What do Chestertown and the Paris Fall Fashion Show have in common this season? A focus on vintage couture.
A unique collection of haute couture wear and accessories from 1920-1990 will be on display and for sale October 19 through October 27 at 335 High St. in downtown Chestertown.
This is not your grandmother’s attic. Designer clothing created by Oscar de la Renta, Bob Mackie, Christian Dior, Yves St. Laurent, Ilie Wacs, and other 20th century fashion icons has been donated by prominent people from the U.S. and Europe. Examples include four dresses from the closet of Vera Roosevelt, and an exact copy of the three-piece red Adolpho suit worn by Nancy Reagan at the Presidential Inauguration in 1981..
According to Washingtonian Magazine, the past few years have seen an explosion of vintage stores, many specializing in clothing and accessories from early to mid-twentieth century. The New York Times has featured it. Michele Obama wears it. Soon local shoppers can view a never-before-seen collection and own a personal piece of history.
This “pop-up boutique” will also include a selection of shoes, hats, bags, gloves, handkerchiefs, and jewelry. Seamstresses are on call to provide guidance on any necessary or requested alterations.
The exhibit is curated by Georgina Bliss and her husband, Rick Marshall, of Rock Hall, who each have extensive professional experience in corporate retail design in the U.S. and Europe. The granddaughter of a European fashion designer, Bliss notes, “These items are irreplaceable. They are treasures. And remarkably, from what I saw recently at Nordstrom’s, some of these fabrics and styles are back in fashion!”
Each item includes a story of its background and the donor. For example, says Bliss, “There is the flapper dress purchased in Buffalo, New York, by Mrs. Brown’s father for her mother to wear to a party. The party was fabulous and how did her mother love that dress. Mrs. Brown also donated a beautiful bolero jacket similar to those seen on the popular show called Poirot and a heavenly turn of the century comb complete with all its jet beads.”
Events include a preview cocktail party from 5-7 pm on October 19; a ladies tea on Saturday, October 20 from 2-4 pm, with a toy chest of vintage childrens’ clothes for children and grandchildren to model while they enjoy their tea; and an exhibit and sale from Monday, October 22, through Saturday, October 27, from 10 am to 3 pm. All events take place in the building that most recently housed Primitive Finds, and earlier, Bramble’s Clothing. The exhibit will feature a silent auction of select items (or “Buy It Now”) as well as many “cash and carry” items. Tickets may be purchased at the door. All proceeds benefit HomePorts.
For more information, call 443-480-0940 or e-mail [email protected]. Selections from the collection may be viewed at www.homeports.org and on Facebook.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.