5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest Winner

And our final winning entry for the 5 Years 5 Gifts Contest is about the Dutchess of Wisconsin.  It is about mixing vintage and modern.  High and low.  It is about vintage shopping here in the United States and in Paris.  Sounds wonderful doesn't it?!

Thank you so much to everyone who shared a story!  I wish we could have given a gift to everyone!

love,

Juliana

From K:

I am sharing images of a photoshoot I did for fun for young photographers who needed to practice at an event last summer. I chose to wear vintage for the photoshoot because I knew no one else would wear it. I found this blue and white maxi dress from the 1970s at a vintage/secondhand store in Milwaukee, WI called Rethreads which resells vintage and gently used items in nearly perfect condition. 

The tag on the dress reads "Dutchess Loungewear" with a pink and white tag. It came with a little blue and white sweater which I gave to my sister and I kept the dress (and always plan too). I have already worn this dress to weddings- its not too much white, right? :)

I have been vintage collecting for the past five years of my life. I am a 22 year old European history and elementary education double major at Concordia University Wisconsin. Last January, I went to Paris with an art and architecture class and was able to travel wot Freep Star in Paris where it was floor to ceiling vintage. I was in heaven! Part of my collection includes fur from my Grammy, her school wool jacket with her name inside, a vintage YSL peasant skirt Rive Gauche and another blue maxi dress as well as other thrift finds. I love fashion and mixing modern trends with vintage. You will see in my photos I wore my Bruno Frisoni wedges from Paris with my vintage blue and white dress and a necklace from Target.

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest Winner

Why we love YSL.  I think we all have a vintage YSL story.  It is for people who collect or love vintage, a rite of passage, buying that one special Saint Laurent piece.  A winning entry submitted by L.

PS.  I have tried things on in the bathroom too at the Metropolitan Pavilion ; )

"This is the story of my vintage Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche wool skirt – and how I knew my then-boyfriend would be my eventual husband. 

I spotted the YSL Cossack collection-esque skirt at the Manhattan Vintage Clothing and Textiles Show with Kevin (the then boyfriend) and fell instantly in love.  It was fall -- read: already cold in New York -- and all I could think about was wrapping myself up in the skirt’s soft wool, layering on sweaters, and pretending I was living in 1976. 

I grabbed the skirt from the vendor, tried it on (in the bathroom of the Metropolitan Pavilion – so glamorous!), and fell even more in love with it. Unfortunately, my wallet was not a fan. I was in graduate school, and on a budget so tight that Ramen noodles were a splurge; Kevin had just gotten his first post-college job. The vendor was very nice, but despite my haggling – and near pleading – she wouldn’t let the skirt go for anything less than $100. I pouted. Many people – both men and women – don’t understand why some of us love, crave, covet, and swoon over a quilted bag, figure-flattering wrap dress, or a pair of sky high stilettos. Still to this day, I don’t think Kevin quite gets it either. But at the moment he did the most chivalrous thing he could do – he stepped in, offered to pay cash if she would make it a more affordable price, and got the skirt for me. 

As a costume historian today, I should say that I wouldn’t part with the skirt because it embodies YSL’s work during an important part in his career, but I know that I will never part with it because of the gesture that was behind it."

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest Winner

Can I just say, wouldn't it be wonderful if we all had a Grandmother who would give us a 1920s compact from Cartier?!  Grazie per la bella storia!  A winning entry from Italy:

"I'm a follower from Italy. I love your blog and your gorgeous vintage pieces and I'd like to thank you for the beautiful contest you've made for your blog anniversary (HAPPY ANNIVERSARY then!! )

I'd like to share this story about this little treasure that my grandma gave to me.

She was a beautiful woman and she was very fond of theater and italian literature and poems. She was very special, a brilliant mind, acute observer and a very couragious person.  

I had few time to share with her but it was one of the best of my life because she was able to open up my mind and let me appreciate every little detail was surrounding me. 

She gave me many precious objects, this one is my favourite, a tiny compact (evening minaudiere) in 18k yellow gold and enamels, it's from the twenties and comes from Cartier store in Paris.

I keep it in a little drawer with a white lace handkerchief and a b/w photo of her and when I open this drawer i see her face smiling at me and I remember the precise moment she gave me the compact and how funny she was explaining me how to accept a date.... 

Ciao"

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest Winner

I chose this story as a winner for our 5 Years 5 Gifts Contest because it is all about The One.  I have always believed that vintage waits for just the right person.  And this is a story about just that.  Submitted by J.

"My entry is this circa 1969 Valentino Couture Opera coat.  I was first and foremost a celebrity/hollywood costume and memorabilia collector.  The fashion and haute couture collecting came later.  This was mainly because the two facets somehow intertwined.  This was one of my favorite pieces that merged the two.

Anna Moffo in a Valentino Couture Beaded Coat

Being an opera singer myself, I loved opera singers, and when Anna Moffo (who was one of the foremost coloratura operatic sopranos and also a great beauty of her time) passed away, they held an online auction here in NY for her belongings.  She was a great fashionista as well but I wanted mainly one of her costumes.  I left online bids for several items but lost all of them because the prices went too high.  

I was quite disappointed but noticed that they had a second auction the following day for items that did not sell.  I saw this Valentino Couture Opera coat on the webiste and they also had posted a photo of her wearing the coat (which they previously had not posted).  The photo seemed to be a publicity photo that she had done for Valentino himself perhaps used in an advertisement during that era.  So I left the opening bid of $600 and to my surpise won.  

I could not tell much about the coat as it seemed to have this modern embroidery featured on the coat.  So, I decided to go up to east Harlem and pick up the coat itself.  The warehouse where they kept the auction lots was pretty grungy and in a dilapidated part of town.  When I walked in, I told the girl that I was there to pick up my coat.  She looked at the paperwork and proclaimed "So, YOU are the one who won the coat!"  I didn't know what to think of that and said yes.  She made a call to the back and after a few minutes I see this one girl carrying the coat from the far back followed by an entourage of other girls assisting.  It sparkled like the sun as it approached me and my jaw dropped.  When she handed it to me, I nearly dropped it as it weighed a ton.  It was just so beautiful.  She said that they didn't understand why it didn't sell in the first online auction.  They expected it to be the STAR of the auction.  I told them that one couldn't really tell that these were all rhinestones and the great beauty of the coat did not come across in photos.  They all clapped and were so happy for me and happy to meet THE PERSON who bought THE COAT!  I left in a daze and vowed to never part with it.  I know that Ms. Moffo is happy wherever she is that I am the caretaker of her beautiful opera coat.  A toast to you Anna and I vow to keep your memory alive!"

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest Winner

So speaking of Madonna, I wanted to share one of the winning stories (you will have to read on to understand the Madonna connection) from one of our readers for our 5 Years 5 Gifts contest to celebrate the fifth anniversary of RARE vintage.  

I love that pieces of clothing or accessories that we buy become a part of our lives, a moment in our history and a story to remember.  My store, RARE vintage, is filled with memories and happy times.  

To everyone who submitted a story thank you for sharing your memories and your happy times with me and our RARE vintage blog readers.  Beauty is found not just in the objects but in the stories too.

Submitted by R.

" I own a pair of Ruby Slippers, ordered in 1996 at BARNEYS NY located in Beverly Hills which had just opened weeks before. They were for a Gala Garden Party at LOTUSLAND. These beautiful shoes are forever connected to a great Artist of our Age, Madonna. We were in the process of selling her our Wallace Neff home which I had restored lovingly in Los Feliz, 'Los Pavoreales'.

1996 Stephane Kellian 'Ruby Slippers'

She arrived with many people for a pre-set appointment. I mentioned at the time I set the appointment that we had a trip to ready for, but that I would accommodate her request for a couple of hours for measuring and photographing. 

Time sped by when I said we must leave. She asked to stay longer alone within the home with her entourage. I said she was welcome to stay with her entourage outside for as long as they liked, as my groundskeeper was on hand, but I must get to Beverly Hills to pickup shoes that had just come in as a special order from Stephane Kelian Paris. I was to wear them the following afternoon with a 1920s embroidered lace on tulle lawn dress. She looked at me long, then turned immediately and told her realtor to hop in his Jaguar and run over to Barneys NY and pickup my shoes. Silence, and ALL eyes turned to me.

No, I replied as I needed to try them on for fit. Well, EVITA was on everyone's lips all around the

World -YOU can guess the rest..."

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest

Contest update!  So sorry!  I know we are a few days behind.  Here are the gifts for days 2 and 3.  Both YSL.  Both wonderful!  

Day 2:  A black silk sequin tuxedo scarf from Yves Saint Laurent.  Circa 1980s.  Day 3: A black sequin Yves Saint Laurent clutch with a black velvet bow.

If you have not yet seen the contest rules, see here.  Please note that the bag and the scarf although pictured together are two separate gifts.  

Thank you for all of the wonderful stories and photos so far!  I am completely charmed and totally in love with all of them!

love,

Juliana and RARE vintage

PURCHASE

INQUIRY

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest

I want to share the love this week.  One of my favorite things about having vintage store are the stories that people share with me.  They are stories from the closet and from the heart.  

So I thought the perfect way to celebrate 5 years of RARE vintage would be to have a 5 Years 5 Gifts contest and for the next five days we will post a vintage gift a day.  To enter send a photo of you in a favorite vintage piece or just a photo of your favorite piece and a little note why you love it, why you would never part with it, maybe why it would never part with you (I wrote awhile back about my nerd glasses from the 1980s.  I can't lose them.  No matter how hard I try and trust me I try!)  You can share something your grandmother gave you, something you found in a thrift store for a steal, something you bought in Paris, (nothing from RARE vintage - no unfair advantages ; ) You can share a photo of something you covet but have not yet found...  anyway I think you get the idea.  On Saturday I will choose my top five favorite vintage stories and photos.  

Please note that some of the photos and stories may be shared on our RARE vintage blog and/or on Facebook.  Email your stories to win@rarevintage.com

Have fun!  I look forward to seeing your photos and reading your stories!    Share the love!

Contest info is below the photo.

Gift 1: Circa 1980s Hermes fringed black lambskin gloves.   

Submissions must be sent to win@rarevintage.com

Please put "5 Years 5 Gifts Contest" in the subject line.

The top 5 submissions may be posted on the blog and or on our Facebook page

The contest is open from now until midnight Friday February the 3rd

Gift prizes are in no particular order and will be chosen randomly for the five winners.

Please include your full name and address so we can send the gift.

Love, 

Juliana and RARE vintage