I still have the first piece of vintage clothing that came to me... It's a pair of 1920s lounge pyjamas, given to me by one of my dance teachers in New zealand. She worked in America as a dancer in the 1920s. A lot of my dance teachers influenced my love of vintage clothing. Also my mother was always at the sewing machine making the costumes. I did a lot of singing, dancing and acting as a kid, more than going to school really, but I just loved everything about it. The old theatre's, costumes, musicians, they were great times.

I came to Sydney in 1968 where I worked as a showgirl and go go dancer. Later I worked in clubs and theatre's doing back up dancing for singers, later came choreography for musicals... At this time I started seriously collecting vintage clothing.

One day my mother took me to this place in Sydney, Tempi Tip (The salvation army). They used to open only 3 times a week. When they opened the big wire gate it was a 100 meters dash to the vintage clothing box. Lucky for me I was fit and fast and no one could beat me. All that victorian and 1920s clothes we used to get in those days.

It was 1969 when I decided to open my first stall at Paddys market in Sydney, (where the entertainment centre is now).

In the early 70s I went to live in Newcastle where I opened shops called Paraphernalia and Detzals.

Later in the mid 80s I moved to Adelaide in South Aust., which was like arriving in vintage clothing heaven. There I opened 2 shops, Central Market Dress Ups and Exclusive Vintage Clothing. This shop is still open with a new owner. This is a must see shop when in Adelaide.

During this time I collected a lot of really good clothes some of which were used on the films 'Shine', 'Rabbit proof fence' and 'Black and White', I also got to work on these films in the wardrobe dept which was a great thrill.

Later back in Sydney I opened another shop in Newtown Exclusive Vintage clothing , I had a great deal of fun there, and supplied clothes for the films 'Romulas my Father' and 'Australia'. Some of these cloths are for sale on this site.

I've had a lot of fun over the last 40 years with my 3 daughters and their friends helping me with the clothes. The house was always a mess but the best kind of mess... vintage clothing.

Just recently I have moved to Bellingen in NSW . I hope you enjoy looking at this site.
...Jeanette Luke.