DRESScapade™ Episode 2: 55,000 Dresses

 

In May of 2014 I visited a warehouse in Gardena, CA full of fashion treasures. If you have followed this blog you may remember my experience, if not you can read it HERE

I started as a shopper and now am the curator of this collection for sale. I shared my experiences and how I got involved in this collection in DRESScpade™ Episode 2!

Or follow the link HERE

You can shop a curated selection from this collection at www.evolution-vintage.com

ENJOY!!!!

Bubble Beautiful

Moire Bubble Dress - 80's Christian Lacroix

The bubble skirt or dress is something many of us associate with the 1980's. The dress was seen over and over in mini and midi lengths as well as skirts of the decade.

Shop Vintage 80's Bubble Dress - $48

The bubble dress, however originated in the late 1950's. This was a popular silhouette in 1957/58.

DIOR

Many designers in the 1980's drew inspiration from the 1950's with many shapes and details of the time.

It was interesting to compare 2 sewing patters from exactly 30 years apart. The 80's lost their straps but the bubbles were still as beautiful as the 1950's.

1987

1957

Shop this 1950's Floral Bubble Dress - $150

As I always say, Fashions past is always present! The bubble is BACK for Spring 2018!

ERDEM 2018

Mary Katrantzou 2018

Bubble Beautiful! 

Which decade do you prefer?

55,000 DRESScue Mission: So it begins

Back in 2014 I met dress collector Paul Brockman in his Gardena warehouse that at the time held approximately 22,000 of his reported 55,000 dress collection. Red my blog HERE from my initial visit. With the passage of time I always wondered what ever happened to Paul and his collection. I reached out to him and his daughter in March of 2017 to check the status of the collection and see if I could help.

I visited with a proposal to help liquidate the dresses and approach this mammoth project in a new way. 

Fast forward to last weekend. Myself, Paul's daughter Louise and 2 hired guys moved 495 bags of vintage dresses into a sorting facility. This is the contents of container 1 of 4!! We cannot liquidate what we don't know is there so we are sorting by era/color for now. Everything is for sale!

6am - 495 Bags

Time lapse of unpacking the second truck ..

Of course we unearthed some amazing treasures. 

 1980's Polka Dot Dress - $48

80's Polka Black and Dot Dress - $45

1950's Cherry Print Dress - $85

1960's Floral Maxi - $68

Shop a curated selection from the collection via Evolution Vintage with more to come daily.

Let the DRESScue mission begin .... 

Are you a dealer who wants to shop in bulk? or a vintage fan ready to fill bags to the brim for a great price? email me for an appointment.

EV ON SALE

With a new project on the horizon the EVOLUTION VINTAGE closet needs to make some room. 

EVERYTHING is 50% off through Monday for our Labor Day Sale!

There is something for everyone, every size, budget and taste! 

Treat yourself to my selection of specially curated and selected Vintage pieces of clothing, jewelry and accessories!

CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUE STYLE!!

SHOP

Style Scents

There are several components to personal style. It extends far beyond your closet and daily wardrobe but into home furnishings, accessories and scent. I am a moody dresser and just like I have several wardrobe items on rotation I also have a few fragrances. Scent, like clothing can leave an impression or make a statement without having to use language and it is a very powerful message. One that can be left behind long after you have physically departed.

Similar to those people who pair food and wines, I like to pair scent with style.

For this blog I have chosen the top 4 scents in my weekly rotation. They are also amazing for gift giving as they come in different sizes, creams, soaps and other fun vehicles to impart the fragrance like roller balls for easy travel.

If I was to explain my fragrance "type" I like "spicy", "woody" "musk" or "Citrus".

1) CHANEL CoCo Mademoiselle

 SHOP THE FRAGRANCE

Described as a modern Oriental Woody fragrance it is very romantic. I also have the body moisturizer and it is light and fabulous!

Top Notes: Orange, Bergamot, Grapefruit / Heart Notes: Lychee, Rose, Italian Jasmine / Base Notes: Indonesian Patchouli, Haitian Vetiver, Burbon Vanilla, White Musk

SHOP THE DRESS

2) SJP - STASH

SHOP THE FRAGRANCE

This is another woody fragrance that to me is both spicy and sensual.

Top Notes: Grapefruit Zest, Black Pepper, Sage / Heart Notes: Atlas cedarwood, Patchouli, Ginger lily, Pastachio / Base Notes: Olibanum, Massoia wood, Vetiver, Musk.

I also insist you purchase the roller ball for ease of travel so you can always have your STASH wherever you go.

 SHOP THE GOLD DRESS

SHOP THE DRESS

3) Theirry Mugler - ALIEN

 SHOP THE FRAGRANCE

Alien is one of my favorite MUGLER fragrances, shown here is the Limited Edition Divine Collector bottle I am currently using. I really want to try the candle they have!

Top Notes: Sambac Jasmine / Heart Notes: Cashmere Wood / Base Notes: White Amber

SHOP THE DRESS

4) Theirry Mugler - ANGEL

 SHOP THE FRAGRANCE

Last but not least this has been as go-to fragrance for over a decade and is still in my rotation to this day. It is a very unique fragrance, a love it or hate it situation.

No layered notes just fragrance: Chocolate, Vanilla, Caramel, Berries, Honey and Bergamot.

SHOP THE DRESS

Pink Holiday Style

The holiday season is here! In the US this encompasses Thanksgiving and for people in the rest of the world the halls have all ready been decked and trees ready to be trimmed for Christmas. The holidays to me mean parties, celebrations, dinners, and gatherings of all kinds, sizes and calibers.

Everyone has a certain combination of colors for their interior (and exterior) decor to reflect who they are and I would guess that the same is true for their holiday wardrobe. From casual chic to gown gorgeous you know, through color what says holidays to you.

SHOP - Vintage pink velvet Gown $80

I personally have a broader scope from the traditional red, green and gold that is typical at this time of year, even beyond silver, blue and white ... what about PINK?

It is a fabulous accent to silver and winter white and in pretty opposition to the seasons traditional fiery red. Pink is not a "traditional" holiday color or even usually part of the fall/winter color pallet but for me it is a beautiful option for holiday dressing! 

THINK PINK with EVOLUTION VINTAGE

 Vintage Pink Textural Dress With Fringe - $85

 Pink Floral Gown - $90

 Hand Beaded & Chiffon Gown - $350

Image: Tom Fowler

 Vintage Chiffon Gown With Crystal Waist Detail - $150

Image: Tamara Wickstrom

 Vintage Pink Beaded Dress - $120

Image: Tamara Wickstrom

Pepto Pink Gown (color in this image varies from actual - it is darker) - $80

Will you have a PINK Holiday Season?

Pink Sequin Nutcracker - $29.95 (Save 15% Use code MERRY15)

Great Greens

Varieties of the color green may differ in hue, chroma/saturation/intensity or lightness (or value, tone, or brightness), or in two or three of these qualities. Variations in value are also called tints and shades, a tint being a green or other hue mixed with white. In fashion this means infinite possibilities. 

Consider sassy shades of green for fall.

Pump up the volume on something plain with your Own version of Katy Perry's 2013 MTV GUCCI look.

2013 - GUCCI at the Grammy's in a shade of Seafoam

GUCCI Resort 2013

 Vintage Gown in a 'Spring Green' Color (SHOP)

Persain Green Vintage Dress with Attached Sash. (SHOP)

Katie's looks can be re-created with these two Fab Frocks by using a variety of Vintage or Contemporary Brooches for a temporary glamour enhancement, just strategically pin and go. For other uses brooch the subject here: THIS.  Don't want to pin the dress? Create a DIY Collar to pin Brooches or sew Vintage clip earring or other embellishments onto. 

Other GREAT GREENS:

Vintage Seafoam Grecian Goddess Gown, Complete with Bodice Embellishment. (SHOP)

A hint of mint  - This Vintage Mint Halter Dress is amazing. Rhinestone embellished chiffon (SHOP)

Minty Maxi (SHOP)