I’m often asked by my readers for advice on trustworthy, swoonworthy vintage shops. So, once every month or so, I feature one of my favorite vintage treasure troves – both local and online – and give you a bit of insight into the shop owners and their curation process (see last month’s feature here). For this month’s featured vintage shop, I’m turning the Spotlight On a local Perth gem – Oh Henry Vintage.
Oh Henry was one of the first vintage stores I discovered when we moved to Perth back in 2011. Since then, I’ve gotten to know the owner Jasmine (Jas) really well – she has a real passion for what she does and loves to help vintage find its way home. Oh Henry specializes in garments from the 20’s through the early 90’s and has an incredible homey feel to the shop – the crisp white walls and high ceilings make it feel open and airy, and the rainbow merchandising grabs the eye and has me itching to dig into each color with abandon…
Oh Henry is owned and run by the amazing Jasmine Campbell, who lives in Perth with her lovely husband Henry (hence the shop name) and cuter than cute baby girl Luella. The way she describes the shop’s wares: “Our collection is specially curated with emphasis placed on garments with quality workmanship, iconic vintage silhouettes and modern day transcendence.”
If that doesn’t have you itching to drop everything and race over immediately, I don’t know what will.
When I chatted to Jas about wanting to do a feature on Oh Henry, she asked me if I would be willing to model some of her vintage finery for use in her Etsy Shop listings. Oh, what’s a gal to do? It basically meant that I got to do my favorite things in the world – drool over pretty vintage and play dress up for an entire afternoon!
I was even more ecstatic when the ever-stunning Genevieve Isabel agreed to take part (seriously, this girl is all manner of gorgeousness. I’ve been encouraging to start her own blog – don’t you think she should??) You may have seen her around the Oh Henry Instagram page. She is the absolute epitome of timeless glamour.
When we weren’t giggling like fools or dancing around to the oldies swirling throughout the shop, Genevieve and I did manage to get some work done…
In preparation for the post, I was lucky enough to spend some time investigating all of the beautiful garments that Oh Henry had on offer, to make the near-impossible decisions on which ones were our favorites. I was naturally drawn like a moth to a flame straight to all of the 1950’s and 1960’s garments (no one is surprised). As we were digging gleefully through the racks, I had the chance to ask Jas a few questions about her shop and curation process:
Q: Can you tell me a bit about yourself, about your shop, and your reason for starting as a vintage seller? How long have you had your shop in Perth?
Jas: “I’m a self confessed vintage addict and treasure hunter. Initially my love was just for collecting, but as my treasure cave grew and grew, ok… and grew (practically taking over the whole house), I realised my love for vintage was bigger than I first thought. It was taking me in a new exciting direction. At first I began to sell at markets and naturally this snowballed into something bigger. I opened my first Northbridge store almost 5 years ago. It was in an offbeat, hidden away nook, reached only by an ancient staircase. It was a magical space, but I yearned for a shop front window and after two years I outgrew it. Without a permanent place to “lay my hat,” a number of fun pop up shops ensued until finally I found the perfect space to call our home. A gorgeous heritage listed, double storey building with high pressed tin ceiling, squeaky old floorboards, lots of light and ample space to showcase our vast collection.”
Q: I know that true vintage is getting harder and harder to acquire (especially in Australia). What’s the most challenging aspect of sourcing vintage and how do you overcome it?
Jas: “I guess the most challenging aspect is ensuring a steady flow of desirable, high quality product. Having a variety of sources means you don’t rely on any one way too much. With a lot of research, the right overseas contacts and a sprinkle of fairy dust for luck, I haven’t encountered any real problems as of yet (touch wood!)”
See the original blog post featuring this beauty here: Through the Looking Glass
Q: What’s your favorite piece in the shop right now?
Jas: “Hmm, that’s tricky, its always changing. I’m pretty in love with the late 40’s/ early 50’s New Look crimson red dress you modeled in one of your photos. In my own private collection, my Victorian black silk embroidered piano shawl with thick fringing really makes my heart race.”
Q: As a vintage collector, I can’t imagine being able to let so many beautiful pieces go! Have you ever sold a piece and later regretted it?
Jas: “No, I’m pretty good like that. I love to share and watching the delight in my customer’s eyes when they fall in love with a piece brightens my day. That said, sometimes I do feel equally happy and sad when one of our extra special pieces walk out the door. Recently I sold an incredible 1950’s Alfred Shaheen deadstock black/gold/red sarong wiggle dress. It was honestly gasp worthy and sometimes I feel a little twinge in my heart it’s gone. I sold it to a very good customer of mine who I know will treasure it forever, really what more could I ask for?”
Q: Do you have any tips for women (and men!) who are a bit intimidated by buying vintage clothing?
Jas: “Don’t bother being swept up in trends and fads. Vintage fashion is so diverse it has something for every taste. Pick styles that flatter your shape and colours that compliment your complexion. Don’t feel like you need to dress head to toe in one era. I love mixing it up. If you’re still a little intimidated to take the plunge, why not start by incorporating a vintage accessory like a bag or a silk scarf with your modern day wear. You’ll be shocked how many compliments you’ll receive.”
As deep as my love for vintage shops run, I’m almost more in love with the stories behind them, the people who bring them to life and the ways they found themselves doing what they love. It was great to get behind the scenes a bit at Oh Henry, which made me love the shop all the more!
One of the perks of having a favorite shop in your neighborhood is that I get to know amazing shop owners like Jas personally – and I get to go and revel in the lovely 1950’s frockery firsthand as often as I please. I have purchased many a vintage stunner at Oh Henry over the years, and every time I drop in, there seems to be another armload of treasures I want! I swear there’s a false back in her wardrobe, which is really a portal that takes her to the 1950’s, Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe style…
A few of my favorite acquisitions…
Bag: Vintage (similar here & here)
Shoes: Melissa Australia (similar here & here)
Shoes: DSW (similar here & here)
Shoes: Mo-Mo’s Vintage (similar here)
I promise I haven’t bought up everything in the shop (though I am sorely tempted every time I go in). However, I did get to have a total Pretty Woman moment and tried on one stunning dress after another with Genevieve that are currently for sale in the Oh Henry Etsy shop!
We tucked ourselves into a room upstairs for several hours and twirled in frock after frock after gorgeous frock…
For Sale
Here’s a compilation of my absolute favorites currently for sale at Oh Henry Vintage (ranging from sizes XS to XL).
A few things to bear in mind: Accessories are for inspiration only unless otherwise noted. Jewelry, crinoline, & shoes are not included in the sale, though I can advise on where to get similar ones if you see any you love. Just for reference, my measurements are 35-27-38, and I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about fabric and fit for the garments I was modeling. But be sure to check the measurements in the listing – some items may have been clipped to the model.
I’ve put a link to each item underneath the photo. I have a feeling some of these beauties won’t last long, so I’d get in quick if there’s something you love ~ Happy browsing!
GAH! I want to keep them all! (yeah, there’s a reason I’m a vintage collector and not a vintage seller…) As you might imagine, Jas, Genevieve and I had the absolute BEST time collaborating together. It always happens every time I go into the shop – we spend ages swooning over our latest vintage finds and gossiping about everything that’s happened since the last time we spoken, which then quickly devolves down to a massive dress up session. So, one might consider this post a pretty normal day for us!
When it comes to Oh Henry Vintage, can’t seem to walk out without adopting another pretty dress (or three). To help you bring one home, Jas is offering an exclusive coupon code to readers of The Dressed Aesthetic! Use the code DRESSED10 between now and 12th August for 10% off any item in the Oh Henry Etsy Shop – be sure to let me know if any of my favs made their way into your closet!
You can also check out Oh Henry Vintage on Facebook and Instagram. If you live in the Perth area, their brick and mortar is located at 312 William Street. Mention this post for a 10% discount. Race you to the pretties!
xoxo
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I do want to mention that any shop I feature I have personally shopped in and love – I chose to feature Oh Henry Vintage because I adore this shop and trust Jas to always provide exceptional customer service and a personal touch to her customers. I think it’s important to create a network of sellers that you know you can trust – and support small businesses along the way! If you want to see last month’s Spotlight On feature, check it out here.