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This week’s featured Etsy seller is Gayle MacGregor & you can see her shop sewingmachinegirl at www.etsy.com/shop/sewingmachinegirl

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

When I began working in Theatrical Costuming I always seemed to be looking for particular vintage clothing, accessories and footwear for shows.
I had always been interested in fashion and vintage clothing, so it was a natural progression to start collecting it.In those pre-internet days it was mighty hard to find things in Australia, but there were still country stores that had old vintage stock if you knew where to look.
The collecting became a bit of an addiction – so I started selling vintage clothing to fund my habit.
To be honest – I am not sure much has changed in this regard, and I am still often searching for vintage items for theatre shows!

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

I still wear it occasionally, especially in Winter with vintage coats and accessories – but in my youth I wore it all the time!

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

Yes – to find a shop in the middle of country Australia, with shelves packed to the rafters with unsold vintage lingerie in boxes in immaculate condition.
This actually happened to me once in my life many many years ago – and I dream of it happening again !!

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Madeleine Vionnet. All the books in the world on her bias cutting techniques cannot substitute for what it would be like to observe a master like Vionnet at work.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

I see vintage as having a major part to play in contributing to the push to sustainable fashion both now and into the future. In our busy times – surrounded by disposable fast fashion, and fast everything – the comforting nature of unique well made vintage clothing and its timeless quality is going to become more and more attractive to buyers.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

Oh that’s hard!! But if I must choose – this kitten print apron – I love the print, its too cute and I am a sucker for kittens.

Here are a few more items from Gayle’s shop:


sewingmachinegirl on etsy! - Vintage 1960s Leopard Print Bra Panties Slip Set

sewingmachinegirl on etsy!

Vintage 1960s Leopard Print Bra Panties Slip Set

sewingmachinegirl on etsy! - Vintage 1950s Bullet Bra

sewingmachinegirl on etsy!

Vintage 1950s Bullet Bra

sewingmachinegirl on etsy! - Vintage 1960s Boys Black Western Print Cowboy Shirt

sewingmachinegirl on etsy!

Vintage 1960s Boys Black Western Print Cowboy Shirt