AMY MACLAINE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT AUCKLAND
What item of clothing always puts a smile on your face? I wear yellow every Friday, because it’s my favourite colour and makes reaching the weekend that little bit more special. The dress I’m wearing in this picture is one of my favourite yellow pieces. It has a lot of volume and teensy flocked flowers on the outer layer. I found it at London’s Portobello Market a few years ago, on display like a vision, and it just happened to be the perfect fit.
If we were to open your wardrobe right now, what would we find? Right now it’s overflowing! I store dresses on one side and skirts on the other, all organised by colour. There’s every colour of the rainbow in there, and almost everything is 1950s cotton. I adore bright, bold prints, so you’ll find pieces with roses as big as your head, giant cats and dogs, and landscapes like the Grand Canyon and the Spanish Steps.
What’s been your most fulfilling fashion moment? My wedding day. I wore a true 1950s Fred Perlberg dress that I’d been hoarding since before I got engaged — although I didn’t buy it with a wedding in mind. It was white chiffon with a fitted sleeveless bodice and a full skirt, and had delicate pink, yellow, purple and red flowers embroidered all over it. I accessorised with my favourite colour, including a bouquet of yellow roses. It was important to me to be able to stick to my everyday style on such a special day, and made me feel really comfortable and happy.
How does fashion affect your mood? I’ve been lucky enough to fill my wardrobe with so many fantastic items that make getting dressed in the morning an absolute pleasure. Putting on something really special or finding a new way to style an old favourite is a real mood booster. I also plan my outfits for the week on Sunday nights, which is a really good way to take the hassle out of deciding what to wear every morning. Is there something of cultural significance that has inspired and stuck with you? Yes, absolutely — Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It was one of the first classic Hollywood films I ever saw and I was blown away by Audrey Hepburn’s costumes. I actually have all the bits and pieces for her iconic outfit, so I can recreate it when the occasion arises! Collecting them led me to research more about her style, and she’s so poised and glamorous she’s been my biggest inspiration ever since.
Where do you feel most at peace? I always feel very peaceful when I’m browsing for vintage, whether locally or when I’m travelling. I love finding new sources of 1950s clothing because there’s not that much out there anymore, so finding pieces ‘in the wild’ is so thrilling. When I’m not vintage shopping, I’m super happy just being at home on the couch.