Painted Bird Vintage

10/08/2026

A little Spring outfit planning never hurt anyone, particularly while the current footwear decision is still shoes, boots or possibly two pairs of socks. 💐

For this Perfect Pairing, we have brought together a Raspberry Ditsy Floral Dress, a Bruce Berry Purple Crepe Jacket, our Blue Moon earrings and the Wee Goldies sandals.

Not quite ready to even think about sandals yet? Very fair. Our covered 👠 Dreamy Denim Shoes would look just as lovely and keep the whole colour story intact.

Vintage does not need to be worn head to toe, and everything certainly does not need to come from the same era. Repeat colours already found within a print, add modern jewellery or footwear, and mix in the pieces you already enjoy wearing. That is often how vintage fits most naturally into a modern wardrobe.

Need a little help bringing your wardrobe into the now? Book a personal styling appointment, or try this pairing with one-to-one guidance at The Aviary.

Either way you look at it, it is all good fashion comin’ outta Painted Bird Vintage.

Visit paintedbird.nz to explore the pieces or make your booking.

My current vote is for the Dreamy Denim Shoes, with the Wee Goldies making their appearance once the days are warmer.

07/08/2026

Funny the things your brain hangs on to...

I remember hearing once that a really good dish balances sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.

Somehow I realised this week that's probably how I get dressed too.

Not in a complicated way. More in a "that feels about right" sort of way.

This outfit started with the vintage mohair cardigan and leather trou because that's simply what I felt like wearing.

Everything else came afterwards.

STYLE TIP: If I find an outfit is looking a little heavy, I nearly always add something lighter. This time it was the vintage blouse underneath. The p***y bow felt a bit too expected, so I popped a vintage brooch over the knot instead. It softened everything and added another textural layer.

The boots? Purely chosen because they're comfortable and quick to throw on. The fact they matched was a happy coincidence!

I think that's one of the nicest things about getting dressed. Sometimes you have a plan... and sometimes it all just quietly comes together.

Do you tend to build an outfit piece by piece, or have you already got your favourite combinations worked out?

OOTD: Vintage mohair cardigan, vintage blouse, vintage leather trousers, vintage brooch, coral earrings, geode ring, vintage bangle and chinoiserie boots.

05/08/2026

After more than 20 years as a 💕 personal stylist, one of the conversations I have most often begins like this...

"I'd love to refresh my wardrobe... I just don't know where to start."

I hear it in person. I read it in the women's groups I'm part of. And I completely understand why.

We often think creating a wardrobe we love means replacing everything at once or having a massive wardrobe clear-out, only to refill it and still feel like there's nothing quite right to wear.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Perhaps a wardrobe cull isn't actually what you need.

One of my favourite sayings is, "The most sustainable garment you can wear is the one already hanging in your wardrobe." Sometimes the answer isn't buying more. It's seeing what you already own with fresh eyes.

That's where having someone alongside you can make all the difference.

Sometimes it isn't about buying more clothes. It's about discovering the wardrobe you already have, then thoughtfully filling the gaps with pieces you'll love for years.

Together we'll discover what works, what doesn't, what deserves another chance, and where a carefully chosen addition might make everything else work harder.

Start saving now towards a styling journey that suits your budget, your lifestyle and the way you want to feel when you get dressed.

✨ Visit the About section at paintedbird.nz to learn more about our Styling Sessions and Gift Cards.

💕 Wherever you are on your style journey, we'd love to help.

04/08/2026

03/08/2026

One of the questions I get asked often is why Painted Bird Vintage rarely photographs garments for our website on a person.

The answer has very little to do with photography.

Back in 2020, I noticed something interesting. Whenever clothing was shown on a person, the conversation often shifted away from the garment itself.

Instead, women started comparing themselves to the person wearing it.

That wasn't the shopping experience I wanted to create.

So we chose a different approach.

Today, four mannequins help us present our collection honestly, each one displaying a different part of our size range. They allow the craftsmanship, tailoring and design of each piece to take centre stage, leaving the decision where it belongs... with the woman considering whether it belongs in her wardrobe.

I've shared the full story in our latest Memoirs & Musings blog, including the customer conversation that completely changed the way I thought about presenting vintage online.

📖 Read it now at paintedbird.nz

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever decided something wasn't for you before you'd even tried it on?

31/07/2026

Last week I mentioned that we rarely reuse posts, which got me thinking about something else...

I rewear my clothes too.

Sometimes you'll notice, sometimes you won't. The pieces might be the same, but the styling is often completely different.

This top is a good example. These photos were taken several years apart, both on ordinary work days, but they have quite a different feel.

It made me realise that versatility is probably the thing I value most in my wardrobe. I love clothes that can become something different depending on what they're paired with and ultimately my mood of the day.

Perhaps that's a little insight into me too. I enjoy change, innovating, colour and creativity far too much to only wear something one way.

Which look do you prefer?

Or perhaps neither... that's perfectly fine too! The important thing is that I enjoyed wearing both.

💜 Dress like yourself every day.

OOTD: blouse, silk velvet top, retro earrings, snakeskin bangle and retro brooch with linen skirt and my patent boots.

Previous OOTD: blouse, vintage leather skirt, Turkish designer earrings and retro clogs.

Worn by Stephanie. The garment is the real thing.

29/07/2026

The Violaceous Euphonia is one of those birds that reminds us purple is a much bigger family than we often give it credit for.

Most people hear the word purple and immediately picture something bold and bright like this little fellow. In reality, purple stretches all the way from deep blue-violets through plum, aubergine, mauve, orchid and soft lilacs.

It is exactly the same with a wardrobe.

The trick with purple is the same as every other colour. Stop worrying about whether you can wear it and start thinking about which purple suits you best.

There comes a point where every wardrobe needs one piece that makes you smile before you've even put it on.

A beautifully cut jacket. A cosy knit. A great pair of boots. Whatever it is, perhaps your wardrobe is ready for one piece that simply makes you smile.

If you are feeling inspired, have a browse through the latest arrivals at paintedbird.nz. You might just discover your shade of purple.

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📸credit:

27/07/2026

💜 Vintage lovers know that a good dress can cover quite a few invitations. But a summer wedding, a ball or a birthday bash with a proper dance floor may require something that fully earns the word splendid.

Our designer Mauve Lustre Gown is cut from a soft cotton blend with the sort of finishing collectors of vintage couture inspect from shoulder to hem. The exquisite ruffling frames the shoulders, the tailoring skims the form beautifully, and the elegant full length gives the gown wonderful movement.

Modern occasionwear can be very clever, but this level of craftsmanship, detail and finish is becoming increasingly hard to find.

Then come the accessories. We can help with a pair of earrings from our rather generous collection and suggest a vintage beaded handbag that actually accommodates your phone and lippy. Add a heel you can dance in and you are ready.

The only thing we cannot organise is the queue of dance-card companions hoping for another turn around the floor.

Visit paintedbird.nz for all the details or book in at The Aviary to try it on.

💬 Where are you wearing this first: a wedding, a ball or a birthday bash?

This model is AI generated, entirely synthetic. The garment is the real thing.

24/07/2026

💜 Have you ever noticed we generally don't repeat posts?

One of the really awesome things about vintage clothing and having a human behind the creation of the posts is that every one can be different. Authentic.

I really value that you take the time to stop by, whether you're looking at the clothes, reading the posts or simply having a browse. I hope by now you know there'll always be something new waiting for you.

The unexpected bonus for me has been realising that my wardrobe is quietly documenting itself.

When I was looking back recently, I noticed that the last time I wore this vintage blouse... I'd paired it with this same vintage skirt.

Apparently, some combinations don't need reinventing!

I'm not sure if that makes them forever keepers as I slowly cull my collection, but it certainly tells me they're a no-brainer outfit.

You know the sort. The outfits that don't require mental strain getting dressed 😬😫. They simply work 🤗.

Do you have any of those combinations in your wardrobe too?

OOTD: Vintage top and skirt, vintage cardigan, vintage earrings, brooch, bangle and ring, retro handbag and boots. retro sunnies

xxSteph

22/07/2026

Trends repeat. Style evolves. 💜

Every decade has borrowed from another. Fashion has always looked backwards as much as forwards.

Style, though, is something else entirely.

It grows with you. It reflects your personality, your experiences, and the confidence to choose what feels right rather than simply what is trending.

That is why we love authentic vintage. It offers something wonderfully difficult to find today... originality.

✨ Find pieces that reflect your most unique self at paintedbird.nz.

We'd love to know... what makes an outfit feel completely "you"?