Tell us about Party Vintage Salon! What inspired you to start it? 

I’ve always loved the treasure hunt of finding vintage clothing, but it wasn’t until my own search for a vintage wedding dress started that I really saw what a huge gap in the market there is. I knew finding something vintage would be a challenge, but I was surprised by how few businesses offer high-quality, fairly priced vintage bridalwear—especially given the countless shops that carry new and made to order bridalwear. 

Through my search, I started to see things from smaller sellers that would end up on bigger vintage bridalwear sites for 10x the price, and that didn’t sit right with me. I also saw the value of a curated collection that you could feel and try on, and figured I wasn’t the only bride or person in Boston or beyond who wanted something like that. So basically, my frustration with the price gouging of brides, love of cool vintage clothing, and—maybe most importantly—deep concern with the fashion industry’s obsession with new, cheap, synthetic clothing led me to finally start Party Vintage.

What’s your vision for Party Vintage?

The vision is that Party is a place to find a special, unique piece of wearable history in a range of sizes and price points that make you want to, well, throw or attend a great party. There is also an educational component that I try to infuse into the brand. I think we've gotten too used to spending $50 on a poorly made dress that you’re going to wear once and throw away. Investing in a timeless dress or suit that you’ll wear over and over—maybe even rent it out on BARO a couple of times—that will likely still be chic 20 years from now is, in my opinion, a much better investment for your wardrobe and the planet. 

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On the flip slide, buying a new wedding dress is one of the worst investments you can make; like a car, it loses half its value as soon as you walk out the door with it. If buying a new dress is important to you then, of course, you should do that. But I think a lot of women feel like they have to spend way more than they want to because they don’t have other options. Buying a vintage or second hand dress is such a good alternative.  

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How’s it been going since you launched? 

So far, it’s honestly been so fun. I love that girls in their 20s through their 60s walk into the pop-ups and gasp at the garments, some because they aren’t used to seeing such unique clothing, others because they wore these brands 30 years ago. I’ve had single women buy wedding weekend outfits because the dress spoke to them so strongly. That’s what buying vintage is all about.

Have you always loved vintage fashion? 

Yes, although it wasn’t until my wedding dress search that I started to really learn about designers, labels, and what makes something $30 vs. $300 vs. $3,000. I was a history major in college, and conducting market research is my day job, so diving into rabbit holes doing research about designers, the brands they built,  and their historical importance is right up my alley. 

Any tips when looking to buy vintage or secondhand? 

Always take your measurements and compare them to anything you’re buying online since sizing varies wildly. Always know what materials the garment is made from. If you have sticker shock, always ask the seller why it’s priced so high. I think buyers (myself included) get taken advantage of a lot, because they don’t know what’s valuable and what’s not. Certain vintage items will maintain value more than others, so it’s worth it to ask some questions to know exactly what you’re paying for.

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How would you describe your personal style? 

Classic, comfortable, chill. I try to avoid anything fussy—who has the time for fussy clothes? Baggy jeans, an oversized sweater, and some loafers will never go out of style.

Who are some of your favorite designers? 

If we’re talking vintage, Ann Lowe and Alix Barton (aka Madame Grès) were two female designers I love. Madame Grès was a French sculptor turned dressmaker who made the most insane draped and pleated dresses in the 1930’s all the way through the 80s. She made each garment by hand and was known to spend up to 300 hours making a single dress, a true master of her craft. Ann Lowe was an incredibly talented black American designer who famously designed the dress worn by Jackie Onasis for her 1953 wedding to JFK. But when given a chance to give credit to Lowe, Jackie O told the press her dress was made by “a colored dressmaker.” Despite the snub, Lowe profoundly influenced dress styles of the 20th century. If I ever found a Lowe or Grès dress, I’d probably faint.

If we’re talking modern designers, Matthieu Blazy, the Creative Director of Bottega Veneta, is someone whose work I really love right now. I’ve never been super into luxury designers or labels, but I’m so drawn to the way he is using color and texture; it feels so fresh and timeless at the same time. The winter ‘24 show was mesmerizing—I would see things coming down the runway and be like, “what could that possibly be made of to move that way?” That’s when fashion is it’s most interesting and inspiring. 

What’s your favorite item in your closet and/or something you’ll never get rid of? 

Probably the vintage Mugler suit I wore for dinner the Friday before our wedding. I had a hunch I wanted to wear a suit, and it was in perfect condition and fit like a glove when I found it. I couldn’t say no (despite now knowing that I way overpaid for it) but I plan to keep wearing it forever.

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