You will be introduced to a different Team member in each new post. Please check out our Team Gallery page here.
Today's featured seller is Terri Brown and you can visit her shop VintageDevotion here.
1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?
I have always loved all things old; architecture, clothing, décor, people. When I was in college back in the 1970s, I worked at a dancewear shop in town that was right next door to a used clothing shop called “Hand-Me-Downs”. It was run by two gorgeous ladies in their 20’s who always dressed in their vintage finds. Periodically, they would have to run out to an estate to purchase clothing and they would ask me to watch their store while they were gone. It was quite fun darting between the shops which specialized in the two things I loved most, dance and old clothing. When they returned from their jaunt, as a gesture of thanks, they offered me the pick of the lot. Whatever I wanted was mine! Throughout my years there (and beyond) I wore 40’s and 50’s coats, hats and purses, 30’s dresses and Victorian blouses. I still have many of those pieces in my collection. Some are still in great condition, others no longer wearable but all have the essence of a most wonderful time in my life and they are treasured belongings of my past.
2. Do you regularly wear vintage?
In my day-to-day life, my dress is pretty basic and functional; jeans, tee shirt and vintage earrings. However, vintage is my absolute “go-to” for special events and I have a particular affinity for the “New Look” silhouette of the late 40’s into the 50’s.
3. Do you have a Holy Grail?
I absolutely love the creativity, ingenuity and sheer gutsiness of Schiaparelli designs. The closest I have been to experiencing one of her creations in person was on the other side of a glass case at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?
It would probably be Lilly Daché. I recently obtained a most amazing dress from the late 1940’s and was astonished to find the Daché label in it. Though she was notably the top milliner of her time, she is less known for her dress creations which were equally brilliant. Imagine a visit to the “Lilly Daché Building” on E. 56th St in Manhattan which housed her atelier and salon, complete with silver dressing rooms for her brunette clients and gold for her blonde buyers. I can almost feel the softness of the tufted pink satin walls and hear the jingle of her bell-adorned leopard slippers as she approaches…
5. What do you see as the future of vintage?
A really hard question! I feel as if “true” vintage stops at the 1970s era. I know that 80’s and even 90’s is now considered vintage but I have a bit of a hard time with that. Aside from my appreciation of clothing, accessories and jewelry from earlier years, there’s a visceral and emotional connection that just doesn’t exist for me in items from the 1980’s to the present. I don’t keep up with current fashion trends or designers so I don’t know what will be coveted in future years. I would say that a contemporary piece that is beautifully designed, well-constructed and interesting will stand the test of time.
6. What is your favorite item in your shop?
This amazing Vintage 1930s-40s Burgundy EMBROIDERED COAT with BAKELITE Buttons
I love everything about this piece; the dramatic length, the color, the embroidery and the fabulous Bakelite buttons. Is it a robe or a coat? I’m really not sure but it’s just too beautiful to be confined to the home so I vote for coat!
Here are a few more items from Terri's shop:
Vintage 40s 1940s LILLI ANN Jacket Forest Emerald Green Gabardine
Vintage 1920s 20s Dress Flapper Black Silk Chiffon Heavily Beaded
Vintage 50s POODLES with PARASOLS Pink Cotton Full Skirt Novelty Print Dress
Vintage 30s Black Velvet Dress Gold Trim Brass Buttons Matching Belt
