I’m applying for police protection after I post this because I fear that hardcore eBayers will blame me for yet again... upping the prices on their treasured eBay vintage finds. I dunno... I’m all about sharing the wealth and I’ve never been one to keep secrets (the boyf got fired from an ice cream stand for eating too many Flakes... yes, there you go, it’s out there....!). People have asked me about my eBay faves and the truth is I stumble onto things and rarely remember to bookmark the sellers and eBay stores. I’m hardcore on eBay but in a very random and unsystematic way. Thankfully, vintage sellers in the USA form wonderful networks and friendship groups and via the wonderful Dree at The Urban Collection, I got to know Kelles of Indie Cult Vintage. Dree and Kelles don’t know it yet, but I will actually try and gatecrash their vintage trawling shopping sessions one day. Another secret that I let out.
We are getting to the point where vintage traders/shops/sellers need to be categorised such is the variety of goods that are out there and you find that sellers repeatedly choose a certain aesthetic for certain reasons. Indie Cult Vintage would probably be under the ‘catwalk-influenced, WTF-unexpected, talking piece’ category. A bit of a mouthful I know but we’ll refine things later. To break it down.....
Their picks are fashion-forward in a way that you can immediately pick out contemporary designers from their wares... like this space dye chunky sweater that has a hint of Sandra Backlund in it, or this black leather hooded jacket that is a bit Mike & Chris/Christopher Kane for Topshop...
...of course get the mandatory pretty, poofy dress which I remind me of my first vintage buys...
Sculptural 80s' prom bow mini dress // Tuxedo ruffle plaid mini dress
....and also the ‘throw-it-over-anything’ staples such as this grey skinny fit wool tuxedo jacket and this plaid sack coat dress...
But the real gems have that WTF-factor. The stuff that will make a lot of people go ‘That’s a bit wack....’. The stuff that requires certain contexts and style inclinations to work. Even I’m not completely sold on yellow leather fringe but the acid washed jeans with cris-cross cut-outs? Under a simple black t-shirt dress with some killer shoes and a shrunken blazer I say! Picking a few pretty dreamy dresses is all very well but as vintage shopping becomes more monotonous, of the norm and quite underwhelming at times, it sometimes takes the likes of these ‘WTF’ items to really make vintage shopping intriguing again...
Spandex 80s' cut-out dress // Hieroglyphics swing cape coat
