By Tyler Wright
Tecoma’s resident fashionista is continuing to post her show-stopping outfits to thousands of Facebook followers.
Michelle Trebilco, or ‘Veteran Vamp’ as she is known, has become known for her matching pre-loved outfits among her fans, or ‘Vampsters,’ since she started posting to social media in 2018.
“I started my page in 2018 at the insistence of my fans on the I Love To Op Shop FB page,” Michelle, 65, said.
“They had been requesting me to do my own page for a while, but I resisted because I was too frightened that I would create a page which no-one would follow and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself.”
However, Michelle’s online persona as the ‘Veteran Vamp Fashionista’ has done quite the opposite; emassing a total of 18 thousand followers eager to see her next ensemble.
“A lot of my photos are done against my garage door, it’s become quite fun, but people say to me I’ve got to ‘up the background,’ and I’ll say ‘why? It’s still going to look the same whether I’m in a photographic studio in front of my garage door,'” Michelle said.
“It’s like they got this idea that it’s suddenly going to elevate [the picture].
“You don’t need a photographer studio. I think I’ve proven that you’re the focus. The background is not the focus. You don’t need it. Just an ordinary person in front of garage door being photographed by a husband with a camera phone.”
A feature of Michelle’s posts includes her golden retriever, Matisse, who is often involved in his owner’s ‘shoots’.
“I think that it makes me a bit different having a dog modelling something as well. People seem to love that, and I also share pictures of other people whose style I admire.”
A recent thrift shop saw Michelle score a 1980s Ewaldo Bock-designed dress from the Tecoma Salvation Army op-shop.
“I said it was my Met Gala inspired gown,” she said.
“Tomorrow’s a dress with some quirky sunglasses. Thursday’s overalls. Fridays, because I work in the Salvos and I have to wear all black, it’s an all black ensemble skirt.
“On Saturday, I’m wearing a lilac knit dress with lilac boots. Then on Sunday I’m doing black and white hippie look. ”
Often hunting through the kids section for bright colours, Michelle is not limited by size or conventional style.
“I try to look for something different. I certainly don’t just look I’ve said this before at my size, because that is too variable.
“I think that fashion can be fun. I don’t limit myself to one style. I hate that. I think every fashion style has something to offer.”
From cat-toys attached to headpieces and toy snakes stuck to pumps – Michelle said she has recently discovered the “power of accessories”.
“Particularly hats. I have loads of sunglasses along with sh*tloads of everything, but I managed to find some very quirky sunglasses,” she said.
“I buy things with holes, too, or stains, because you can sew something over it. You don’t have to dismiss it.
“I have vintage gloves as well. I find the accessories really complete the outfit, and I work everything out to the finest detail… it’s like putting together an artwork.”
Upwey local Michelle Spencer said she noticed Michelle, or Veteran Vamp (VV) a few years ago walking around her local area, finding her daily outfits “incredible”.
“Some time around the early lockdowns and the ‘put out your bins in fancy dress’ trend, I saw a post on Facebook featuring VV and I have been an avid follower since then,” she said.
“I have loved seeing the different outfits that VV puts together – they all work so beautifully and she seriously looks amazing in absolutely everything. ”
Not an op-shopper, Michelle said it fascinates her how VV finds gems and create her own pieces to accessorise in “the most amazing ways”.
“With so much anxiety-causing rubbish online, VV’s posts are a little haven of joy in the day. She is constantly surprising and it’s so enjoyable to see what she’ll come up with next.”
Veteran Vamp, Michelle, said her motto is to dress up “for the hell of it, no event required”.
“If your outfit manages to make someone smile, I’m trying to show them not to be afraid of trying anything.”
“The reason I love op shops so much is because apart from the fact that I’m not supporting fast fashion… you can get anything from anywhere in the world.
“You can get things from any era. You get a lot of handmade things…and of course, your money is going to charities, not to some big retail chain. So if you sort of make an impulsive purchase, which I do… your money is going to a worthwhile cause.”
