Happy to exist on a completely different plane of reality... Sisters Sarah Jane Walsh and Megan Rizzo were never short of a Big Picture when opening their first Vintage Store “Almost Famous Eclectic Homewares and Fashion’ in Paddington, Brisbane. Inspired by Art Deco Furniture, Retro clothing and an interesting range of Homewares that come with a story. A simple scratch, or a worn out name patch evoke a million tales.

How did it begin?
Sarah Jane and Megan’s passion for quirky recycling was sparked as children growing up in their country hometown, watching their mum sew together dance costumes from old bits of material and having a large extended family, which produced an abundance of ‘hand me downs’. The sisters recall many a game of ‘dress ups’, which led to a passion they just couldn’t shake.

Sarah Jane’s work as an Assistant Director in Film and TV gave her a great insight into what designers were looking for and what works in fashion. With Megan’s artistic flair as a Photographer/Artist with a background career in business, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine our skills and talents to create Almost Famous.

Sarah Jane has worked as art director on numerous Television Commercials, Photo shoots and Music Videos and now finds more often that not, designers are coming to Almost Famous for interesting and unique pieces to show in their own advertisements.

What does your shop stock?
Almost Famous stocks an amazing range of vintage clothing from the 50’s, 60’s, 70 & 80’s, shoes, costume jewellery and accessories, handbags, retro furniture, vintage telephones and sixties and seventies art and glassware.

Almost Famous is a place where the sisters like to hang out and with an ever-increasing popularity with Generation X and Y, they offer select quality reproductions of classic art deco furniture that is sourced from previously used film sets.

Almost a year to the day of opening their 1st store Megan and Sarah Jane are opening a second store in New Farm, Brisbane on 8th February 2009. Shop 23, 85 Commercial Road Newstead QLD 4006.

What's the story behind the name?
Megan had a bizarre reoccurrence which started happening from about 1994. Whenever Megan met new people they would say "haven't i met you before?" In the beginning she would try to figure it out, going through where she had worked and places she had lived and never found a connection with these strangers. It was happening so often that she started to make up a story and say..”Oh yeah, do you know that show 'Pop-Stars'?”...and that made them feel better that they had identified her! Even when she moved interstate it continued and still to this day if she goes to a function, someone will say those words...

So she figured that she must have been famous in a previous life! This tale combined with Sarah Jane's film connection, we decided 'Almost Famous' was a fitting name.

What makes your shop unique?
If you want to step back into a time when men sported safari suits with a comb in their top pocket and women wore Jackie Onassis sunglasses with a maxi skirt, come and explore Almost Famous... it may just unleash the Bridgitte Bardot inside of you… and as they say ‘Fashion is something you buy, Style is something you have.’

You can visit Almost Famous online at www.almost-famous.com.au Or drop into their stores Paddington Shop 38 Paddington Antique Centre, 167 La Trobe Tce, Paddington, QLD New Farm (From 8th February) Shop 23, 85 Commercial Road Newstead, QLD