The Tamesis
My favorite antiques to buy are those with a rich history. Take for example the Zac Posen dress I spotted at a fashion show last year. Fashion Vintage Market, worn by Laura Love at a dance in her later years, when Posen himself was still a fledgling designer. Or the copper belt my grandmother wore to a wedding brunch in 1953, tied to a white lace dress, which was the fashion of the time. Then I left out a 1980s Bill Blass gown that I later discovered had graced Pat Buckley’s 1995 Met Gala while she was hosting the party. These pieces have always stayed with me and are why Natalie Bloomingdale and I are relaunching The SIL on March 3rd. The SIL, short for Stuff I Love, is a vintage website that highlights women and the stories behind their iconic wardrobes.
We’re currently in an exciting time for retro. Not only is the resale market booming, it’s reshaping the way we shop. According to McKinsey’s latest report Current status of fashion The report shows that secondhand and resale are expected to grow two to three times faster than the global apparel market in the coming years.
The Internet has also made finding coveted pieces easier than ever. At midnight, we can buy a classic Prada or a 90s Helmut Lang blazer on our mobile phone. But as the market became richer, something subtle changed. Descriptions are getting shorter. A piece of clothing is just a SKU. Now, a coat is just a thumbnail, disconnected from any unique backstory. The online antique shopping process has lost the charm it once had. This is where we want to step in.
Natalie first launched The SIL in 2017 as a destination for hard-to-find independent pieces that she personally sourced. Most recently, she’s been selling vintage fur on Instagram, where she’s amassed a loyal following—she sells out the pieces as soon as they appear, and then moves on to the next chapter. Her audience has embraced this rhythm of discovery; to date, she has relocated more than 3,000 coats and counting.
With the relaunch of SIL, we are working together to put a personal touch back on vintage shopping. We’re opening up the wardrobes of some of today’s most stylish women, allowing customers to purchase directly from their personal collections. Structured as a series of online backbone shows, each closet feature will run for a set period of time before rotating onto the next. We essentially focus our marketing philosophy on the product them Love (but be prepared to separate) and pass their memories on to the next person.
Each person fills out an in-depth questionnaire—part oral history, part memory exercise. We asked them what was going on in their lives while they were wearing the piece, if anyone had photographed them, and if they remembered the weather, music, and company. We interview, we fact-check, we go down rabbit holes. Yes, it’s detective work, but it’s also the lost art of storytelling.
A vintage 1960s Carola dress from Natalie Steen’s wardrobe.Contributed by Natalie Steen
A 2010s Weill brocade jacket from Bunny Williams’ wardrobe.Photo: Courtesy of Bonnie Williams
