Circa Nocturna – Annual Gothic/Alternative Fashion Parade. March 1 2008

As Melbourne Fashion Festival approaches, in all its’ glitzy glory, it seems timely to point out the one fashion parade you might not hear about in the magazines or mainstream press: unless of course it’s the Age which seems to have taken quite a fancy to alternative fashion recently. 

 

Circa Nocturna showcases alternative designers from the very gothic and florid to more alternative-streetwear stylings featuring designers of  clothing and/or accessories.  It’s up to a third year and has grown increasingly popular each year, leading me to believe that tickets this year may be difficult to come by closer to the night.

 

A full list of designers appears on their website and details of ticket outlets there also.  $20 presale and $25 on the door.

 

Highly recommended to those who wish to sample the pvc-lined underbelly of  Australian alternative fashion or just like some spice in their eye candy… 

 

Photos from last year’s show:

 

 

 

 

 

 

More photos available here courtesy of Richard101  and here on the Circa Nocturna site. 

 

 

Antons – dapper dreams for a drab world. Level 3, Melbourne Central

  

Antons  clothing is a Melbourne Must!  

Have you ever visited the lofty 3rd floor of Melbourne Central?  If so, have you walked past – or even dropped into – the 40s timetrip that is Antons?   Even the outside of the shop tells you that this shop doesn’t belong in a chainstore mall – its coppery deco-reminiscent window frames hold what is usually some kind of themed window display using their retro-styled mannequins and some unusual props and curios: Antons’ owner is a collector of ephemera from monster and alien figurines to stuffed animals and other brilliant oddities.  It’s like nectar to the eyes after row after row of bleak generic stores to see their idiosyncratic display winking brightly at you.  

While Antons is ostensibly a clothing shop it s true that one’s first visit is more like a step into a film set: think Casablanca or Cairo in the early 20th century.  There are racks of clothing within a 40s to burlesque style – magnificent opulently lined coats and suits for men, coquettish bustiers, corsets and skirts for women plus some ubersharp womens’ suiting.   The staff are dressed according to the Anton World and are helpful and often quite gregarious: they seem happy – keen even – to absorb you into their era and aesthetic as though you were casting to be an extra in their filmic world.  So, be prepared to surrender yourself to their vast Powers of Styling.     

 The interior of Antons is like the exterior – adding to the sense of changed-reality you feel when inside.  More and more curios in hidden corners attract your eye: many from old films or popular culture you had forgotten, some others like trophies of an imperial raider.  While you’re casting an admiring eye at a well cut suit or an unusual fabric, you can easily be distracted by a figurine or trinket and after a while you wonder which world you’ve walked into and why you should ever have to leave.  Antons fabrics and cuts are classic and stylish and quite unusual in the 21st century, more Bogart than Beckham, more Bergman than Britney.  They are considerately devoted to the full dressing experience – just like being styled for a film you can leave Antons transformed top to toe – including jewellery or cufflinks.  Antons really is unique and their clothing just as much so: everything is small run and the shop also does some bespoke  tailoring – just in case you can’t quite find the garment you’re looking for or the colour on the shelf doesn’t suit.  

Antons is not website friendly,  so you’ll need to visit to see their dapper era repro suits, burlesque corsets and tops and every other dazzling distraction in store. 
The best thing about Antons:  being honest, I’d have to say their eccentricity attracts me even more than the fine clothing: it’s a must passing by Antons once or twice a month to see the new window display and gaze in awe at the collectables, gaze admiringly at the staff bedecked in that day’s finery and – if time permits – to enter for a browse at the beauty of their well cut garb.  

The downside: Antons is priced fairly – but fairly isn’t cheaply.  It’s likely to burn a hole in your card if you go crazy so Antons is great for feature pieces or that special occasion wear. Unless of course, you are reckless or incredibly well-stocked cashwise: in which case there is no end of opportunity to invest in beautiful clothing which will last you years.  

Details:
Antons Melbourne
Shop 224, Level 2 Lonsdale St Building
Melbourne Central
Phone: 03 9663 8610
Opening Hours: normal Melbourne Central hours

Circa Vintage Clothing – Gertrude Street

  

What was once somewhat of a secret for Melbourne vintage lovers is now swiftly riding the information autobahn – the word is out about Circa Vintage not only in Melbourne but amongst illustrious international types.  Nevertheless, I will assume there are still some poor deprived souls who love individual couture and all things retrospective and classic but haven’t heard of this most cool and cultivated of couture emporia. 

  Nestled away in South Fitzroy (yes, there is such a postcode) on Gertrude Street, just up from Brunswick Street, Circa is unashamedly a specialist shop.  Unlike your Retrostar/Revival type shops, it’s not a grab bag of oldish sellables, it’s a cultivated collection of wardrobe highlights  from the turn of the century to (roughly) the sixties.  Nicole Jenkins, the owner, is very well versed in the history of the frock and suit, and has handpicked everything from skirts, ballroom gowns, shoes, gloves, waistcoats, hats… etc etc.  You’ll find deco to victorian, mod to tasteful repro and much more.  Jewellery, cards, accessories oh goodness I can’t keep going it’s just a trip you’ll have to make for yourself.  What you will definitely find is a kick in the behind re: contemporary design – it’s difficult to avoid coming to the conclusion that 50 years ago attention to detail and fabric quality was – excuse the pun – a cut above what we accept these days.  Most items seem to be lined, lots of nice individual or matching buttons, beautifully finished seams etc etc.  Worth a look even if you don’t end up buying anything, just to remind yourself what it was like to have clothes made properly and casts even more doubt on buying new off shore sweat shop made clothing. 

  The best thing about Circa: well, basically it’s just that it’s Circa – as an entity or phenomenon.  Fantastically unique and anachronistic, stepping into Circa is like stepping into some 40s glamour movie. The staff are always amazingly dressed, the music is usually period-related, the lighting, furnishings: pretty much everything is in keeping with the vintage theme.  No wonder Dita Von Teese dropped in here on her way through town a year or 2 ago. 

  The second best thing about Circa:  unlike most vintage places around and on the ‘net, Circa caters for the Vintage Gentleman.  A fair amount of actual old things – including ties and braces –  but also some excellent repro to match the old things: Circa does the classy gent all manner of justice.  

  The downside: well, it’s not a downside but consider it a caveat.  While everything is reasonably priced for what it is, and some lovingly restored to former glory when brought into the hands of Nicole Jenkins: Circa is not a bargain basement.  Don’t go there expecting to find something you know is worth $500 for $5.  Go there to find quality vintage at a price that is reasonable but worthy of what it is.   Certainly you won’t find contemporary gowns with a similar fabric and design quality for less – probably much more – so remember what you’re paying for.

 Circa Website

Fabulous vintage for fabulous people.Shop 1, 102 Gertrude StreetFitzroy, Victoria 3065Australia

Phone : 03 9419 8899 Fax : 03 9415 6765

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday11am to 6pm or by appointment.  

Summer opening hours:

For the month of January, we’ll be open just three days a week, but available by appointment at other times (please call 9419 8899 to arrange).

Monday – Closed

Tuesday – Closed

Wednesday – Closed

Thursday – 11am to 6pm

Friday – 11am to 6pm

Saturday – 11am to 6pm

Sunday – Closed 

Peril Underground

So underground there ain’t no photos of it,  so just keep reading, and hopefully, one day my attempts at covert surveillance will bear the fruit I so obsessively hope for *wringing of slightly damp hands, deranged squint etc etc*.   

Peril Underground – once located on Swanston Street as Peril 305 in the days before Student Headquarters took over upper Swanston (not that there’s anything wrong with that etc) – now lurks subterranean and unique in a basement on Elizabeth Street near Flinders Street.  One enters via a laneway next to the horridly iconic  Golden Arches, where you then enter the basement on the right, descend with care down the rather unfriendly stairs (careful in stacked heels or pumps, people), and then you’ll find yourself in Alternative Paraphernalia Paradise.  Chief of the subcultural seraphim is owner Peter – a fixture of this downstairs lair and an affable and well versed fellow in alternative culture. His fair realm exhibits the following counties:

  The Tattoo and Piercing Parlour.  Often booked out and for good reason – so warning:  a casual impetuous (possibly drunk) visit hoping to be bedecked may not bear fruit. Book ahead if possible.

 Music store: featuring collectibles from teen-faves Tool, NIN, Manson etc to utterly obscure worthies like Shinjuku Thief, Laibach, Imperial marching music… with a lean towards industrial, gothic, “ebm”, metal and dark rock  this store ticks the angst-o-metre up to 11 and for anyone desiring an initial dip into the murky pool of these genres, a trip to Peril could just sort you out with your first few hours of listening!  For those already well familiar with  such sounds there’s unknown pleasures awaiting you, plus the added bonus of an extensive catalogue to order from if you can’t find it on the shelf. In the days of internet purchasing that feature may not hold such a drawcard – except in the case of the rare recordings Peter stocks… 

 The clothing emporium:  with humble beginnings as a small corner of the empire, the clothing behemoth has opened it’s silken maw and taken huge bites of the shop space, now emerging the uncontested winner and dominant area of Peril’s fifedom.  For club girls, victorian gents, cyber freaks and the casual Top Goth shopper alike, there’s gold in them thar frills…Thoughtfully accompanied by piercing jewellery, badges, patches and artwork, not to mention gig tix and -for veteran shoppers the beloved gift voucher – Peril supports local artisanship as well, with artwork, photography and clothing – plus cds of course – from the cloistered Melbourne gothic community on display to buy.  

Dvds: a small collection of cult dvds – music, documentary and film.  

Best thing about Peril: the staff! Peter and his revolving band of bon vivantes will entertain you, help you and  won’t scowl at you even if you are asking for a Tool live dvd.  Friday nights sees a cavalcade of musicians, artists, other shopkeepers and general layabouts descend for a rowdy or possibly quiet catch up… you’re still welcome to browse but you might be able to spot the Gothing ‘leet commingling…  

 The downside: the hours can be quite strict, and if not it’s spontaneously so.  Go during the day, don’t wander up after 6 expecting that because it’s alternative types they’ve got nothing better to do than entertain you in the evenings: they do. Also, they have no web presence to speak of which is nothing short of criminal… word is that they’re gearing up (only ten years too late!)  for cyberspace though, which can only be a Very Good Thing.  

 The oddest thing about Peril: they accept vouchers from other shops! So if you got a bum voucher for a present and don’t know what to do with it: take it down to Peril and try your luck trading it in for perilcash!!!

 Address: 17-19 Elizabeth St.City: MelbourneContact: 03-9614 2040 

Victorian Gothic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After having moved around a few times, Victorian Gothic has made a home for itself for the last couple of years in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.  Situated somewhat incongruously opposite the Housing Commission Flats at the Less Fashionable End of Brunner, Victorian Gothic is a haven of all things mesh, pvc, lace and above all, black.  Like a complete marketplace unto itself, you can walk into Victorian Gothic and come out with  a dress, boots, a cape, an umbrella, makeup, a bag, jewellery and a ticket to a gig where you can parade your new finery.  

 

Some of the great things about Victorian Gothic are: unlike many ‘gothic’ emporia of the 21st century, this one has stayed true to the roots of gothic couture/accessories.  While emo/metal fans can find basic staples like black trousers or a tartan kilt, Vic Gothic hasn’t compromised the more outrageous facets of gothic – you can still find your bat or spider ring, jacket with heavy rings and studs, black lace umbrella – even peacock feathers.  They’re certainly not catering for alterna-lite as their main crowd and are all the more eccentric and beloved for it.  So if Morticia Adams or Siouxsie Sue are your heroines and Pinhead or Dracula your heroes you’ll find really well made fineries here.  

 

My favourite items on the shelf: the black peacock feathers and well made tartan skirts.  Special mention also goes to the gothic jewellery – from the top shelf $$ end for the artistically minded, you can support local artisans here.  At the other end of the spectrum there’s the dark campery of gothic bling. 

 

A special mention also goes to Jacquie aka Sparkarella (burlesque performer extraordinaire) who can be found charming the pants off customers and bloggers alike a few days a week.

 

Reference:  

 

www.vicgothic.com

 

www.myspace.com/sparkarella 

 

102 Gertrude St

Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia

+61 3 9416 1777