Her store is a treasure chest of vintage gowns waiting to be worn (again). They say they don’t make things like they used to and if you ask Casey Simms, the co-owner of Forever Vintage she’d say that’s very true. Our Hello Vendor profiles afford our readers the opportunity to meet the person behind the brand and today Miss Casey shares with us all her secrets about finding that one of a kind gown.
Tell us a little bit about yourself? I graduated in 2013 from Whitehouse Institute of Design with a Bachelor of Design, in styling and creative direction for fashion. Having loved fashion and design from an early age it was the perfect choice. This year I’ve started my masters of interior design, focusing on commercial spaces such as hotels. I love buying for Forever Vintage as it gives me an opportunity to focus on the latest trends in fashion and bring them to life with beautiful vintage clothes.
How did you get into the vintage bridal gown game? It was pretty simple really, one day in 2012 a supplier of mine offered me this stunning 50’s Cahill of Beverly Hills tea length wedding dress. I couldn’t resist, I figured if I could love this dress so could a whole bunch of brides and so the bridal range began. I must say though every time I get a new bridal dress in I can’t help but fall a little in love with it, just like I did with that first one.
When did your fascination with vintage begin? My fascination with vintage started when I was about 12, I just fell in love with the fashions and how much elegance they oozed, by the time I was 15 I was a promotional model at vintage expos and in 2010 the passion became a business when I started Forever Vintage.
What is your favourite era in fashion? I’d have to say the 1950s! Most of my favourite designers made they’re best pieces in the 50’s! There’s something magical about the clothes from that era, they’re just so feminine, slightly sexy and beautifully made.
Fave Hollywood style icon and why? It has to be Audrey Hepburn. She’s just so synonymous with style! I mean I get a lot people walking into the shop asking for an ‘Audrey’ dress. How many other Hollywood icons can you say that about? If you break it down though the reason that Audrey Hepburn is such a style icon is really because of what she wore. As Hubert de Givenchy’s fashion muse she catapulted to stardom and her 1954 tea length wedding dress designed by the House of Balmain is beyond iconic!
What is a common misconception about vintage clothes? That they’re cheap! Mid century one of a kind couture is both expensive and rare. If you want the good stuff you have to be prepared to invest, much like you would with any other modern designer brand!
What kind of gowns do you stock? Forever Vintage stocks bridal dresses as well as gorgeous special occasion wear perfect for bridesmaids, mothers of the bride or even wedding guests. We’ll often style the whole bridal party or just our clients from head to toe.
Where do the gowns in your collections come from? I have suppliers in the UK, United States, Europe and Canada! Forever Vintage doesn’t stock Australian vintage as in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s Australia simply didn’t have the kind of high society that could be found in other affluent countries where high society women wouldn’t be seen dead in the same dress twice.
Do you have a favourite? But of course! I just adore this blush pink pin tucked silk organza and chantilly lace halter neck Harvey Berin, I picked up in LA this year on a buying trip! I had been drooling over its original 1956 Harpers Bazaar advertisement for years and couldn’t believe my luck when I stumbled upon it, it’s most definitely one of the stores most gorgeous pieces.
Three things to keep an eye out for when shopping for vintage? Personally when I’m shopping for vintage I like to keep an eye out for high quality American or European labels, stunning fabric and beautiful cuts. With vintage it’s not really about size, but shape and the way it fits, there’s a high chance that if you love it on the hanger it will only look more stunning on.
Advice for the bride on the fence about buying vintage. If you’re looking for something special, one of a kind and exclusively yours with loads of style and a little bit of history you should look no further than a vintage wedding dress… and if you do happen to find your perfect gown, buy it straight away because at the end of the day your vintage dress is a one off piece and you may never have the chance to buy it again!
How much do vintage wedding dresses cost? At Forever Vintage our gorgeous vintage wedding gowns cost between $1,500 to $4,000 but on average our brides would pay $2,500 for their dream dress.
Any rules for wearing vintage? I think one of the major rules for wearing vintage is to keep it simple and classic, let the dress do most of the work for you, always wear red lipstick, never wear strappy shoes and to just be confident in what you’re wearing.
CREDITS Bridal gowns Forever Vintage // Photos Scott Surplice.