Where to Find the Best Vintage Clothing on the Web
To look totally unique, vintage clothing is the way to go and some of the best vintage pieces can be found online at sites run by expert curators who pick through the trash to find real treasure. Wearing vintage clothing sets you apart from the crowd and it's fun to play with pieces from different eras, mixing a Victorian day dress with a hippie fur vest. When you wear vintage, you can be sure you won't look like anyone else. Here is a roundup of some of the best sites.
www.shrimptoncouture.com is to vintage clothing as net-a-porter.com is to designer duds; and is a well-designed site featuring vintage clothes, "reworked vintage clothes," modern collectibles, and a LookBook highlighting perfect party dresses from all eras. Not only does Shrimpton Couture accept returns (minus a 10% stocking fee or a full store credit), but also generously has a layaway service; the perfect vintage dress only comes around once while a paycheck only comes around once every two weeks. Cherie Federau, who runs the site as an extension of her own closet filled with items she has collected or would purchase, has very high standards. Each item is in flawless condition, the gold standard in a community overrun with moth holes and stains. Federau says 1970's maxi dresses, one shoulder dresses and 1950's "cupcake" silhouettes have been flying out the door. "There is an appeal to girls to have a dress that no one else has, whether it is for daytime or for special events. I try to find dresses that have a very special look and feel to them; that makes them stand out." Clients include Rebecca Romijn, Courtney Love and The Boston Museum. Federau's site is truly unique: you can find a 1960's Geoffrey Beene coat ($975) or a 2006 Alexander McQueen dress ($1,800), believed to be highly collectible in the future.
She also sells reworked vintage by designers such as The Glamourai, RSVP, Lousie Black and Reverie NYC who take period clothes and jewelry that are damaged or otherwise unwearable, and modifies them in a contemporary way. "This is an exciting direction that becomes more relevant as we look at ways to recycle and use resources more efficiently," says Federau. "These designers are committed to either restoring or reworking only pieces that are damaged." The results range from a 1930's beaded dress ($698) by RSVP, who reworks beautiful antique textiles, to a Summer Bouquet Bib ($325) by The Glamourai, whose necklaces capture the eclectic, chunky styles that have been seen on runways from Lanvin to Marni. In early August, Shrimptoncouture will add one more designer's capsule collection to her site, Norwegian Wood, who also designs for Topshop and whose work centers around fringe necklaces and body harnesses.
www.enokiworld.com has been selling vintage clothing and accessories since 1999, the dark ages of online shopping. Madeline Meyerowitz, who owns and runs the site, moved to the Midwest from the East Coast, where she was a professional cook, and started attending garage sales with the intention of collecting mid-century dinnerware. But rather than finding items by Eva Zeisel, she found Hattie Carnegie, Mollie Parnis and Rudi Gernreich. The rest, as they say, is history. Her inventory is now global, coming in from Paris, Spain and Israel, and is expertly curated, ranging from a 1970's black vinyl Courreges evening dress ($1150) to a 1980's monogram Louis Vuitton diaper bag ($795). While most online sales are final, Meyerowitz has a unique return policy that distinguishes her site from the competition, "We have a generous return policy because we completely understand that no matter what the item looks like on paper, it is never final until you get to try it on and see yourself from all angles." Enokiworld's prices are reasonable and her best sellers are designer handbags because, "they're not contingent on how small your waist and hips are."
One of the best places for vintage is www.eBay.com, which can be hard to navigate owing to massive volume. A great seller is Christine Davis, also known by her screen name as "Victorianbedouin1." Davis has been collecting clothing and textiles for twenty-five years and considers her eBay business as a "karmic loop of old things." She specializes in clothes that are both wearable and collectible ranging from 1910 - 1970 and claims, "Everyone looks fantastic in a '50's New Look dress; and always invest in a '50's era coat which never goes out of style." Current items for sale include a 1920's Liberty of London gold lame cocoon coat ($2,200) and a 1960's fuchsia pink lace mini dress ($225). Although all sales are final some of her prices are negotiable. She says the trick to knowing what to buy is to heed the "need it/don't need it balance scales that all women possess." Davis can also be reached at victorianbedouin@gmail.com.
Gwyneth, J. Lo and Rhianna get their vintage from www.decadesinc.blogspot.com. Items for sale include a 1958 Christian Dior white tulle evening dress to a 1970's suede and leather Gucci coat. Prices are not listed because, explains owner Cameron Silver, "The goal is to create an interactive relationship with each client for a one-on-one shopping experience not dissimilar to shopping in our Decades flagship store in Los Angeles." Silver's collection, often seen at awards shows and movie premieres around the world, come from the closets of some of the chicest women around the world and includes Hermes Birkin bags. Sigh.
All sales are final with both Decades and Victorianbedouin1 on eBay, but the joy of working with renowned dealers and sellers is that they are honest and fair and always have the best stock. They are patient and understand that whether you are purchasing a $3,000 coat or a $125 dress, it's an investment in a rare work of art.
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enokiworld and decades are amazing. wasn't that profound? well, it's not a profound blog!
The independent designers whose lines I have begun to carry - they work with, reconstruct and use vintage elements in their work and their talents are astonishing! They take items that are no longer wearable or restorable and making them beautiful. I fully stand behind them in every way - unquestionably. If that makes me not a "true vintage dealer" then that is OK with me - I will be a new kind altogether! My Independent designers know that I would be appalled if they took wearable, structurally sound or restorable vintage and used it in their work. They do not. They are making things of great beauty and its a perfect compliment to the shop!
I love vintage. With a passion.
I make it a point to promote and help others in my field through twitter, my column & my blog. I am very sorry that someone has worked so hard at trying to do the opposite for me. Its not going to change a thing in the way I do what I do. I am extremely proud of what the site has become & will continue to be as it grows even more!
I was extremely flattered to be contacted for this story & am sad that someone is so unhappy that I am in it.
The statement "Each item is in flawless condition, the gold standard in a community overrun with moth holes and stains" was the writer's phrasing, not a direct quote from me. The only standard I set & strive to maintain is my own. I am proud that I sell items in great condition. For the Huffington Post to recognize that my shop does so is a great compliment to my staff & myself & it aknowledges our efforts to supply a great product to our clients. I think all reputable dealers offer merchandise that is of high standard & in great condition. The ones I know certainly do & the ones that do not quickly learn its worth the time & effort because it makes for happy clients!
The commentator is also in error in saying that I am selling off my outgrown collection. At any given time I have over 300 items on the site! That's a pretty big collection to "outgrow" even for a shopaholic like me! That is really just silly & sad, To say that 60% of what I offer is not vintage is also rather silly. 13 items out of about 350 are later then 1990, not quite a 60% ratio is it? One of which is a 1995 Stephen Sprouse jacket-I think that qualifies as a collectible under any dealers standards does
'True vintage dealers cringe at "reconstructed" - and at calling 2006 "vintage."
thethingwfeathers: This simply isn't true. Are you speaking for every vintage dealer out there? How generous of you not only to represent the community but to deem who is 'true' and who is not so we don't have to rely on Amanda Christine Miller's opinion.
The site to which you are referring does not represent 2006 clothing as vintage. Please. Just what would be the point? Have you not heard of future collectibles? The first time may have been in this article, had you paid attention.
As for the reconstructed garments, they are stunning pieces of work. The talented designers take extraordinary vintage clothing that would otherwise be unwearable and therefore wasted due to extensive stains, tears, etc. and use the perfect bits to create truly original, new dresses that carry with them the spirit of the era from which they came.
It's a lively and gorgeous looking online boutique that presents vintage, future collectibles and the most exquisite jewelry handcrafted from vintage finds in a fresh and exciting way. From a woman who lives and breathes vintage and knows her stuff - the history, the significance, the details, how to care for, repair and restore, etc. etc. She inspires others to discover their own passion for vintage. I know, because I am one of those people.
there are literally dozens of stand-out vintage dealers online now, in addition to being in every major and minor city. the most fantastic collection is probably at thefrock dot com, you missed that one; Decades is great, but the blog isn't a shop. the newly introduced vintage couture section on 1stdibs is also an interesting showcase of dealers (some legends, like Doris Raymond) mixed with some newbies, most who didn't have an online retail option prior to 1stdibs.
honestly: "overrun with moth holes and stains" - was that an owner statement or writer's opinion? if the former, setting oneself as the gold standard probably doesn't include insulting everyone else in the business. considering that the dealer is in the business because she's now selling off her own collection (which she's admitted to having outgrown), it's not surprising that 60% of the merchandise is not "vintage". true vintage dealers cringe at "reconstructed" - and at calling 2006 "vintage".
See Amanda Copeland's Profile
God I would love to have every one of these pieces. Thanks for the tips, when the economy recovers I'll go shopping!
xoAmanda
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