Limited edition 'Rocker Girl Jane' dress in Midnight Rose

How this dress came about has a cute story behind it. I bought a roll of this cotton sateen rose print fabric in November 2010. I did'nt get around to making the intended dresses as other work had to be done first.

So, the dress was going to have capped sleeves, a full skirt and boat neck bodice. My friend Joy, who also runs a vintage inspired clothing label and also happens to share my birthday, made the same dress using the same fabric and neither of us knew we had the same roll of fabric or our intentions for how we were going to use it.

Instead, I have turned the roll of beautiful fabric, which I have named the print Midnight Rose into 12 'Rocker Girl Jane' dresses.

They are fully lined using cream coloured lining and come with a fabric covered belt in black for a little contrast.

Available in size 10, 12 and 14 you can buy one from my online store, Darling Central in the ACT, Thread Den and I Dream A Highway in Victoria.

Photo credit: Helen McLean Photography

Styling and model: Candice DeVille

Have you met Miss Hussy?

I have known Hayley Stoneham for about 5 years now. My first contact with her was through MySpace, then Facebook and we've met in person once too.

Hayley has an Australian, 1950's - 1960's inspired clothing label called Miss Hussy Clothing. She is currently based in the USA with an office in Melbourne, Australia.

1. What is your name and your location?

My name is Hayley and I have a clothing label called "Miss Hussy". Currently I live in Las Vegas but i also have a "base" in Melbourne" which is where most of our items are made. (The rest i do by hand from here in Las Vegas)


2. What kind of handmade clothing do you make and what is your inspiration?

I mostly make retro inspired pieces. Mainly influenced by the 50's and early 60's. I love being inspired by a fab piece of fabric, either a really neat or unusual colour or a print. Of course i do the basics like pencil skirts etc but i love doing limited runs of dresses maybe only 8 of each in a really great fabric. It keeps if fresh and fun for me too.


3. Do you plan on expanding the business in the future? If so, what are your goals?

My dream has always been to have a little boutique! I'd love to be able to do that. I couldn't think of anything better than having your own shop. Hopefully when i move back to Australia I can start working towards that. Las Vegas isn't the best environment for small boutiques.


4. What are you favourite fabrics to work with and do you have a favorite thing that you like to make?

I love working with cottons or cotton elastanes. I love the variety in cotton prints available. You are limited with a cotton though and i try to stick to only using it for 50's style sundresses with full skirts. So i have to say they are my fave only because of the wide variety of prints there's on for every mood. Right now my fave thing to make is the 50's sundress. Its probably because the weather is so hot here right now and wearing pants is torture! - and they are so much fun to trim, bows, buttons, rick rack...love it!

5. Name 3 of your favorite Australian designers (established designers are welcome).

Well i have to be honest, when i was studying fashion at university i would have killed to have owned a brand like "Wheels and Dollbaby" they were the right mixture of punk, retro and rock 'n' roll! Love that style. Unfortunately in uni all i could afford was the tank...still saving up for something!

Im going to cheat here and say that i love my fellow retro designers...You, Moxie Minx and Hot Couture. How fab that Australia is producing some of the best items in this scene. I think its great that people are really getting behind local brands too. There is a huge amount of loyalty right now.

And then Alannah Hill, controversial right now but how can a girl not want that kind of edgy pretty!..lovely! I got a great Alannah Hill 40's style straw hat for christmas. It is my favorite thing right now.

Miss Hussy online store: click here

PHOTO CREDIT: Jenny M

Michi Girl

Michi Girl is a daily newsletter that features the current weather and something cool.

Thank you so much to the team at Michi Girl for including my dress today as part of the 'Melbourne' weather forecast.

I apologise that this post is short, my apprentice, Bastien is playing trains close to some very expensive fabric!!

Stray Cats are coming!

If you are going to see Stray Cats play on their farewell tour in 2009 and live in or a visiting Melbourne, drop in to Thread Den and treat yourself to something new to wear!

Over the next month or two, I will be doing weekly shipments of new dresses, skirts and shirts so drop in and say hi to the wonderful team there.

All the details are on the poster.

Thank you to Nicole Reed of ashotaway.com for photographing and creating this beautiful flyer!

Full Skirt and The Modern Pin Up

Last week saw the launch of Paula Delley's photography book, The Modern Pinup.

It features well know pin up models such as Sarah Lea Cheesecake, Miss T, Ava Jinx and Kelly Ann Doll.

When Paula made an appointment with me about her dress, I went into panic mode before she arrived..."me?" I asked myself, "she has asked ME to make her dress?", knowing what a special occassion this was for both Paula, the Australian Pin Up/Burlesque and Kustom Kulture scene.

When asked if she had an idea of what she was after, Paula expressed an interest in a pencil skirted dress. I took one look at her beautiful face and figure and decided that for the night, a 1950's style evening dress with petticoat and full circle skirt was in order.

The final design is a collaboration of both of our ideas, this is what we came up with.

The dress is made from Poly/Viscose, the one I use is weighty, however, light enough to allow the skirt to swoosh.

The bodice is half lined with 100% Viscose lining and has a sweetheart neckline and plunging V at the back (see my Flickr account for more photos).

Pink & black was the theme so we made a 7cm wide pink sash to compliment the Pink 1950's style underskirt/petticoat.

If you are looking for a great photographer or someone that will help you unleash the Pinup Girl/Boy in you, contact Paula about her 'Pinup For A Day' shoots that she offers.

The Modern Pinup is available from www.pauladelley.com, Faster Pussycat in Melbourne and The Outre Gallery.