Style | The Crown Street Project

Shopping for good quality, unique vintage garments can be pain in the ass. Sometimes, what looks like a too-good-to-be-true bargain is exactly that. So, how do you choose the deals from the duds? Where in Sydney can you go to get them? Gavin Dee from The Crown St Project, a Sydney-based “fashion collective dedicated to sourcing and supplying unusual and unique vintage pieces from around the world” (woah!) shows us how.

Be who you wanna be

You’re not buying vintage to look like you just stepped out of a Portman’s. Gavin is a fan of unique style, “It’s boring if everyone else is doing it”, he says.

Vintage fashion is all about expressing your style and being adventurous with fashion. You’re purchasing a unique piece of clothing with character and a story – make it your own!

Timing is everything

Gavin reckons being in the right place at the right time helps when shopping for a great vintage find. “That elusive 40s blouse might have only just hit the rack 10 minutes before you walked in the door,” he says. So don’t give up on finding your favourite piece – trawl carefully at the markets coz you could be just seconds away from the bargain of the day.

Be open to all eras

A gem is a gem, regardless of the era it first became popular. If you like the style, or if there’s something about a piece that catches you, check it out! Gavin reckons that as time goes on, anything collectible - from clothing, furniture and even books - will become harder to come by, so everything is a treasure.  At the moment, anything from the 90s is not only accessible, but also, as Gavin notes, is the flavour of the moment.

What’s hot this season?

“This summer we can't get enough 80s cotton summer dresses,” says Gavin. “They are perfect for a hot Australian summer and are flattering on any body type and we tend to find them on our travels all the time. Popular back then and still popular now!”

Aside from summer dresses, Gavin also says that you can score great finds all year 'round, with the best bargains being found at markets run by people like The Crown St Project.

In terms of pieces women can buy all year, Gavin says a failsafe find is a vintage bag because, “They always just seem so damn effortless. Whether it be a 70s snakeskin clutch or a 90s embroidered backpack, they are enough to make any outfit look great. With vintage you know you are getting something with age and character, a piece that is unique and truly one of a kind”.

For men, Gavin thinks a great vintage tee is your best bet. “They look great and are the real thing! They are not some cheap high street chain imitation with pre-distressed print and machine made holes. A vintage tee is the real deal. Holes and all and plus they already have that lived-in appearance because they have already been worn and loved! Nothing beats them.”

Inner city’s the way to go

The inner-city areas of Surry Hills and Newtown - particularly Crown Street for the former and Enmore Road and King Street for the latter - are vintage fashion meccas. The Crown Street Project even hold a 'Nothing over $10' stall at Newtown Community Market, as well as a regular stall at Surry Hills Market. Gavin says Surry Hills is your best bet for women’s dresses, while Newtown (and even Glebe) markets are spot-on for old American work-wear, or Western-inspired denim pieces for men.

Gavin also says that pop up markets are a great place to find vintage gear, and that you can’t discount the old garage sale either.

Check your clothes carefully before you purchase

Naturally, anything that is pre-loved will be a little worn in. so Gavin has a few tips in terms of wear and tear and looking after your pieces. “Always check your items before purchase for missing buttons or broken and faulty zips. Nothing worse than getting something home only to realise that the top button is missing.” He’s also got a tip regarding footwear. “Always check heels and soles”, he says. “Over time plastic and glue deteriorate which can cause soles to crack and plastic heel tips to crumble. At a glance they may look OK, but put them on and do the walk-around test. Should you have trouble anyway, most bootmakers can fix this problem.”

Don’t ever discount quality

Gavin speaks highly of the quality of the piece you are buying, whether it be a one-off or a designer find.  “We look out for pieces that have uniqueness and quality - two traits that we have become known for. Also it's hard to resist anything 'designer'.”  If it’s good enough for The Crown Street Project, then it’s good enough for you.

Just because you’ve stumbled upon a vintage designer outfit, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be right for you. Gavin says you should avoid buying clothes that are too small for you – where’s the fun in vintage shopping if it doesn’t even fit right?

Do something good

Pre-loved and vintage shopping not only amps up your wardrobe’s style factor, it’s also a fantastic way to support to the environment. “An advantage in buying vintage is that you know are getting something unique and with character, that has lasted the test of time. Buying preloved clothing is a huge benefit to the environment - especially in reducing waste. Both Addison (Gavin’s business partner) and I are huge supporters of recycling and we see our buying as a great way to help the environment."

More about Gavin Dee and The Crown St Project

How did The Crown Street Project come about?

My partner Addison Marshall and I decided to join forces a year ago and that's when TCSP was born. Addison has been involved in the vintage scene since 2000.

Are there pieces or items that The Crown St Project specialise in?

We love women's wear and are big on 70s and 80s stuff. Dresses and shoes in particular. Both Addison and I love shoes!

What do you look for when choosing pieces for The Crown St Project and why?

There are a few factors that come into play when selecting pieces for TCSP. Firstly something has to 'wow' us. Does the item make a statement and can it stand out in the crowd? Can it still be expressive but not look like a costume? Then we ask ourselves if we were female would we wear it? For us a piece must be totally wearable as well. We then look at size, cut, fit and fabric. We don't get anything too small or too big. Does the item have visual interest? What details does it have? Is the fabric nice to wear? If an item excites us and it ticks all TCSP boxes then it's a winner. It's funny to note also that because there are two of us we both act as the others barometer. An item has to get a thumbs-up from both of us otherwise it back on the rack, Jack.

What's your favourite bargain/find of all time and why?

An 'Ossie Clark' blue crepe jumpsuit with rainbow sequin detail from the 70s. It was found in the bottom of a dress up box! I have no idea how it came to be in there but the vintage fashion gods were shining on me that day. I'm not sure what it's worth, but don't really care because it's a keeper!! It's definitely one of a kind.

What sets The Crown St Project apart from other collaborations?

We like to keep our sourcing local so our selection has a very Australian flavour. Whether it's an 80s Ken Done print tee or some fabulous 70s Katie’s (when Katie's was good) cotton sundress, we embrace our Aussie roots. We don't get in loads of stuff in from the States or Asia like so many vintage sellers do nowadays. That's kinda cheating. We love sourcing the stuff - that's half the fun. It's like treasure hunting. Our knowledge on labels and designers both local and international is top notch too!

By Erica Enriquez

Find The Crown St Project on Facebook or their Online store.