True Vintage

We are on the Gold Coast in Queensland for a short getaway this week. It's so nice to have a change of scenery & go to the beach. Our little one can't get enough of the sea & the sand.

I've been coming here every year since I was a kid, so it feels like my second home. I know my way around & what's new & what's old.

So with my afternoon off today, I headed straight to the Gold Coasts hidden gem, Arkive, a True Vintage store hidden upstairs in the Centre Arcade (the arcade next to sportsgirl) I remember visiting it last year but didn't get a chance to have a good look. This visit I did and it was such fun.

They have a great collection of men's shirts, surfers shorts, tees & knits - all of which are unisex. They also have some great dresses, short sleeve silk tops & bags for the girls.

I had a great chat with Jake, the owner. No wonder the vintage stock is first class he worked in vintage clothing stores & learnt his trade in Shoreditch, East London where all the cool kids hang out (I did a year in London & loved this area for its always buzzing vibe). Shoreditch is vintage heaven (think Kate Moss & Pete Doherty) and Jake (who is English) & his wife Angie (a former employee of rokit 5 - the UK's largest vintage clothing company) have brought a piece of this vintage heaven to the Gold Coast.

A lot of their pieces come from the UK & Paris & some from the US. Prices are really reasonable & there is heaps to choose from.

I love the anticipation of vintage shopping, the feeling that you may strike gold, and if you do knowing that no one else will have it on this season!!!

Well, I did strike gold! I found this purple checked 3/4 sleeve dress for $55. Teamed with black leggings, a beaded belt & ankle boots it will be perfect this winter. I'll post a pic of me in it when the weather turns cold!

So, if you're not on or visiting the Gold Coast, rest assure you can still hunt virtually... head to instagram & their Facebook page where they have an abundance of great pics of clothing & accessories that you can buy & will ship worldwide!

Soon, you can also buy from their website: www.arkivevintage.com

Facebook.com/arkivevintage
Instagram @arkivevintage
Twitter @arkivevintage

Oh and when you're done browsing Arkive Vintage you can pop next door for a drink & a bite at black coffee lyrics - an equally cool coffee shop!

And finally, if you're in to vintage clothes & wonder about the lives the dresses had before you get them, then check out the fiction book 'The Secret Lives of Dresses' by Erin McKean. A fun, light read which will only encourage your vintage clothes shopping...by the author of the popular blog www.dressaday.com