Blog Star Natalie Mather of Pony and Pink Shops for Vaudeville Magic

By Felicity Loughrey
November 29, 2010

Artist Natalie Mather, 23, paints suburban landscapes on plywood, collects antique showgirl costumes and blogs about her eBay-sourced outfits at Pony and Pink. We're yet to spy a personal style blog more replete with eBay fashion trends.

"I don't like to replicate a historical look," Natalie Mather told us. "I like to put pieces of clothing together in a way that is interesting but not at all historically accurate." On Pony and Pink, Mather is snapped wearing a rush of twentieth-century garb, from a 1940's brown-and-black Persian wool cape to a 1950's blue plaid bathing suit to a pair of 1960's red patent leather T-strap pumps—all found on eBay and mixed up with vintage, thrift store and occasional shopping mall find.

A bleached-blonde pixie, this blog starlet will make a dash to the corner store in Australia’s capitol city, Canberra, wearing a vintage ball gown. "I get a kick out of being recognized," she said of her fashion blog fame, "even if it takes a while for people to realize why." Two of her outfit posts were featured in the book What I Wore Today: Fashion Remixed Online from Beijing to Berlin (Korero Books).

How has a fashion blog changed her personal style? "Having a blog offers you a really honest view of what looks good on you and what doesn't. I've become more discerning when it comes to things like skirt lengths and wearing certain colors. It changes your personal style in subtle but dramatic ways."

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Images from Pony and Pink, courtesy of Mather: All Hail The Opshop Gods
All Hail The Opshop Gods
Black Is The Colour of My True Love's ... Fur?
Watercolours
Lace & Taffeta & A Bit of Squinting
Almost Pyjamas
Almost Pyjamas

As for her eBay shopping habits, Natalie Mather doesn't filter a targeted eBay search. "I tend to just scroll through entire categories. Otherwise I search for what strikes my fancy. [eBay] definitely enables me to be creative and gives me a wealth of things to potentially and creatively use." And it's not just fashion items she's shopped for on eBay; she's even picked up a 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan.

Thanks to eBay, Mather has a small collection of vintage headgear (a World War II garrison hat, a 1950s gold leaf headband, and an olive velvet fascinator) and as a graduation present to herself, she bought a 1969 Olivetti Valentine typewriter. "I also received a copy of the book the seller had written on it years ago, which I loved."

Mather's ultimate eBay advice: "Take some risks!" she said. "If a 1950's prom dress is badly photographed and has scant description but is only $10, it might be perfect, it might not. Either way, it’s probably worth the risk."

(images provided by Pony and Pink)

We gave Mather $500 to dazzle us on eBay. Here's what she found.

"Looking over the pieces I chose, I realize I'm excited about the [Southern hemisphere] summer. I fantasize about drinking mint juleps in the grass with my pet black rabbit, wearing lace, cotton and bright explosions of color! I've also recently developed an obsession with 1930's vaudeville, so I've been looking at antique beaded and velvet garments, and tarnished rhinestone accessories."

1940's Circle Skirt

(buy it now price, $225)

"I love bird and feather prints on fabric, and I can imagine wearing it with a 1950s halter bikini top, or a red turban or maybe both!"
1940's Satin Party Dress

(buy it now price, $195)

“This dress is so sweet and elegant and the floral print is just incredible.”
Antique White Cotton Camisole

(buy it now price, $45)
Vintage Black Velvet and Straw Hat

(buy it now price, $22.99)

"And lastly, to top it off, I love this wide-brimmed black straw and velvet hat. It reminds me of the hats worn in Dior’s New Look photographs in the late forties. Selecting this hat does drive me over the $500 budget, but I can't help myself ... it's adorable, even if the mannequin is a little scary!"
Black Velvet Knickerbockers

(buy it now price, $22.49)

“When I sift through eBay listings, I tend to start compiling outfits in my head. When I was looking for velvet knickers, in the vein of Regency-era gentlemen, and Victorian music hall drag shows, I started thinking about what I would pair them with. Something light and ethereal to offset the heavy black velvet, like this pale, lacy corset cover."