Eveline

Tell me about the story behind the Prada heels and the Jean Paul Gaultier vest, is there a story or experience you've had while collecting these vintage pieces?

These heels are actually my mom’s old that she bought in her 30s, they were her favorite and have now become mine, so they are very to special to me. 

The top is a Jean Paul Gaultier piece that I never will get rid of, even if I don’t really use it as much. It was my first vintage piece that I bought from the time I moved to Paris, so it keeps so many memories. This top was actually also worn on mine and Pierre’s first date in Paris!

How did you first become interested in vintage pieces, and what drew you to start collecting them?

I have always had an interest in vintage fashion, but I would say that the love for it has grown throughout the years. I find most of my inspiration from old movies. There are so many great movies from the 60’s I use as reference when starting to look for items to collect, two favourites are La collectionneuse and Le mepris.

How do you source your vintage treasures, and what do you look for when selecting new additions to your collection?

Sourcing vintage usually requires a lot of time, especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. That’s why I often have an item in mind when starting to source vintage pieces, and usually it leads me to find something else as well. We also have so many websites today, such as Vestiaire Collective, Vinted etc with amazing selections that have been sourced by others, which makes the job easier for us.

In what ways do you think vintage fashion allows individuals to express their unique identities and personal stories?

Social media today has a massive influence on people's style, often resulting in people dressing very similar to each other, and to the bigger social profiles. Vintage allows us to wear unique pieces that aren't accessible the same way as the mass production brands today, which means you can set your own trends with vintage fashion.

Pierre:

Tell me about the story behind the leather jacket and the t-shirts. Is there a story or experience that you've had while collecting these vintage pieces?

A « Le Blouson PN » (Aircrew jackets) and my dad’s leather jacket when he served in the French army. More than just a beautiful patina, it holds the marks of his life and missions back then.

T-Shirts are my way to express myself. They are often the most crazy piece of my outfits. Every now and then, I design something and then screen-print it on one of a vintage find that I have accumulated over the years.

What advice would you give to someone new to vintage fashion and looking to start their own collection?

My advice is to not look for anything specific- be open to surprises.

How do you see the future of vintage fashion evolving in the context of the modern fashion industry?

Vintage fashion will continue to take a bigger and bigger chunk of space in our closets. With socials, people realized that, by digging just a little bit you could find amazing things for a low price, and because of this, make your style very much your own.

What are some of your favorite places for discovering new vintage pieces?

Japan. There’s NOTHING like it.

Amongst other qualities, Japanese people are two things, precautious and passionate. So their vintage selections are always topnotch and their second hand luxury market pristine.

In Tokyo, Shimokitazawa is a well known vintage store neighborhood and it deserves it’s reputation. You just can’t go wrong- everything is great. 

Another tip would be to visit any 2nd hand luxury. To name a few, Ragtag, 2nd street, kindal, book off,.. they are all across Japan, are as organized as regular stores, and are not too expensive.