The demand and acceptance of vintage clothing has increased dramatically in recent years. With trend-setting celebrities like Alexa Chung and Kate Moss who are often pictured wearing vintage and the rising popularity in reusing and recycling clothing, vintage is going mainstream.
In last month’s article “Old, New or Both”, the Los Angeles Times stated that “the lines between authentic treasures and modern knockoffs are starting to blur” because retailers, for example, are seeking to capitalize on the vintage trend by stamping the word onto V-neck tees or a pair of faded jeans. Many vintage dealers, the article further states, are worried that the ambiguity of the term weakens its meaning for classic garments that are truly several decades old. On another note, as demand increases, digging for that buried treasure can get harder to find, especially garments that are in great shape and in today’s modern sizes.
Thankfully, there are vintage shops in the LA Fashion District that are staying faithful to the historical designs and anchoring the term to its original meaning. We will spend this week featuring them! Today's feature is GlamAmor.
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| Kimberly Truhler |
What simply started as a need for affordable work clothing, Kimberly Truhler, owner of GlamAmor, has been building her wardrobe around vintage clothing for nearly a decade. As a natural progression, Kimberly left her marketing executive position at UCLA and started GlamAmor, a vintage fashion boutique in the LA Fashion District’s California Market Center. There, she infuses her West Coast preppy chic style and love of classic cinema to provide women with modern, timeless vintage dresses from the 1950s and 1960s. She is also a fashion blogger under the same namesake. On this online platform, she educates the public on how classic cinema fashion influences today’s trends and styles.
And heads are turning.
She recently signed with Turner Classic Movies to do a style podcast where she discusses the impact classic movies and the designers behind them have on fashion.
And heads are turning.
She recently signed with Turner Classic Movies to do a style podcast where she discusses the impact classic movies and the designers behind them have on fashion.
In her showroom, Kimberly carefully maintains a cohesive collection of vintage finds that are one-of-a-kind. She also provides a “boutique vintage” experience for her customers, an emerging trend seen at pop-up vintage events like A Current Affair and Helm’s Design District Vintage Boutique. “There’s a shift from just shopping for old stuff to giving shoppers a unique presentation, a boutique experience,” says Kimberly. She styles the vintage pieces, making them look fashion forward so that the clothes look brand new. The whole retail experience is also enhanced through the merchandising. Kimberly organizes and strategically places her rainbow display of neatly hung dresses so that her customers can easily find the items they want instead of digging through piles of wrinkled clothing, making it seem more used than vintage.
When searching for dresses, Kimberly looks for bright, bold colors and styles that can easily transition from day to night. She also looks for silhouettes that flatter women of every body shape. “After all, vintage clothing forms, such as the hourglass or the streamlined sheath, are the original blueprints for silhouettes seen today,” says Kimberly. Lastly, she looks for interesting texture such as silk, chiffon and polyester that is visually appealing and comfortable enough to spend a whole workday in. “The quality in vintage clothing is superior unlike fabrics today which are thinner,” says Kimberly. “Vintage will outlast.”
In addition to the retail side of her business, Kimberly is debuting her own 14-dress collection of vintage reproductions that are made in the USA. Her dresses are inspired by her vintage finds, favorite classic cinema and style icons Edith Head and Helen Rose. The collection includes cocktail dresses, sheaths, long-sleeve shifts and swing dresses in a variety of fabrications such as silk, chiffon, wool knit and brocade. Working in the LA Fashion District has helped Kimberly with her collection. “Being in close proximity with the textile stores and the talent in the area has been extraordinary,” says Kimberly.
Buyers are in luck as she’s on track to debut her collection in time for Spring ’12 LA Fashion Market in October. Make an appointment to view her collection and vintage pieces at (888) 731-2413.
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| A vintage outfit styled by Kimberly |
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| Kimberly's mood board consisting of magazine cutouts that show old Hollywood styles trending today |
GlamAmor
110 E. 9th Street, Suite A1179
Los Angeles, CA 90079