Have you heard of Claire Inc? The Australia-based online boutique is a veritable treasure trove of rare and one-off vintage pieces sourced from around the world by Director Belinda Humphris. [Read our original post on the store here]

In light of the amazing Autumn Winter collection dropping online this week, we decided to catch up with Humphris to find out more about her life, her store and her addiction to vintage shopping.

We also asked her to recommend a few of her favourite things, so that we can all seem as worldly as she is!

Have you always loved vintage?

Sure have. It grew from an interest to a hobby to an obsession in a very short space of time. There’s nothing better than uncovering a piece and exploring the history of its design (which plays such an important part in fashion today).

How do you find all the items? Do you travel much?

A mix of travel and online. We’ve established connections all over the world from previous buying trips so we have some trusted private sellers that keep us up to date with exciting stock.

What do you look for in an item when you’re buying for Claire Inc?

We specialise in cult 80s and 90s designers with a focus on pieces that are fun, unique and have a clear viewpoint of the designer’s aesthetic. Many of the more extravagant investment pieces we see as fashion art.

Immaculate craftsmanship mixed with avant garde and wildly fun, OTT design. It’s also really important that the collections are edited to be in line with current trends. The clothing is chosen to meet modern sensibilities and be mixed with current designers and good quality basics.

Is there a broader theme or concept for each collection’?

Yes, with the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection (entitled I found the fountain of youth and I fell in) we wanted to capture a youthful playfulness.

Each piece captures a moment in fashion history and is a collectable piece in its own right. The clothes are vintage (and in some cases twenty or thirty years old) but their innovative design and unique playfulness keeps them eternally young.

What is your favourite piece from the AW collection?

A dead-set tie! I love the extravagance of the Jean Paul Gaultier Gold Foil Ruffle Jumper, but also the gobsmacking design of the reversible Gianni Versace Pret-a-Porter Trench Coat. Such an important heavily branded piece pre Gianni’s death in 1997.

What kinds of items sell quickly?

Chanel is a quick seller (no surprises there). Vintage Chloe is also a favourite amongst our buyers.

What should people look for when shopping vintage?

Do your research: It sounds obvious, but to avoid the plethora of fakes out there be sure to check labels, tags, buttons and other signature markings. There’s some great vintage forums out there that will tell you exactly what to look for when sourcing a certain designer. The Purse forum is a great example of this. The incredibly well researched girls there will even give you a tick of authenticity if you post links to your item. Plus it’s free!