Living In The Past

We live in a modern world, but there are some who reject the fast trends and pace of today in favour of embracing eras gone by. Here, six women share their passion for various decades and explain why they prefer to turn back time.

SARAH DOYLE, 41, RESTAURANT CO-OWNER

“I am very drawn to the era’s spectacular architecture, music and car design”

“I am the fifth of six girls, so I always wore hand-me-downs. When you grow up surrounded by old clothes, you learn to love them. My love for ’50s femininity was forged watching old movies with my mum. I became a weekend vintage dresser, but really dived in 14 years ago when my husband opened [Sydney’s] Bodega restaurant and I wore my looks out on the floor. I am also very drawn to the era’s spectacular architecture, music and car design.

I love ’50s rockabilly, it’s where my heart belongs. Our home has lots of furniture and knick-knacks from the period and I drive my 1958 Holden FC, ‘Lizzie’ – she’s a beauty. I appreciate a dress with history – it feels special. When I started collecting, I could find dresses for $5 at op shops, which dried up, or treasures at ’50s fairs. But even now, a $185 piece is still cheaper than a decent contemporary dress, and has stood the test of time. Today’s disposable, fast fashion encourages a bad ‘buy-and-toss’ mentality.

My older daughter loves dressups and fashion statements, but I also want to teach her perspective: it’s nice to look pretty and wear a dress, but it’s even better to be kind.”

MADELEINE MITCHELL, 23, MUSICIAN AND TEACHER

“I started getting involved with the style and music of the late ’70s/early ’80s punk at age 14, primarily through listening to hardcore punk bands. Punk appealed as a space where women could really express themselves, both musically and physically. As performers and icons, punk women are uncompromisingly themselves.