Modern Vintage Shopping with Kim Saper
Photo from www.modernvintage.com and www.darkroomdemons.com
As immaculate representations of iconic 50s and 60s style, the women of Mad Men have shimmied their full skirts and hourglass figures back into modern-day fashion. From Sears to Saks and hipsters to housewives, there’s no denying the return of vintage to mainstream style.
Since MM’s premiere, women have scoured resale shops, flea markets, and yard sales to replicate the characters coveted closets. Sally Schwartz, Founder and Producer of Randolph Street Market, recognized the sudden demand for vintage looks and wasted no time providing the supply.
With the premiere of Modern Vintage Chicago (MVC), the Midwest’s largest vintage show was born; bringing the best vintage apparel, jewelry, furs, and accessories to a single location for 2-days of what Schwartz calls, “quality time looking for the right [vintage] pieces to compliment [your] wardrobe.”
Fall 2010 featured a new event, “Get Styled,” hosted by Fashion Director Nena Ivon, The Haute Closet’s April Francis, and Deliciously Vintage’s Law Roach. Overflowing with cocktails and advice to blend vintage with modern, the party was both a much-needed break and source of inspiration.
While paying MVC compliment after compliment, I must admit my own hesitations toward vintage. My attempts to catch the craze fell flat after browsing resale shops, grandma’s closet, and expensive boutiques. Ultimately, I equated vintage with stale stenches, old, worn-in clothes, and outrageous price/quality disparities.
And then, there was MVC. This was the kind of vintage I’d read about. Finally, I wasn’t afraid; I could touch it, smell it, even try it on. 10 minutes later, my doubts were fading. 60 minutes later, I’d caught the craze. Now, 2 weeks later, I’m hooked.
Here are more ways MVC is re-defining vintage shopping:
1. Aroma. The stale scent commonly experienced at second-hand stores can be an immediate turn-off. In the midst of all-things-vintage, I never caught a musty whiff.
2. Price. Ever shopped vintage in NY or LA? Your impression may be skewed. Most of the designer goods at MVC cost a fraction of my expectations. Take your best guess, drop the last digit, and compare that to the actual price. You’ll be happy to find how wrong you were!
3. Adequate inventory. After closing on Sunday, October 24 at 5:00 pm, I watched vendors pack up and was amazed at the amount of enticing merchandise available despite 2 days of steady business.
4. Teamwork. Yes, teamwork. I expected at least a little jealousy-fueled combat, yet hungry shoppers were composed despite the exclusivity of each item. Led by nonstop compliments from Jada Russell (who single-handedly may have cleared out the inventory if not the event’s publicist), it felt like the shopping version of Pleasantville.
5. Physical contact. The chance to touch, smell, inspect, and try on potential purchases drastically reduces the risk of buying online. There’s no better way to confirm quality and authenticity than direct contact with the piece AND the vendor.
6. Designers. Chanel. Hermes. Dior. YSL. Halston. Pucci. Vivienne Westwood. Louis Vuitton. Missoni. Salvatore Ferragamo. Gucci. Versace. Betsey Johnson. The influential collections behind today’s trends are often translations of iconic designer’s earlier collections. Investing in an original is priceless.
If you missed the event, rest assured there’s more to come. Cultural influences a la Mad Men must come to an end, but their style inspiration endures; and so too will Modern Vintage Chicago.
Mark your calendars now for April 16 and 17, 2011 for Modern Vintage Chicago: A Spring Fashion & Jewels Explosion!
For more information, see www.modernvintagechicago.com or contact (312) 666-1200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CREDITS: Invitation, Randolphstreetdealers.blogspot.com; Models, Darkroom Demons, Darkroomdemons.com, Stills, Modernvintagechicago.com
