What is Vintage?

Technically, properly - it describes the year in which wine is produced, but the term has been co-oped to define clothing and other goods from the recent past. Dates bracketing in specific years that define what constitutes vintage are debatable, but, to my mind, vintage clothing begins at the definition of antique (anything over 100 years old) and ends in the 1970s - because that’s when quality in clothing manufacture and materials really went the way of the buffalo. (Though, funny aside, according to Cecil Beaton in his book The Glass of Fashion, quality in clothing was already at abhorrent levels by 1954.) So here in my shop you will find clothing, jewelry, and some other fun finds dating from antique (late 1800s - 1920s) to the 1970s, with emphasis on high quality construction and design throughout all the decades.

Why Vintage?

It’s legend that my husband’s grandmother once said “I can’t afford to be cheap” - a simple saying that we should all live by. Not only because we deserve better than what is being manufactured today but because there was a time when quality in what was made was a point of pride. It meant you had skill and expertise and only offered the best results of that skill and expertise. Between the astounding rate that the fast fashion industry is polluting the planet (the numbers are staggering), the way their policies are keeping workers in poverty and dangerous working conditions, and how you’re paying entirely too much for clothing that will fall apart within a season - vintage is an answer to these issues. It’s better in terms of quality materials & construction, it’s already lasted decades and - with care - will certainly last decades more. The fit is often better and the looks are classics. You won’t need to throw vintage away within months because it’s off trend - it’s already stood the test of time. Don’t believe me? Just about all designers reference vintage clothing in their modern designs. Modern fashion is vintage, reincarnated, why not go for the real thing?

Why Sultry Vintage?

This isn’t just frivolous fashion to me. I’m a firm believer in quality and I won’t settle for less, and that extends to all areas of my life - including and especially what we put on our bodies every single day. Pieces that make it into my shop have to tick off many boxes from condition to high quality construction to absolutely pulse elevating awesomeness. I only bring to you what excites me, what is worthy of being added to your wardrobe/collection. Having a studied knowledge of fashion history combined with a splash of obsessive research, you can be confident in knowing that the vintage I offer is the real deal - and the best of it.

Bonus: When you shop with Sultry Vintage you can feel even better about your eco footprint. Not only is vintage fashion an act of recycling in itself but just about all the packaging I use to ship your vintage is either biodegradable, fully recycled, or both. I’m about 95% completely sustainable in my packaging. Shipping itself is environmentally impactful but I aim to offset that by making sure my packaging is plastic free or only uses reused & recycled plastics - if any at all.

How do I care for my vintage?

I have put together an exhaustive guide on laundering vintage, as I personally go about it, that you can access by signing up to my email list here. There’s also information on storing vintage here.

Where do you find all your vintage?!

Sorry friends, if I told you that I’d no longer be able to buy groceries or pay my rent. The short answer is, everywhere, the long answer is, I’ll never tell. It’s taken years to hone in specific avenues for finding vintage and the sands are constantly shifting beneath my feet. Precarious is the job that requires you to go out and find your inventory in random places, at volatile prices, that also necessitates it be in good condition, desirable, and wearable sizing, which you must then clean, mend, photograph, market, and further cultivate an audience of passionate collectors who will pay hard earned paychecks for it. Don’t believe the myth that we find 1920s beach pajamas for $2 at thrift stores. Finding vintage is difficult work.

Do you ever sell on consignment?

Oops, guess I’m giving away one answer to the above question. Yes, I do, but as I’m selective about which pieces make it into my shop there is a vetting process. If you live locally I can assess your collection in person, otherwise feel free to message me details about what you’d like to consign. If anything fits in with what I sell here I will respond with my consignment terms and request clear and detailed photos.

Can you tell me about this vintage piece I have?

Surely. I’m happy to share details of what I know after years of collecting, researching, and studying vintage. I do charge a small consulting fee per item as the knowledge I have cultivated is the way I make my living. You can visit my Research Request page for more info and to send me a message. Otherwise, I’ve put together a vintage dating ‘cheat sheet’ / guide that you can access by supporting my Vintage Fashion Catalog Digitization Project, click here to learn more.

Can you find this specific piece of vintage for me I’ve been dying to own?

Yes and no. Many of my long time customers often give me wish lists of pieces they would like to collect should I ever come across them. What I do is a mix between personal shopping and a treasure hunt, as is the nature of digging up vintage. As I said above it’s taken me many years to discover how to search out vintage and if you have an item I believe I may be able to discover in a timely manner I will go out searching for a small fee. Feel free to message me with your wishlist item(s), budget, and any reference photos as well as sizing requirements and I can let you know if I believe I’ll be able able to hunt it down. In this capacity I won’t purchase the item and resell it to you but provide you with links to other sites/shops/vintage sellers who have the item available. Thus the small personal shopper fee in lieu of a reselling fee.