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ookshelf •Stylish wordsMaggie Alderson, author, quilterand vintage aficionadoIn Shall We Dance? author and fashionjournalist, Maggie Alderson, tells thestory of Loulou Landers, a purveyorof vintage fashion in London whois struggling with a difficult adultdaughter and a lover half her age.A lifelong devotee of vintage coutureand a keen observer of social trends,the author says that, in her new book,she’s created the vintage fashionboutique of her dreams.“A shop is the perfect place to basea book,” says Maggie. “You have somany people in and out all the timeand you hear a lot of stories.” Toensure the authenticity of her fictionalstore, Loulou Land, Maggie worked in aclose friend’s vintage fashion boutiquewhere she normally just hangs out.“I think all novelists should get a jobin a shop now,” she says with a laugh.“It’s amazing what you overhear. I tookone scene, with a mother and a grumpyteenage daughter looking for a promdress, directly from a real exchange.”This is Maggie’s sixth book and,until a few months ago, her columnof 12 years was still appearing in TheGood Weekend in The Age and SydneyMorning Herald. For her book tour inAustralia to promote Shall We Dance?she brought along a special collectionof vintage treasures - a brooch, ahandbag, crocodile stilettos, a dressand some scarves - and encouragedthe audience to bring something too.Maggie has loved vintage for years– “I love the joy of discovery, thediamond in the rough,” she says – butnow it is a hot ticket item with fashionlovers of all ages the world over.“Personally I’m not keen on alteringvintage items too much,” she explains.“I think pieces lose their charm if youchange them a lot.” Her rule is that youshould only wear one vintage piece ata time, two at the most, and she likesto camouflage any flaws in garmentsby adding an accessory but she willsometimes renovate an item if it reallyneeds it.“For instance,” she explains, “Idiscovered this fantastic fake leopardskin three quarter length coat but thelining was shot. I had it re-lined withfluorescent pink silk. It’s beautiful andunique. The coat cost me £10 and the“When youmake somethingfor someoneit’s a way ofexpressing yourlove for them”lining cost me £60 but you’ll never seeanother one like it.”Maggie is a dab hand with a darningneedle when required and recentlycovered her six-year-old daughter’spyjamas with sequins for her firstslumber party. “My Grandmother wasIn book stores now, published byPenguin Australia. RRP$32.95a bespoke dressmaker and my sisteris an amazing dressmaker. My niece,Katie, who’s in her mid 20s, is greattoo and she’s been making new vintageclothes lately. She collects vintagepatterns and sews from them.”Maggie has also joined a knittinggroup where she is the only quilter.“I’m making a quilt for my daughterfrom vintage handkerchiefs I’vecollected. It’s a very cool group youknow. One member was a magazineeditor, another used to be wardrobemistress for the Rolling Stones.”Maggie says the popularity ofvintage fashion and home sewing andalterations is about both environmentalconcerns and style. “I think peopleare aware now about the fast fashionthing. You find something really goodin a chain store but everyone else hasit too. If you make it yourself you canbe unique and it’s a real buzz. There’snothing like saying, ‘I made it’.“My daughter’s two godmothers areboth amazing knitters. One loves pugdogs and just made her a fantasticjumper with a pug on it. When youmake something for someone it’s a wayof expressing your love for them.”@www.maggiealderson.blogspot.comTwitter - @MaggieAGet Creative Quarterly Autumn 2011 63