art + photography by Helen McLean

I’ve been labeled, according to The Age this Saturday morning.

Photo taken from The Age website.

I was excited to see the article “Dress Circles” and the photograph of the mob clad in 1950s gear. As I read on, I see that I even fit into a sub-group called “Neo Classic”. Not “Classic” or “Psychobilly”. Interesting.

Watch the special multimedia presentation: Fashion tribes of Melbourne - Rockabilly.

View other fashion tribes.

When I say I like “Valiant Pacers” - I don’t mean the ones with the crappy vinyl roofs that grand-dad should be driving, I don’t mean the 4-door versions that are probably more convenient for the family to get into and I don’t even mean the ones that are some unattractive metallic colour more suited to your toe nails where no-one can see.

I mean this:

A red interior - all the better!

This is what I fell in love with when I first saw the Valiant Pacer. And it has got to be white - oh yes, the funk-mobeel.

Here is my t-shirt design – all Genuine Parts complete with the pre-loved, old & faded look!

I usually buy the women’s style in small (I’m a size 10) for that fitted look, but this time I thought I’d try out the Unisex style in small, for a looser fit. And I love this fit! It makes me feel as though I’ve borrowed my boyfriend’s old T that I found lying around (or husband’s T!).

And what could possibly be better than photographing this T with a hot car like Paul Vanzella’s Cadillac Coupe DeVille? OK, so you can’t see much of it… but you can see the car featuring in my Photography Portfolio work here, enjoy!

And here is the t-shirt Flamin’ Hot, modeled by Paul Vanzella himself: