Wild Tea Party interview!

A few weeks ago I bought this adorable little rhinestone brooch from a new Etsy store, Wild Tea Party, which Ellen of Wild Tea Party blog fame has recently opened. It's such a cute twinkly pin! As you can imagine, it gets plenty of compliments whenever I wear it!

Anyway, I see Ellen is having a 20% sale on all the items in her gorgeous shop (until the 11th) for any readers of her blog! Read more here for the details.

Meanwhile, Ellen was kind enough to answer some of my burning questions regarding her love of all things vintage. Read on gentle readers!

1) How did you first get interested in vintage clothes and accessories and retro styles?

Vintage has always been a part of my life. I was six years old when my paternal grandmother passed away. She left a house stuffed with amazing vintage pieces. I still remember all the pieces that we sold in a garage sale and if it had happened now I would’ve claimed much more ‘junk’ for myself. I still think of all the jewels and handbags that were sold off for a steal, claiming ‘that will never be popular again….’!

I was given jewellery boxes full of costume jewellery though – some of which I still wear. I also had a box of grandma's clothes within which were my first two vintage dresses. I ended up wearing one of them to my year twelve formal.

I become seriously interested in collecting and learning about vintage clothing roughly a year and a half ago. I felt utterly bored and uninspired with the ‘same same but different’ clothes in chain stores, and don’t get me started on the poor manufacturing. I often find that none of those clothes suit my figure, or my personality. When I found my first few fifties dresses I knew I had found my own style.

2) Do you have a favourite era or period or style?

That’s really hard to narrow down. I think my heart truly belongs to the fifties. In terms of what clothes I wear daily though I generally go for fifties cotton house dresses and circle skirts and seventies sun dresses, with a few forties and eighties pieces throw in. When I go out I choose late fifties, early sixties wiggle dresses (think Madmen) or very full-skirted fifties evening pieces, as I love how elegant these styles are, and how they modernise well with some killer stilettos and modern jewellery. For me it’s not so much about recreating the ‘look’ head to toe every day, but incorporating timeless and flattering pieces into my wardrobe.

 
3) Does your love of vintage extend to your taste in music, film, books and decor?

I would definitely say that my love of vintage extends to film and décor. I’m very happy to settle in and watch any black and white film. I will admit I’ve sat through some shocking forties and fifties films just for the fashion. I find them absolutely thrilling for inspiration for my own wardrobe, and the happy endings and corny lines aren’t so bad when you’re having a grey day. 

In terms of décor I don’t have a house decked out in retro furniture, but I do collect certain bits and pieces for a vintage inspired look. I really love art deco designs, and so my heart melted the first time I saw Sylvac and Avon Art Pottery Company Rabbits. They’re as cute as can be. I also collect vintage tea cups. I have some really special pieces in my collection – some are too nice to drink from. At the moment I’ve turned to collecting drawings and prints from the 30s, they look very charming up on the wall.

4) Do you have a vintage piece that you've recently bought that you absolutely adore at the moment?

How can I possibly choose? I definitely would have to say it’s a toss up between two pieces. I purchased a 1950s dead-stock German glass cameo pendant from Lauren Rose Design on Etsy and it’s utterly divine. There’s also my gorgeous needlepoint butterfly bag from Allen Company Inc, another Etsy seller – it gets a compliment no matter where I go. Of course, I buy pieces quite frequently, so probably by tomorrow I will have moved on to something else!

Thank you so much Ellen! It's very interesting to read about the inner workings of a vintage aficionado!

All items here can be found in Ellen's shop Wild Tea Party: 50s Shall dress, Rainbow 80s rhinestone brooch and Crocodile tears messenger bag. 

Comments

[Emma Wallace]

What a great interview! I love how she said she doesn't like to recreate a look but wear something flattering. That's such a nice way to way to do vintage! I'll have to go and check out her shop!

[Stéphanie]

I adore !

[Micaela]

ohh, nice interview! what a lovely shop.

[lenorenevermore]

Adore vintage Sam!
Will certainly check out the store~
Fab weekend!!
xo*

[drollgirl]

i LOVE the brooch that you scored! absolutely perfect! and adorable!

and i hope you have a fab weekend!

[Ellen]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for posting up my little interview.

Hope you're having a not too wet weekend. I can see sun out my bedroom window!

Ellen x

[Tracy]

That's the sweetest little brooch Sam! A great interview. I'll have to now go have a look at that very cool sounding shop!

[Kathleen]

that is the cutest brooch ever! lucky ducky.
i am so madly in love with that dress too. very nice interview!! i'm a vintage freak as well. i've been meaning to open an etsy store forever..i have soo many gems to sell.