Renowned Los Angeles luxury vintage clothing store Decades comes to Vancouver
Credit to Author: Aleesha Harris| Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 16:00:28 +0000
When A-list celebrities and style stars in the know look to discover unique vintage luxury pieces, Decades is likely among the destinations on their list.
Since the late 1990s, the renowned Los Angeles boutique has offered a curated collection of pre-loved (higher-end, second-hand), authenticated pieces that are as at-home on the red carpet as they are in one’s day-to-day wardrobe. And, beginning on Feb. 14, Vancouver fashion fans will have a chance to shop Decades pieces through a limited-time trunk show at Holt Renfrew.
We caught up with Cameron Silver, founder of the celebrated store, to find out more about his company, what shoppers can expect to find in Vancouver and what’s next.
Q. For those who aren’t familiar, what is Decades?
A. Decades is a high-end vintage and pre-loved luxury store in Los Angeles specializing in collectible designer clothing and accessories through the decades.
Q. The boutique opened in 1997, long before the idea of wearing pre-loved fashions became mainstream. Why did the idea always appeal to you?
A. When Decades opened in 1997, it was the height of minimalism and Hollywood’s red carpet was lacking glamour. Celebrities and fashionable tastemakers were craving one-of-a-kind pieces. My concept was to present vintage clothing in a completely modern context because past fashions dictate current trends. The timing was perfect.
Q. And why do you think pre-loved fashions are proving so popular?
A. Creating distinctive personal style requires augmenting your wardrobe with fashions that aren’t ubiquitous — and pre-loved treasures make the wearer a fashion authority rather than a follower. Furthermore, the environmental benefits are profound and when one starts wearing pre-loved, it is totally liberating and makes a fashion lover a better consumer of current fashion, too.
Cameron Silver is the founder of Decades in Los Angeles.
Q. How has Decades changed throughout the, well, decades?
A. When I opened Decades, the focus was on the 1960s and 1970s. However, I gradually expanded to include earlier 20th-century fashions, but always asked myself if an item looked modern. That is my mantra. In the past few years, our discriminating clients have become passionate about “neo-vintage,” important more recent designer clothing. Now, Decades is a destination for styles from the 20th and 21st century.
Q. What are the most sought-after pre-loved pieces?
A. Certainly sexy Azzedine Alaia dresses, iconic Chanel suiting, eccentric Jean Paul Gaultier looks, and Parisian chic of Yves Saint Laurent are particularly desired.
Q. You’re hosting a trunk show at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. How did this come about?
A. I have known Holt Renfrew president Mario Grauso for around 20 years and he is a visionary retailer who reached out to me to curate this special shopping experience. I also adore Vancouver, so I am very excited to return, see friends and make many new ones.
Q. And what can people expect to find?
A. The Holt Renfrew team did a beautiful job navigating through Decades to find pieces that will really resonate with the amazing clients of the store. There will be designers that are immediately recognizable like Alexander McQueen and Courreges, plus examples of Givenchy, Moschino, Miyake and a few names that are less familiar and absolutely breathtaking. Expect the unexpected!
Q. Lastly, what’s next?
A. There are a lot of exciting partnerships for Decades in the future. I am thrilled to be working with Holt Renfrew and I love our collaboration. I am very interested in scaling the Decades concept to insure the pre-loved experience is luxurious and visceral.
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