Monday, 15 March 2010

The value of vintage- interview with Judy Aldridge from Atlantis Home

I have been poring over some of my fifties Vogues recently, sparking thought about vintage fashion and what it means to me.. This is a question I have always found interesting, so I thought I'd ask someone else for their view too. Luckily, the wonderful Judy Aldridge from Atlantis Home graciously accepted my request for a short interview about vintage, and here it is!

What would say it is about vintage that makes it so desirable? Vintage makes your look truly your own. Clothes tend to be so homogenized these days--adding vintage is the best bet for a unique look.

As we all know, many vintage pieces have interesting stories behind them. Do you have any tales you'd like to share about particular vintage items you own? I have a YSL jacket that had a very famous owner, but I can't say. ;)

Do you have any favourite vintage designers? Yves Saint Laurent--definitely. I also like to stalk Vicky Tiel on eBay.

If you are buying vintage to wear yourself, where are your favourite places to purchase from? Decades is incredible, what goes around comes around in NY, thrift stores and eBay of course!

I know you have a website that sells vintage. Do you sometimes find it hard to part with some of the pieces? (I think this would be my stumbling block, I'd never be able to sell anything on!) Not really--Usually when I purchase a piece I know if it is for me or for the site. There are pieces that don't sell at times, and I think to myself that they must be meant for me.

What would you say is your favourite decade for design? Or do you have more than one? 70's and 80's.

If you could own one iconic piece, what would it be? A piece from YSL's Russian collection.

When did you first become interested in vintage clothing? And what prompted the interest? I started purchasing vintage clothing when I was about 16--so that was over 30 years ago. Wow--I'm old! My mom loved antiques and used to take me along shopping--I naturally started looking at vintage clothing at Antique Malls and Flea Markets.

And a general question:

I know that Jane often borrows things from your wardrobe, and vice versa. Would you say that looking at her personal style has influenced you in any way? Or do you influence her? I think we influence each other Greatly. Sometimes she shows me how to wear things in a way that I would not have imagined.

Thanks again to Judy for the interview, take a look at her blog for more fantastic vintage clothes and modern classics. She wears them with such effortless style...

I would be really interested to hear what some of my lovely readers' responses to these questions might be as well!
The first picture is one from a shoot I modelled for a vintage shop, the amazing Bertie's. (That would be my answer to 'where do you prefer to buy your vintage from?' It is the most immaculate vintage shop you are ever likely to encounter. Trips here are dangerous, I'm at risk of performing a disappearing money act, and then returning home with a perfect fifties suit or sixties rose print cocktail dress!)
I completely adore the forties draped silk piece I wore, and am trying to come up with a way to stretch my meagre budget to findng a similiar item. Copyright on the first image: Bertie's.

All other images are from Judy's blog. Copyright: Judy Aldridge