Vintage Clothing Shows
The Best Source for Victoriana, 1930s Bias Cut Gowns and Pucci
Vintage clothing shows are the best sources for collectors to seek out those special pieces they've been looking for. The shows are extremely popular events because most pieces from the past are one-of-a-kind. The attendee might find a museum quality Victorian ball gown, a rare Pucci purse, or another German mesh bag to add to her collection.
The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show
The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show is an annual event that has taken place each October for the past 13 years. Attendees will find approximately 75 vendors from across the United States. These are dealers who are experts in their fields of antique and vintage clothing as well as textiles, linens and lace. It's a popular show with good attendance.
The Vintage Fashion Expo
The producers of The Vintage Fashion Expo hold five annual shows that take place in both Santa Monica and San Francisco, California. Each show has 85 exhibitors from across the US. Some shoppers arrive dressed in Victorian garb or fashion from another period and it makes it a fun environment to shop. This is a well-established show and has welcomed strong attendance from over 20 years.
The Toronto Vintage Clothing and Textile Show
This show has 19 years of experience. It began in a little schoolhouse in the heart of the city, but it was always crowded and outgrew that space, moving to a Ballroom away from the city center. It isn't a huge show, but it's always popular with a good selection of vintage clothing from every era.
Popular Vintage Clothing Periods
All vintage clothing is collectible, but many collectors as well as those who wear vintage clothing have a special niche. 1930s bias-cut gowns are very popular today and with the right body type, they are very wearable. Bias cut gowns from this period do show all the little ripples of the body.
Beaded flapper dress from the '20s are also great additions to a collection. Scrutinize the bead work for serious flaws and ensure the shoulders aren't showing signs of shattering.
Look for Pucci labels, Schiaparelli and Lilli Ann. All are very valuable to collectors.
The Best Shows and Pricing
The best shows aren't necessarily the big ones.
Shows in cities like New York, Los Angeles or Toronto can be pricey for the vendor and those fees will be reflected in the retail price of the item. But there is always a deal to be had, based on the sheer number of vendors in those big shows and the volume of goods for sale. A collector will always find a few things, no matter what affect it has on her pocket book.
The Moscow Rule of Shopping
Suzy Gershman and Judith Thomas, in their Born to Shop series of books, came up with the term, The Moscow Rule of Shopping. This was based on the days of communism in Russia, when items were scarce. The Moscow Rule of Shopping suggests buying it now, because the item won't be there when the buyer returns. This holds true for vintage clothing shows as well as antique shows and markets.
For more information, please read Vintage Clothing Show Tips For Buyers
Resources
- Manhattan Vintage
- Vintage Expo
- Born the Shop Italy, Suzy Gershman and Judith Thomas, Bantam Books, 3rd ed. 1989.
Vintage '30s and '40s Hats
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Victorian Lace Collar
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Fragment of Victorian Beaded Bag
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