Painted Bird Vintage

Painted Bird Vintage Handpicked Vintage Clothing (1940-1980) from Europe & Beyond carefully sourced and curated by a Sustainable Personal Stylist including premium pieces from Europe and Private Collections visit http://www.paintedbird.nz

Handpicked European Vintage Clothing carefully sourced and curated by a Sustainable Personal Stylist including premium pieces from Europe, Private Collections and beyond at http://www.paintedbird.nz

Painted Bird Vintage evolved from a passion for the ‘hard to find’ piece; bespoke styles, cuts, and textiles found in premium vintage clothing from the 1940’s to the 1970’s. In days gone by, individuals chose patterns and fabrics, tailoring garments that created a story by infusing garments with personality, identity, and occasion.

These designs enhance existing body form, swathe natural beauty, and produce a signature ‘statement look.’ Carefully handpicked pieces from France, Italy, and other parts of Europe ensure our collection is Grade A Vintage, High-End Wearable Art. On buying trips, we only select classic and unique garments of the highest condition; with the philosophy that all pieces must be distinctly wearable. It is almost guaranteed that you will never see another garment like it – anywhere.

Visit us online to book yourself into our bespoke fitting room service at 'The Aviary'. Sign up to our VIP newsletter for 'first dibs' on our newest additions. Treat yourself to a session with our Sustainable Personal Stylist, browse the ever-unfolding curation, visit our Pop Up store, or simply follow our social media for inspiration and styling tips.

A true vintage adventure awaits you at Painted Bird Vintage.

11/09/2026

What do you collect, if anything?

One of my collections is these crazy bendy bracelets and necklaces.

I’m not entirely sure what started it. I love the tactile nature of them, the fact that you can manipulate them into different shapes and the wonderful mixture of tarnished metals you get when you wear a whole pile together.

And yes, I do mean a whole pile.

I wore them here because I wanted to show what happens when maximalist jewellery gets ... well maximalist. Once there are enough statement pieces together, they almost cancel one another out. Instead of one piece shouting for attention, you get a mass of texture, movement and visual bling.

That is also why I think this sort of jewellery works so well with vintage. There are no rules saying everything has to come from the same decade.

My little bag is vintage Japanese silk, the earrings came from my mother’s store in the 80s, the shoes are retro and the ensemble is vintage.

A bit of Iris Apfel’s “never too much” philosophy may have crept in too. 😉

My only real rule is to wear what feels right to you.

Those fabulous things sitting in the wardrobe waiting for the perfect occasion are probably getting very lonely by now.

So… what do you collect? And, more importantly, do you actually wear your collection?

We’ve also got a growing collection of maximalist 80s and 90s jewellery at paintedbird.nz, or send me a photo of an outfit needing some extra bling and I’ll make a suggestion or two.

09/09/2026

Apparently “drunk shopping” is in the news this week. Yikes!

Personally, I’d suggest a cup of tea and a snack. Not because I’m trying to stop you shopping. Quite the opposite. 😄

There are thousands of authentic vintage pieces at Painted Bird Vintage, so settle in and have a good fossick.

Every visit, first with your pointer finger as it swipes through the collection and then later in The Aviary if you choose to try something fabulous on, should feel a little bit like an adventure.

Each time you dive into our online offering, we want you to feel as though something fabulous you didn’t notice last time is just about to appear.

A rare piece from another era. A colour you suddenly fancy. A label you’ve never come across before. Or the “how on earth did I miss THAT?” moment.

And if your concentration is a little compromised, goodness knows what fabulous things you might scroll straight past. 😂

So grab your cuppa, get comfy and take a peep.

Who knows what you’ll find this time?

✨ paintedbird.nz

07/09/2026

Spring in Auckland does like to keep us guessing. Sunshine over lunch and then, by six, you are wondering why you thought leaving the coat at home was such a marvellous idea.

Which is exactly where a full-length faux fur coat comes in rather nicely.

Our Minquilla Faux Fur Swing Coat is an easy transseasonal layer to have on hand. Wear it over a slinky evening dress when the temperature drops, or throw it over a spring top and trou when you want warmth without heading straight back into full winter dressing.

The neutral grey is wonderfully useful because you can have plenty of fun underneath it. Soft pastels, teal, red, green, orange, pink, yellow-y greens or whatever colour is currently getting plenty of airtime in your wardrobe.

And that is often enough. A simple outfit, one fabulous coat and you are sorted.

Spring may technically be arriving, but I am certainly not packing the coats away yet!

Sitting pretty is our Minquilla Faux Fur Swing Coat in our New Additions. Go to paintedbird.nz to see the details.

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

04/09/2026

A little break from my usual fashion repertoire today...

September is my birthday month and I have a slightly unusual birthday ritual. 😄

I save throughout the year and then around my birthday I get my health checks done pretty much in one hit.

This week has been the chiropractor, GP and dentist.

Next week it's mammogram, eyes and skin.

Top to toe. 😂

I know I'm very fortunate to be able to do this and, being a bit of a worrier, I like knowing I've checked the things I can check. Then I can get on with another year.

Is it the most glamorous birthday present I could give myself?

Absolutely not. 😂

BTW, I did NOT wear this dress to the chiropractor. This outfit went to the GP!

So... what's the most glamorous birthday present you've ever given yourself? I clearly need some inspiration. 😂

02/09/2026

Some beautiful textiles are tempting to admire from a respectful distance.

I would rather wear them. 😉

Our authentic Japanese kimono collection includes shorter and longer pieces in a wonderful range of fabrics and weights, from silk through to warmer wool blends like the lilac example shown here.

Then there are the patterns and motifs. Many have histories worth exploring in their own right, which adds another layer to the pleasure of finding a piece you love.

But appreciating the craftsmanship does not mean keeping it for special occasions. A kimono can be incorporated beautifully into a modern wardrobe over a dress, trousers or other simple pieces you already own. Add contemporary jewellery or footwear, mix your eras and enjoy it your way.

And, of course, there is always the at-home option. A beautiful kimono, a comfortable chair and a little Return to the Chateau viewing. Considerably less maintenance than the actual chateau.

Search Kimono at paintedbird.nz to see the collection.

31/08/2026

Now, that's not something you get to see every day!

A pair of vintage Italian boots in rich purple patent leather and faux suede, still in fantastic condition.

It is the combination of textures that really got me with these. Glossy purple patent against the softer faux suede, that fabulous tall silhouette and enough detail to make a very simple outfit considerably more interesting.

STYLE TIP: Try them with straight-leg denim tucked inside and a chunky knit, winter whites, chocolate brown, or under a midi dress with just enough boot showing as you walk.

If they're your size, I'd be getting them on and getting dancin'.

Thoughtfully curated and one of one.

Visit paintedbird.nz to see if they're your perfect 'fit'.

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

28/08/2026

Here's something I love doing when I get dressed.

Mixing patterns.

Not randomly though. 😄 I tend to work from colours already in my wardrobe and let those connect everything.

I've got a fair bit going on at the moment and found myself reaching for softer, muted purple and brown. Brown is to me what black is to a lot of people. Comfortable, easy for me to wear and flattering with my colouring.

From across the room, that's mostly what you see.

Look properly and... stripes, florals, leopard, jewellery and all sorts are happening. 😂

STYLIST TIP: Building your wardrobe around an intentional colour palette makes pattern mixing much easier. You're not starting from scratch each morning because colours already connect different pieces.

The striped top pulls in colours showing through the skirt. The floral adds another pattern, while the leopard jacket picks up the browns running through the skirt and tones of the blouse.

Different patterns, connected through colour.

A lot? I don't think so. I reckon it works.

And that's the fun bit. Interesting dressing doesn't have to rely on high-impact colour.

Are you putting stripes, florals and leopard together? Or is leopard where I lose you? 😄

OOTDvintage: Striped retro top, vintage wood pigeon skirt (part of an ensemble), retro jacket, shoes from , vintage brooch, vintage earrings and 70s-style sunnies.

26/08/2026

Purple 💜 does not always need to take centre stage.

Sometimes it is simply the finishing touch that makes everything else fall into place.

Looking at this little Purple-crowned Fairywren, it is hard not to admire how beautifully a small splash of colour can transform the whole picture.

The same is true of getting dressed. A violet silk scarf. A pair of earrings. A favourite brooch. A handbag with just enough colour to catch the eye. Those little details often become the pieces you reach for time and time again.

If purple has been sitting outside your comfort zone, perhaps it is time to invite just a little of it in.

Browse our latest arrivals at paintedbird.nz and see what catches your eye.

24/08/2026

💜 After all the colour, creativity and wonderful New Zealand fashion of NZFW 2026, both on the runway and off, I’m back to it and happy to return to one of my favourite jobs: sharing the authentic vintage I’ve collected for Painted Bird Vintage over the last 10 years.

This silk dress has been with PBV almost from the beginning.

I bought it from a local collector who brought in some extraordinary things when we first opened, and I loved this one immediately. The design is easy to wear, the silk is beautiful, the pattern is fun and the overall quality is fabulous.

There is another part of this job I perhaps do not talk about enough. People bring me pieces they have held dear, tell me where they came from, how they wore them and why they have kept them. I value those conversations and the connections to real people enormously. When a piece comes into my care, I try to carry some of that story forward and share it with whoever comes next.

This one, however, weakened my resolve rather quickly. One look and I was hooked.

Occupational hazard. You can just imagine!

It is also a lovely example of why I have such a soft spot for authentic vintage. Clothes this well made do not suddenly become irrelevant because a decade changes. Wear them with the pieces you own now, mix them into your wardrobe and enjoy that quality for years to come.

For a workday outfit, I paired it with my rabbit cardi, Trelise sunglasses and a pair of vintage David Elman purple suede shoes. Nothing complicated. Just great pieces together and a bit of colour. Simplicity in style.

Have I inspired you to love purple a little more? The dress is available now at paintedbird.nz, or book in at The Aviary in Albany to try it on.

I suspect a few fellow fabric people will understand why that silk got me... so darn hard to resist!

14/08/2026

🎉 New Zealand Fashion Week kicks off next week. Hurrah!

What do you think? DO you think you can you LOVE fashion without being particularly interested in being fashionable?

I absolutely reckon you can.

I love the clothes, craftsmanship, fabrics, history, designs and all the creativity that goes with them. NZ Fashion Week is particularly good fun because it's happening right here at home and half the entertainment for me is seeing what everyone else decides to wear.

Yes, I will absolutely be checking who's wearing vintage too. 😉

But do I check what's currently on trend before I get dressed?

Nope. Actually never.

I still look at magazines and socials because I love seeing what everyone else is doing. A colour combination might send me back into my wardrobe. Someone might pair two things together and I'll think, "Oooh hang on... I've got something that could do that."

That's inspiration.

Being told what I should or shouldn't be wearing is something else entirely. In fact, I reckon it can almost get in the way of creativity.

I think you can love fashion enormously and still take only the parts that resonate with you.

Or take none of them.

This particular day I wanted purple.

I like purple. So purple it was. 💜

Next week I'll be watching what's coming down the runway, but I'll probably spend just as much time checking out what everyone is wearing around it.

Do you follow trends, pinch the bits you like or merrily carry on wearing whatever takes your fancy?

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The Aviary Fitting Room Is Located At 1 Titoki Place, Albany
Pop Up Curation 'taster' Available At 55 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna

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