Within our small vintage-loving community, some pieces will take on greater value than others. Certain prints, certain labels – lusted after not just for the quality of the garment, but for its rarity or the the status it provides. I think this is true of most small, niche communities – there’s always a hierarchy. The Haves vs. the Have Nots. The Unicorns, the ISOs, the Holy Grails. These pieces ebb and flow in price tag and rarity, keeping us ever wondering, searching, sniffing the air like a dapple deer.
While I think this is the culture no matter what you collect – action figures, rare art, artisanal soup bowls – it’s definitely alive and well in the world of vintage. I’m sure we all secretly dream of falling upon a small shop in the middle of nowhere overflowing with Suzy Perettes and Jonathan Logans for $10 a pop (no? Just me?). But, the truth of the matter is most of these pieces are acquired from sellers who know their stuff (and their value). Given these garments are truly one-of-a-kind (or occasionally two- or three-of-a-kind), it can be pretty easy to get swept up in the frenzy of acquisition. Because every vintage dress is rare – but add on the extra shine that comes with a covetable label or print – and you have yourself a feeding frenzy.
Truth be told, this feeding frenzy phenomenon is pretty natural and nothing to apologize for – there are always pieces that are more difficult to come by or simply more spectacular in their details. And we should never feel guilty for the things we love – because the value of something, really, is what someone is willing to pay for it.
I have definitely experienced my fair share of collector’s lust. I hunt for Juli Lynne Charlot the way I imagine a trained bloodhound will search for the missing person. You never know when and where they will appear, so you just endlessly, relentlessly search on the mere hope that you will get lucky. And because I know I’m not alone in my single-minded quest, it adds an even greater sense of urgency. It definitely stokes my fire to search in vain, only to snag one of my lifelong HGs when you least expect it…
What gets concerning is sometimes the feeling I get of being whipped into a frenzy simply for the sake of a frenzy. There are certain highly collectable prints that aren’t quite my personal bag – for example, I’ve just never been one for the Disney prints. I didn’t grow up going to Disney, so I don’t have the personal connection to it. But, I admit that when one of those Lady and the Tramp skirt appears in my feed, there is still the tug to want to own something just because I know it’s covetable. And I’m sure I’m not alone in this inclination. There can be a lot of pressure to step outside of our budget or our style, just to own something rare.
That being said, there are definitely any number of prints that whip me into a frenzy… this is just one such example. One of my long time Unicorns was this Ken Scott “A Fish is a Fish” collectable print by Serbin of Miami. As a marine biologist who loves border prints, this one has called out to me for years. From the prong-set rhinestones to the sequin eyes, I had my sights set the moment I first clapped eyes on it, but never managed to make her mine. And then, as if the choir of mermaid angels started to sing, there it appeared in the Golden Peplum IG feed. It also happens to be a highly collectable print – I’ve seen it pop up in a range of colorways (and with a range of labels).
Truthfully, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Rare and Valuable mindset that gains strength in every niche market. And covetable prints change with alarming speed; what garners crazy high prices one year will change with people’s passions the next. But with each new acquisition, I try to check myself: do I truly love it…or do I want it because I know others want it? And maybe that’s my personal the litmus test – if I remove all other elements (rarity, status, feeding frenzy tendencies) would I still covet it? For this skirt, I would answer a resounding YES.
Maybe there’s a lesson to be learnt on this grey Thursday – never apologize for what you like and never apologize for not loving something everyone wants. It’s all about tapping into your own personal style. Figuring out what makes your own heart single and doing everything in your power to resist the Pier Pressure.
Tune out the world. Wear what you love. Let your freaky novelty-print flag fly…
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Cardigan: Alannah Hill (similar here & here)
Skirt: Golden Peplum (similar modern and vintage here, here & here)
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar)
Handbag: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Shoes: Miss L Fire (similar here & here)
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Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.