Me, not wearing vintage!! (with my babies)

Ma Bel Ailie

(trading as mernie31)

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn some more about me, mernie31. My real name is Deborah Cooke. I am a fortysomething mother of two from Bradbury, in south-west Sydney. I work part-time as a journalist and spend much of the rest of my week on eBay.

I have been a vintage clothes fanatic ever since I decided I didn't want to look like all the other Country Road girls at university ... a good two and a half decades ago. I started off on eBay selling clothes I had accumulated over the years but no longer fitted me. I kept my absolute favourite pieces to hand down to my wonderful five year old daughter, who seems as transfixed my old clothes as me.

Now I try and find wonderful old clothes to sell to others who love the detail, workmanship, fabric and uniqueness of vintage. My policy is that I wouldn't sell anything I wouldn't wear myself, and pride myself on the appearance of all the gear I auction. I have a perfect feedback score so far and I would like to keep it that way.

I am soon hoping to open an Ebay store, trading as Ma Bel Ailie. Until then, I hope you continue to enjoy the delights of vintage shopping on eBay, and that you love what you buy as much as I have loved finding it, and selling it.

Deborah Cooke