The first time I went into Jim Smiley's Vintage Boutique I started flipping through a rack of beautiful 50's ball gowns. From a nearby desk I heard a polite voice say "please handle the dresses by the hanger". I guess I heard what he said but it didn't really sink in so I kept flipping. A moment later a gentleman (Jim Smiley) came over and explained that the dresses were very fragile and he would appreciate if I handled the dresses by the hanger. Of course I was completely embarrassed and a little put-off but I quickly realized that he wasn't saying this to be pretentious or precious but because he truly respected and cared for his vintage collection.
The more I thought about this later the more I realized what a breathe of fresh air Jim brings to retail. When was the last time you were in Saks and you got the feeling the salesperson really respected the work that went into making the piece and its ultimate historical importance. It sounds weird, but tomorrows fashion history books will be filled with the work of todays Prada and Armani.
Though Jim's work must be difficult, I think it must also be a bit romantic - hunting through musty old attics for forgotten couture, hearing the stories about the people that owned the items originally and then ( hopefully) selling them to people that will care for them into the future.
Jim specializes in women's but is growing his mens offering (the cufflinks are a sight). Of course not all the items are hands off, so If you are in or plan to visit New York and love high-quality vintage I recommend a visit.
Blog Archive
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2006
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March
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- On The Street...Casual Friday
- On The Street...Stripe Right, Soho
- On The Street... Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler
- On The Street...Outside Marni, Soho
- The Sartorialist Profiled In Focus Magazine
- On The Street...Love The Mix, Soho, New York
- Meatpacking District, West Village, New York
- On The Street...Nolita, New York
- Duncan Quinn
- On The Street...Soho Couple, New York
- On The Street........19th St., NYC
- On The Street........39th St. Flea Market, NYC
- On The Street........Spring Street, NYC
- On The Street........At The Flea Market, Chelsea, NYC
- On The Street.........Role Model For The Young Sar...
- Charvet's Jean-Claude Colban Personal Appearance A...
- On The Street.........Greene Street, NYC
- David at Duncan Quinn
- On The Street.........So Refined
- A Conversation With Alan Flusser
- On The Street..Grey Jeans
- On The Street..Hard-Ass Pink
- On The Street..Back Interest
- How Much Cuff?
- On The Street... High Collar Coat
- Home-made Beauty - I Mean The Scarf
- A Coat That Frames The Face
- On The Street... 9th Ave. , NYC
- Jim Smiley Vintage Clothing Boutique
- Nana Boateng
- In Store....Brunello Cucinelli, NYC, Spring 2006 -2
- On The Step.......Great Coat
- In Store....Brunello Cucinelli, NYC, Spring 2006
- On The Street...Meatpacking District
- On The Street...Mr. Wilcox of Lord Willy's, Nolita
- Sweet
- On The Street....Ralph Lauren Fashion Show
- Summer On Coney Island Boardwalk
- Cute, Just That Simple
- Goddbye Scarf Season
- Helmut Lang Sold To Link-Theory
- On The Street....Great Bag, New York
- The New York Eccentrics
- On The Street....Short Sleeve Coat, Westside, NYC
- Trouble Loading Photos
- Breaking The Rules
- Brutal Beauty
- Old Man Style....60th St. , NYC
- Vogue Italia
- In Store....Kiton, NYC, Spring 2006 - 3
- On The Street....Winter Ice White
- On The Street...Madison Ave., NYC
- In Store....Kiton, NYC, Spring 2006 - 2
- On The Street.... Eighth Avenue, New York
- On The Street... Nana Boateng And Mory Kaba
- On The Street...Bleeker St. In Full Bloom, NYC
- In Store....Kiton, NYC, Spring 2006
- On The Street...Slim Trench, NYC
- On The Street...Spring On Prince, NYC
- On The Street...The Downtown Proportion , NYC
- Oliver Gerona - Domenico Vacca, Fifth Ave., New York
- The State Of The Amercian Men's Fashion Magazine
- On The Street...Sleeveless Trench, NYC
- In Store....Domenico Vacca, NYC, Spring 2006 -II
- On The Street...Fifth Ave. , NYC
- In Store....Domenico Vacca, NYC, Spring 2006
- On The Street...58th Street, NYC
- On The Street...Madison Ave., NYC
- Socks & Sandels, part 2
- On The Street...Broome Street
- On The Street...Elizabeth Girls
- Lazy Sunday Afternoon....Derrick Miller of Barker ...
- Christian Lacroix , Fall 2006
- On The Street...Noho Boho
- On The Street......Cipriani Downtown, NYC
- On The Street......Nolita Couple, NYC
- In Store....Borrelli, NYC, Spring 2006
- On The Street......9th Ave. Redhead
- On The Street......Mott St. , NYC
- Style Profile.....Pino Vaghi, Luigi Borrelli
- On The Street.....Bleecker Street, New York
- That '80's Couple
- The Young Sartorialist - Nolita
- Sartorialist Of The Year 2006 - 1st Nominee
- Casual Dress Friday
- Laura Ferrara. Stylist
- On The Street.....Skater on 9th Ave.
- Style Profile.....Mile Djuric, Luigi Borrelli
- On The Street...Wooster Street, New York
- On The Street....That Hat, Chinatown, NYC
- On The Street....Washington Square Park, New York
- On The Street...Jennifer Hitzges, Super Stylist, S...
- On The Street.... Bryant Park, New York
- David Anicich of Luigi Borrelli
- Backstage Hair
- The Unsung Hereos - Leo Dell'Orco - Creative Direc...
- On The Street.... 14th Street, New York
- A Favorite Gentleman
- On The Street....The Actress, New York
- Two Reason Why Carine Roitfeld Is The Sexiest Edit...
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March
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