Photographed by Beau Sam1/10I tend to keep a busy schedule—I’m an assistant at Vogue by day and a fashion history blogger by night. My site, Part Nouveau, is dedicated to showcasing the phenomenal and sometimes little-known works of fashion’s past. Not surprisingly, my wardrobe is comprised of all things old.
While in grad school, I interned at the Costume Institute, so the Met holds a special place in my heart. Here I am in front of a great big mural painting depicting Buddha at the Met Museum’s Sackler Gallery. I picked up my tapestry coat online at Etsy. The label reads “Kilpatrick's of Omaha,” a defunct department store in Nebraska, and has a lovely mink collar. It was not dated, but I suspect the early sixties. My heels aren’t vintage but are quite old! I purchased these nude Moschino Cheap And Chic heels when I was a senior in high school, and they have remained a go-to pair ever since.
Photographed by Beau Sam2/10When my mother first saw me carry this bag, she immediately recalled my grandmother owning a similar version. I’m often stopped on the street by women who claim their mother or grandmother's carried the same bag. The handbag does not have a label, but it’s safe to say it was a popular style!
Photographed by Beau Sam3/10I view the photo booth as a precursor to the selfie. Here I am at the Ace Hotel in a fifties sheath dress by Anne Fogarty. Generally, my vintage pieces aren’t attributed to a well-known designer (these pieces tend to live in museums), so I felt lucky to get my hands on this dress. Anne Fogarty is remembered for her ladylike and easily accessible, affordable
designs. I’ve paired this with my ever-present pair of Dior cat-eye sunglasses and a pair of sputnik-style earrings from the fifties—I picked them up antiquing in Cold Spring, New York.
Photographed by Beau Sam4/10When it comes to accessories, I tend to keep my heels low and my bags small, verging on minuscule. I was inspired to purchase a pair of vintage Charles Jourdan heels after studying the work of Guy Bourdin and admiring his ads for the shoe brand. These Charles Jourdan ostrich pumps date to the eighties and my clutch, with a thoughtful hand-strap, is from the fifties.
Photographed by Beau Sam5/10It’s evident I have an affinity for a bygone era, and this doesn’t stop at clothing—film, photography, and decorative arts are included! Here I am with Judy Garland at Bleecker Street Records. My marigold crop-top came without a label yet is presumably from the late fifties or early sixties. My jacket is vintage eighties Dior and falls just below the waist of my wide-legged Diane von Furstenberg pants—they're not vintage yet, but several seasons old.
Photographed by Beau Sam6/10My handbag belonged to my great-grandmother; it's from the Redleaf line sold at the John Wanamaker department stores. The NYC Wanamaker Department store building stills stands in Astor Place and is currently occupied by a Kmart. My heels are Christian Louboutin, a high school graduation present from a dear friend, and my DVF pants hint at the seventies, a decade I generally avoid sartorially but these I love nonetheless.
Photographed by Beau Sam7/10Here I am at the Washington Square Park Monument à la Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face sans the balloons. My dress is from the sixties and presumably handmade (based on its lack of lining and unfinished inner seams). My handbag, acquired at one of my favorite stores, Pippin Vintage Cheap Replica Handbags, brings a touch a color to an otherwise dreary winter day and when not jumping around, my black straw hat is by far my favorite fashion accessory.
Photographed by Beau Sam8/10This ring belonged to my great-grandmother. I’m unsure of its date, but its iridescent black stone is reminiscent of jewelry in the art nouveau style. My pumps are vintage, from the eighties. They reminded me of the diagonal-strap heels Raf Simons sent down the runway for his debut collectsion at Dior and I had to have them. My nails are permanently lacquered in nude; it’s rare that I venture into colored polish.
Photographed by Beau Sam9/10When I was a grad student at NYU, I often spent my study breaks at Café Reggio. I love the coffee shop’s rich history and feel in tune with the beatniks who once frequented the spot in the bohemian Greenwich Village. I’m in a forest green crop-top-and-skirt ensemble from the early fifties, complete with a self-belt—three pieces in one!
Photographed by Beau Sam10/10My shoes are vintage Salvatore Ferragamo Vara flats in navy. I gifted myself this pair when I started working at Vogue and have since picked up a pair in a chocolate lizard skin. I wear both frequently—and I’m currently scouting a third to add to the collectsion.
