Tomorrow I’m going to the country with my muse. He has to man a stand for work at a farm fair, and he asked me to go with him. I said I would, but only if I could go into the small town and hunt through their second hand shops. I hope there are some more treasures waiting for their new home. I can’t wait!