vin•tage (ˈvɪn tɪdʒ)
adj.
1. Representing the high quality of a past time; classic: vintage movies. 2. Imitating, or being a style or fashion of the past; retro: vintage clothing. 3. Being the best of its kind; choice: vintage Shakespeare. 4. Old-fashioned or obsolete. 
“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.” ~ Gianni Versace
“Fashions Fade, Style is Eternal.” ~ Yves Saint Laurent
I’ve always had a thing for the past. Be it clothing, dolls, toys, history, or stories, there is just something special about touching, feeling, wearing, or hearing something that was once in a present time. The current state is consistently fleeting and you can never retrieve one second, and the older you get the faster time seems to go! I think this is why holding on to things of past are so dear; there is an exiting nostalgia surrounding items that have traveled through time to meet you on your journey in the present moment. This notion of “the past” is a relative term in fashion, as we have seen styles come and go. Over this past century styles have evolved, developed, transcended, changed, disappeared, and re-appeared all over again. Current trends are always “in,” and that will never change. But what about the trends that were in years ago? Should we just forget about them and not include them in the styles of today? Vintage shoppers and fashion connoisseurs say no. They should be included because style is eternal. I visited an event that celebrated vintage styling, entitled “The Connoisseurs Vintage Pop-Up Shop” held at Avery’s on H St. in Washington, DC this past weekend. I myself, am no expert in vintage shopping and I won’t pretend to be. I do have a fascination for it though, and a deep appreciation of things past. The value in vintage is the undeniable fact of uniqueness, and that is what draws me to it. I can browse for hours in an antique store or vintage shoppe. This pop-up event allowed one to do just that, browse and shop for hours with six top vintage dealers from the local area, all in one location!
The Model
How do you dress vintage? It can be a difficult feat if you over-think it. Mr. Julian Pierre was there to give us a few hints on how awesome vintage can look. It’s like any other area of creativity, you put the pieces together until you create a masterpiece. Dee, of Roe the Agency served as the model and fashion plate for Julian’s styling creativity. I loved what he did so much with the second look that I purchased the jacket!
The Vendors
Instant Vintage 78
The event was hosted by my friends Stacie and Samantha of Instant Vintage 78. These lovely ladies specialize in selling clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories from the 1940’s-1990’s. They were on the scene representing their brand and looking beautiful as always, classic and stylish.
Instant Vintage 78 displayed a wonderful assortment of items, I had to capture a few! 
Each item is hand picked for their collection:
I had to try on a few things… 
And go home with something too! 
Bespoke Not Broke 
Mr. James Hackley of Bespoke Not Broke was a part of the event, showcasing men’s vintage suit-wear and clothing.
I’ve never seen so much vintage menswear in one spot! For men of fashion, I would advise them to check this out! 
Emmanuel, men’s fashion editor at Facon Magazine and Consummate Style opted to model this leather bomber for me. I told him he should get this jacket!
Look at these flower lapel pins:
Uesa Goods Vintage 
Miss Uesa of Usea Goods Vintage was a huge addition to the event. I was fascinated with each one of her pieces, and there were so many! I couldn’t stay out of her racks. 
Here are a few of some of her fabulous things:
She had great accessories as well. There was this brass boot buckle (not shown) and this suede and metal belt that I was in love with. 
Of course I had to try on the belt! 
While she tried on a hat! 
Haute Crave Boutique
The lovely ladies of Haute Crave Boutique showcased their awesome collection at the event. They have an assortment of one-of-a-kind clothes and handbags. 
They had so many things that I wanted! Including this fur shawl. It had pockets!
They had a great handbag assortment:
Revolution Vintage Shop 
It was such a pleasure meeting Makkah of Revolution Vintage Shop. Her style was amaaazing. I was drawn to her style, and you can see why! She was fab.
There were a lot of great pieces in her collection: 
I also met a friend of Makkah’s, Miss Jann’l Henry-Robinson of Girls of Plenty,a fabulous blog and vintage pieces for plus-size ladies! Her blog and her style are dare I say..StyleStamped!
RubyReddCheecks Boutique
Miss Ruby Brown of RubyReddCheeks Boutique presented her collection of clothing and accessories at the event. Specializing in vintage and lifestyle pieces, we had a great time going through her racks as well!
There was something about the sleeves on one of her dresses that caught my attention. I love anything exaggerated on a dress, and these sleeves were that! 
I tried it on, and it was a perfect fit 🙂 
The Patrons
There were many people who came out to shop vintage, network, and hang out. Avery’s is an intimate spot and perfect for such an event as this. I ran into friends I know and made some new ones!
I met Ashley who drove down from Philly to attend the event. She has a blog called “Modern Stitches” and is soon launching an online vintage magazine. Stay tuned! 
The Treats
Renee from dulceMINA Events provided a fashionable set up of delectable treats! It was cool to see how the desserts blended in with the event. I was impressed!
The Book
Mr. Gregory St. Clair was at the event with his book, Sex and Drinks. As a bartender and a mixologist, he put together a book that tells erotic stories and each story has a cocktail recipe to go with it.
I can’t wait until the next event…stay StyleStamped until then! ♥
What a great event! I had such a great time in the name of vintage on Saturday with you ladies, and cannot wait until the next event!