Page 24 - Country Living - USA (January - February 2020)

FIELD GUIDE
HUNT

Meet a Magpie

In Perfect Form

A vintage fashion enthusiast shares how a studio necessity

soon took shape as a collection.

Rodellee’s husband
stumbled upon this
THE MAGPIE
form (one of her
Rodellee Bas favorites) for $30 at
Portland, OR a garage sale.
FAMILY TIES: I grew up in
the Philippines, and we
didn’t have a lot of money,
so my mom sewed most
of our clothes, inspired by
the 1930s and ’50s. I think
that’s where I found an
appreciation for timeless
vintage clothing.
RACKING UP: In my early
20s, I worked as a dance
teacher in Dallas and spent
my spare time at local
vintage apparel shops. My
closet was too small for
my growing collection, so
I started selling on eBay.

SHAPE-SHIFTING: My dress
forms double as decorative
pieces and merchandise
models. I found my fi rst
vintage form at an antiques
mall years ago , and now I
have 11, mostly from the
1950s through 1970s. I love
their patina, the little nicks,
their rusty wheels and
creaking wire cages. I’ve
found most of mine for
$350 to $650.
The Magpie
MAN(NEQUIN) HUNT: I’m Chart
looking for a specifi c Royal
Dress F orm (I’ll know her Here, a breakdown of
when I see her!) and a skirt Rodellee’s collections
form. I’d also like a suit Dress forms
form, which has detachable
cloth-covered arms. Vintage hangers
BODY OF WORK: My site, Straw hats
Adored Vintage (adored
Edwardian camisoles
vintage.com), started Rodellee uses this
as a side hustle but is now rare lingerie form to Pressed fl ower art
full-time. We’re about to display bathing suits Victorian gardening books
open our fi rst retail shop and loungewear.
in downtown Portland,
Oregon.

ſƁ COUNTRYLIVING.COM / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020 written by NATALIE SCHUMANN photograph by CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE