The Zoe Report's Best of L.A.

Thanks to The Zoe Report for including us in their newest list of "The Best Vintage Stores in Los Angeles." We couldn't be more honored!

Spring's First Bloom

Growing up in the Midwest, you're always amazed at the severity + rapidity of the constant changes in weather, from scorching heat to freezing cold and back again. At no time is this more evident than when, in the first hints of Spring, you have beautiful blooms of crocuses + tulips poking up through icy drifts of melting snow.

So what better way to celebrate the confluence of Winter + Spring than with this beautiful vintage fur-trimmed floral coat by Bill Blass. It's the best of both worlds!

Iconic, late 1960s/early 70s vintage Bill Blass jacquard coat with fox trim. Such an incredible and rare find! Amazing color palette of naturally rich tones like metallic cocoa, persimmon and saffron. Add to this the massive genuine golden-cross-fox fur mantle and trim and you have yourself a delicious feast for the eyes! As if you can't tell just by looking at this coat that it is an extremely luxurious piece, you would know the minute you touch it - the heavy weight metallic jacquard on the outside is also used inside as the lining! Since this piece is designed to be worn open (and has no closures at all) as you move around when it hangs open you'll see the matching lining. Truly an ingenious and luxe design! Simple a-line cut with long skinny notched sleeves and besom pockets.


Available at http://www.bustownmodern.com.

Safer Sexy

While a lot of Jean Paul Gaultier's designs are synonymous with sex, sexuality, promiscuity + bondage (think corset jackets + Madonna's cone boobs), the 1994/95 JPG collection was all about safe sex.

The JPG line was introduced in 1994 as a youthful, street savvy, unisex line. Gaultier, like Moschino (see previous blogpost) + other early 90's designers, often used their fashion designs as a platform to help promote social awareness or change. These particular pieces, from the 1995/96 JPG collection, use a "Virus Man" comic book to broach the subject of AIDS + safe sex, a topic close to Gaultier's heart after the loss of his longtime partner, Francis Menuge, just a few years earlier in 1990.

We're pleased to be able to offer an amazing piece from this collection:

Iconic 1995/96 vintage "Virus Man" leather jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier. Bone colored leather jacket with massive ribbed waistline. Gold colored hardware throughout with JPG logo snaps + enameled arrow zipper pull. Screenprinted JPG logo and "Safe Sex" in metallic gold on front. But wait, it gets better! Massive punk rock style screenprint on back of "Virus Man" comic. In excellent vintage condition. Very slight craquelure to oversize graphic on back panel as expected with age/use.


Available online at http://www.bustownmodern.com.

Beyond Bowie

If the internet is your only source of information, one would assume that Japanese designer, Kansai Yamamoto designed some costumes for David Bowie, fell into a decade-long slumber ala Sleeping Beauty, designed some sweaters, retired + then reemerged as Lady Gaga's new couturier. The truth, while far less dramatic, is that Kansai Yamamoto has had a steady career of amazing work.

1971 Kansai Yamamoto ensembles, Vogue

His most influential work IS his work from the early 70s (Bowie costumes included) where he burst on the fashion scene with reckless abandon + experimentation (see the above spread from Vogue). That sense of experimentation, especially with presenting traditional Asian elements in a contemporary sense is what has defined his career.

F/W 1983/84 Kansai Yamamoto runway show

Vintage Kansai items are nearly impossible to find so we couldn't believe it when we came across this little gem! Amazing vintage Kansai Yamamoto neoprene and cotton jacket, circa F/W 83/84. Such an amazing find!

Fun, jewel-toned color blocked neoprene body features asymmetric snap front, exaggerated slouchy shoulders, nipped waist and asymmetric peplum. Of course the best part is by far the standing purple collar that can also be worn folded down to show the navy blue lining. Slouchy cotton sweatshirt-like mustard sleeves.


Available online at http://www.bustownmodern.com.

Better On Vinyl

The "old" adage is that everything sounds better on vinyl. Sometimes things look better IN vinyl. No fabric in fashion was more indicative of the newness, the technology or the hope for the future that was the Space Age than vinyl. No designer made more use of that than Pierre Cardin.

Pierre Cardin lacquered wool raincoats, Spring 1967, L'Officiel


Pierre Cardin lacquered raincoats, Fall 1967, L'Officiel


Pierre Cardin vinyl coat, Fall 1967, L'Officiel


Pierre Cardin vinyl coat, Spring 1968, L'Officiel


Pierre Cardin graphic vinyl coat, Winter 1969, L'Officiel

Iconic vintage 1960s Pierre Cardin space age black vinyl raincoat with red wool lining. Circa 1967-1969. Truly incredible vintage find! Zipper front with classic ring pull. Tab closure neck with metal ball accent. Oversize, geometric pockets that create a faux belt look across the back. Lined with bright red wool to keep you warm + dry. Unworn with original hangtag in PRISTINE condition. A museum-worthy piece.

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Cardin wasn't the only designer to use vinyl. Many other designers incorporated vinyl into their oeuvre but most kept their experimentation to wildly colored or patterned raincoats.

1965 Nina Ricci red vinyl ensemble, Vogue Italia | 1966 graphic vinyl ensemble, Vogue Paris


1969 vinyl raincoats Vogue Paris + Vogue Italia


70s Andre Courreges maxi coat w/hood


1960s Space-Age-Vinyls collection by Rudi Gernreich

While most designers were content to keep their vinyl experiments in the area of raincoats, designers like Pierre Cardin, Andre Courreges, Paco Rabanne + a handful of others were a little more experimental.

1970 Pierre Cardin


1969 Pierre Cardin


1967 Andre Courreges, L'Officiel


1970 Pierre Cardin


1970 Pierre Cardin, L'Officiel


1970 Pierre Cardin, Vogue Paris

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1969 Pierre Cardin red vinyl maxi coat, L'Officiel


1969 Pierre Cardin


Similar shapes in wool, 1969 + 1970 L'Officiel

Amazing 1969-1970 vintage Pierre Cardin space age vinyl rain coat. Iconic Cardin. White vinyl coat with topstitched ribbed hem + collar. The ribbed diamond with black 3D dome at breast is one of Cardin's most iconic elements, reused in a variety of cuts + colors in both vinyl + wool. Hidden snap closure. Side pockets. Incredible vintage find!


Available online at http://www.bustownmodern.com.