Fashion was the name of the game at Vivien Cord’s Vintage Clothing & Accessories, Textiles & Jewelry Show and Sale over the weekend of November 19′1 at the PAL (Police Athletic League) Building. The fifth outing since beginning this popular event, and the second running in 2010, Cord deviated from previous shows schedules, opening on Friday evening with a preview party.
A small and select show, it is both fun and serious at the same time. A wide variety of merchandise is offered from the approximately 20 dealers that participate, ranging from good-looking fashion items from big name designers to well-designed and fanciful couture from the who-knows-who.
Cord was pleased with the crowd at preview, commenting that the shoppers were serious, staying through the night right up until closing time. Numerous sales were made around the floor not only during preview, but throughout the weekend.
Snakeskin shoes by Yves Saint Laurent and faux fur handbags, muffs and other bags were displayed in the booth of Michal Feinmesser, Highland Park, N.J. The dealer also offered a nice selection of dresses and a good assortment of jewelry. A classic broad weave wool ladies overcoat in gray accentuated with white fur trimming was displayed alongside a classic “June Cleaver” dress in shimmery pink material and printed with raspberries at Funky Fashions, Brick, N.J.
Longtime sock monkey collector Karen Redinger, Litchfield, Conn., sold some dear friends to friends during preview. The dealer was also busy selling table coverings and dresses, along with vintage lingerie and other unspeakables.
Jewelry, especially costume, is all-the-rage at these shows, with many of the pieces exceeding prices realized for similar “real” examples. A good selection of costume jewelry was available from Pat Frazer, Easton, Conn. Also included was an assortment of “real” jewelry, including several pieces of rare Wiener Werkstätte jewelry by Leni Kubon Grothe.
Designer costume jewelry by the likes of Christian Dior, Lucien Piccard, Robert and Chanel was also attracting attention at What Was Is Vintage, Merrick, N.Y.
Aside from the fashionable clothes offered at Queen Ann’s Lace, Prospect, Conn., hats proved popular, especially with the younger crowd that was in attendance.
Vintage uniforms in the booth of The Duffle Bag, Patterson, N.Y., ranging from replica Revolutionary War uniforms to contemporary fatigues, were all the rage. Duffle Bag dealer Brian Benedict was busy tending the booth without his usual helper, Sean Witshynsky, who was taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test to enlist in the military where he will join his father, who is currently serving in the Middle East.
Bright and colorful, the entrance to the show was dazzling with the multicolored chenille spreads at Deidre Klapaz, Danbury, Conn. The dealer offered a wide selection, with a purple and pink peacock decorated example spread across the wall and another decorated with baskets of flowers and fruit on display.
Other items seen around the show included a selection of cool vintage luggage and steamer-style trunks at Venice Fouchard Couture, Worcester, Mass., a silk auto racer’s shirt that was accompanied by a photograph of the racer in the winner’s circle wearing the shirt at Ronnie Scott, New York City, and a good selection of vintage cowboy boots at Connie Schwab, Highland Park, N.J.
The next event for Cord Shows will be the Stocking Stuffer event in Old Greenwich on December 19. For further information, 914-273-4667 or www.cordshows.com .
