Laurel Marcus of Lookonline at The Manhattan Vintage Show
“Nothing haunts you like the vintage you didn’t buy,” or so says the tagline for the Manhattan Vintage Show. But what about the haunting you could inadvertently be subject to due to the “ghosts” of your new-to-you but pre-loved item?
Does vintage fashion have a spiritual energy – whether positive or negative? Should you “cleanse” your vintage purchase by burning sage, or is that too ridiculously “woo-woo”? Is there an ick factor to get over as well?
The Manhattan Vintage Show – Instagram
As someone who has dipped more than a toe into consignment and vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories, I asked myself these questions. Attending the packed (both with shoppers and vintage) fall show at Metropolitan Pavilion this past Friday, I experienced the overwhelming feeling of joy and the frenzy (read competition) that can sometimes get the best of you.
The Manhattan Vintage Show Andrea Hall Levis booth – photo Instagram
One of the great things about this type of shopping is that you will get comments from random passers-by on anything you try on in front of the full-length mirrors, making it better than most communal shopping experiences. “You look powerful in that,” one gentleman told me as I donned a fire engine red with tan intarsia oversized leather jacket circa 1980’s. As the ’80s is my fave fashion decade and also my kryptonite I was inclined to believe him, yet that’s only half the story (to be continued).
Buying fashion with a “history” is often touted as the sustainable way to shop, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the art of discovery – finding that one-of-a-kind gem that becomes more valuable with age, patina, and scarcity.
The scene in “The Sixth Sense” when a couple shops for a vintage engagement ring comes to mind. The woman is captivated and lost in a reverie about the history and provenance of the previous owner(s), while the man is solely concerned about the price.
The Manhattan Vintage Show – Forget it!
A psychic medium on TikTok revealed the three things she always does with vintage items: cleanse, Give it your Energy, and Intention. First, she suggests burning whatever herb speaks to you (I’m not sure that weed is an option unless you want your clothes to reek). Next, lay hands on the item and thank it for finding you. Thirdly, project how you want to feel while sending that Energy into the item.
The Manhattan Vintage Show – Instagram
That second reverse Marie Condo-ish concept is what gets to me. Are certain pieces meant for a particular owner—a sort of “beshert” or “meant to be,” as they say in Yiddish? I’ve had two shopping experiences over several years that suggest – yes. About two years ago, during the spring Manhattan Vintage show, I shamefully tracked down a multicolored Mongolian lamb coat on Instagram, which spoke to me.
I called the dealer at the exhibition booth to inquire if it was still available. She informed me that it was not the sort she usually carried (her specialty was terrycloth towels made into cabana sets), but she had found it in the Cali desert (Coachella?) and brought it back on a whim.
The Manhattan Vintage Show Vintage Rare 1991 24K Gold Tone Christopher Ross Sculptural Frog Belt Buckle – photo Instagram
When I finally made it to the show, she almost collapsed, saying, “Oh my God—this is your coat—I can feel it!” Even better, she had just put a hanger through the collar—an easy repair—marking it down to a reasonable price.
On Friday, I had a similar experience, but with a twist involving the leather jacket mentioned above. While casually browsing the racks, a unique find caught my eye, and I impulsively tried it on. It was a large, iconic piece from that era, a feeling I wasn’t accustomed to. The fairly hefty price tag led to a moment of indecision.
The vintage dealer assured me she was not just trying to make a sale—this item had my name on it. I was not completely convinced, and when her assistant said they couldn’t hold it, I naively put it back on the rack, thinking that it was safe—no one else would dare have any interest in it.
The Manhattan Vintage Show Vintage Moschino Black Tuxedo Coat with Red Inflatable collar and pockets – photo by Marilyn Kirschner
The second my hand let go of the hanger, a woman proved me wrong. She grabbed it and put it on, walking to the mirror where I had just been viewing myself. Not to be size-ist, but she filled it out much more than I did. I mentioned this to the dealer, who was visibly horrified and shaking her head. “Do you want it?” she asked me. I will tell her that you were taking it.
I briefly deliberated, not wanting to start a scene and half thinking that this woman, shopping with her husband, was not even going to buy it. The dealer queried the jacket purloiner, who said, “Tough, you-know-what since I had put it back. “No worries,” I countered, walking away feeling slightly brokenhearted to see what other treasures I could unearth.
The Manhattan Vintage Show – photo by laurel Marcus
I visited the first vendor from two years ago to say “hi” and share my tale of woe. “Oh, that happens all the time,” she said. It just wasn’t meant to be.” Wow, these vintage vendors are a philosophical, intuitive, and superstitious lot! I thought these were the pitfalls of vintage shopping—live and learn.
Continuing my less-than-merry way, I set out to see if I could compete or better my lost item. I tried on a crazy hand-painted, artsy, long, fringed leather dress with the weight of an X-ray protective lead vest, which I also got compliments on, but I knew in my heart that this was not a genuine replacement. The dealer even called it a “one-and-done” (as in, you wear something like this once) kind of a piece.
Out of the corner of my eye, a guy approached. “Your jacket is available,” he said. My heart leaped. “She didn’t buy it?” I asked. No, her husband didn’t like it.” He probably didn’t like the price, I mused. “I knew it was yours!” the vendor lady said with finality and a “now everything is right in the vintage-verse” attitude as I handed over my credit card.
I thought of that old adage: “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours. If not, it was never meant to be.” Amazing what life lessons can be applied to the micro-verse of vintage shopping!
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