My grandparents growing up were the most
influential and inspirational people in my life. My parents worked long hard
hours and my grandparents always were there to take care of me. I always felt
in a way I grew up in the wrong era and could relate more to the baby boomer
children than to those of my own generation.
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| My grandparents circa 1955 |
My grandmother came from a wealthy Irish
background and had settled in Melbourne in the 1880's. I came from a line
of women who had strong dressmaking roots. They were perfectly wonderful at
their craft, weather it was dressmaking for clients or making costumes for the
children's dance concerts. My grandmother studied in this field and was
fortunate enough through a connection, to work at high end boutiques in the
prestigious Collins street in Melbourne, Australia. She transported me in to
her glamourous world of fashion. Growing up she taught me about the fabrics,
the styles and the appreciation of fashion. Her stories of the 1950's and the high
society that would visit the boutiques which she was employed at and loved. She
had to leave this career when she was married in 1956 as it was expected of
women of this era. I know she always secretly missed it and she craved to be
amongst that once more. Her passion for fashion could be seen every time there
was an old movie or events like the Oscars were on TV. Her eyes lit up and she
talked about the gowns with much enthusiasm. Nan would always finish her
stories with "but that is how the rag trade is...it’s always been up and
down". I feel this one line she would repeat as to confirm to herself that
nothing lasts forever and she made the right choice to marry and start the
family. Even to this day my grandmother is well ahead of her time and always looking
to the current fashions for inspiration in her outfits.
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| My grandfather and I at Apollo Beach, Australia. |
My grandfather was born in Yorkshire,
England. He came from a working class family. His father was a builder and it
is rumoured he went to America to work on the empire state building and worked
in Canada also. My Grandfather lost both of his parents during the second world
war and grew up in an orphanage. Once he became 18 years old and the war had
ended he boarded ship for a new life in Australia. He worked as a lumberjack in
the 1940's and 1950's in the logging industry of the coastal area of Victoria.
He met my grandmother during those days at a dance whist she was on holiday. My
grandfather wrote to my grandmother every day before moving to Melbourne
himself to be with her. My grandfather became a government driver. Growing up my
grandfather told may stories from these by gone days and I listened in awe. He
drove around the many wealthy, royals and rulers of the world. He had many
stories on these characters from the 1950's to the 1970's. My grandfather was a
sharp dressed man, he loved to wear a suit and had a wardrobe full of ties. He
gave me also fashion advice "When I'm not sure how to place an outfit
together I look to nature, the flowers the forests or creatures of the
forest". So simple but the idea speaks volumes. I always asked my
grandfather for advice and found him a wealth of knowledge on the world and history. He
loved to listen to music from the 1950’s and 1960’s. The radio station “magic
693” was always on in the house as I played and let myself dream away.
The combination of these two wonderful
human beings planted the seeds of inspiration for my love of history and
fashion. They are very much a part of my foundations of the woman I am today. I
still hold these memories close to my heart with such fondness. They are the
inspiration for me to spread my wings to begin my own new journey of opening my
own e-boutique store Apollo vintage. I am very excited to start blogging about
my new vintage
journey as it unfolds,
Till next time,
Miss Apollo
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