Treasure Trove No. 15
Red velvet, blue suede, and cold blood.
Hello readers, it’s been a minute, and I’ve missed being in your inboxes! Two winter storms and a head cold may have delayed this letter’s arrival, but I can’t be kept from you! Before we dig into this week’s vintage, a have a little story to tell.
A couple weeks ago my partner sniffed out a promising lead that had our mouths watering. It was sold to us as a five generation family home with a packed attic and clothing from great-granny and grandaddy to boot!
We had a brief phone call with the last of the family line, who ended our conversation saying, “It was a pleasure speaking with you today, and I look forward to meeting you”, his southern charm oozing out of the speaker. We remarked to each other how kind and easy going he seemed, and couldn’t be more excited for our meeting.
On the eve prior to our adventure, my partner felt a ping in his gut, a little voice saying… Well… why don’t you plug the name of the man you’re meeting into a quick Google search… Perhaps the lead was too good to be true.
In goes his name, and out comes the search results… Man charged with attempted murder. The article featured a chilling mugshot and detailed an assault where the victim was stabbed multiple times in the face, narrowly surviving by being airlifted — due to a witness calling for help immediately. The bottom of the report listed the name of our genteel South Carolinian, with the address of the family homestead accompanying it.
After recovering from the blood draining out of my face, I will admit… the junk drunk lust of what could be hiding out in that damn attic made me question if it was worth entering the dominion of an almost murderer — but a multiple decades long rap sheet consisting of over thirty charges (assault, arson, and theft) steered me otherwise.
Luckily there are other venues to get my fix, and today’s offerings come without that level of heavy karmic baggage.
Now let’s see what treasures time has left us,
<3 Kari
Treasure Trove is a weekly catalogue featuring freshly unearthed vintage offered through the Passage Keeper shop. Items previewed are available online and in person at my booth.
1980s Yellow Striped Cotton Leotard - I invite you to indulge in the website of Gilda Marx, pioneer of aerobic exercise in the 1970s, who’s California studio classes were frequented by celebrities like Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, Madonna, and even Richard Simmons. Capitalizing on her success from her dance studios, she began producing some of the first fashion forward active wear, prioritizing design as well as performance and breathability, even inventing her own proprietary leotard known as the “Flexitard”.
1960s Red Velvet Playsuit - Handmade from plush burgundy velvet that catches light beautifully.
1980s Studded Acid Wash Denim Mini Skirt - I did scream internally when I found this oh so perfectly 80s skirt. Blinged out by it’s previous owner, those gems are all set studs and not just glued on. The cherry on top is the brand… “CNTZ”.
1970s Tan Wool Wrap Coat - Forstmann fabric is an if you know you know situation, and this cozy little wrap does not disappoint!
1980s Cobalt Blue Cashmere Sweater - Cobalt cashmere! From the historic label I. Magnin, a San Fransisco institution founded in the mid 19th century, who was known wide and far for only carrying the best of the best.
1970s Sun Faded Boston Tee - Sometimes my partner and I will stick our clothes on the roof for a couple months to give them a nice fade, only hoping to get a little close to the magic that occurs when the sun’s rays hit fabric for a few decades. This one is the real deal and a real gem.
1980s Eggplant Wool Marching Band Jacket - A rich deep purple provides a strong base for pairing with bolder colors, such as chartreuse.
1980s Blue Suede Sneakers (Deadstock) - New old stock with the paper still stuffed inside!
1970s Bill Blass Wool Suit - Bill Blass helped define a new way of dressing for women in the mid century. Focusing on the intersection of wearability and glamour, he became one of the first American designers to incorporate traditional menswear fabrics into clothing for women. This suit is a rare find, with a truly androgynous cut.
1940s Red Corduroy Smoking Jacket - Texture galore, wine red corduroy fully lined in inky satin. With a charming label from a small shop in Illinois called “Toggery”.
1990s Bonnie Cashin Style Black Wool Coat - A well done dupe of Bonnie Cashin’s iconic turnlock coats of the 1960s and 1970s. This is in a high quality black wool.
1970s Tan Cashmere Cardigan - Scottish cashmere, you simply can’t go wrong!
1960s Pink Velvet Belt - A gorg dusty rose velvet, and this belt looks like it was never used.
I wanted to share some light in this dark time by shouting out Emily Stochl’s work with her newsletter Pre-Loved, especially her recent story, Minneapolis Vintage Dealers Build Mutual Aid Networks as ICE Raids Intensify.
Previous Treasure Trove editions…
Oh my gosh, sounds like you dodged a bullet (or a stabby knife??), Kari! Still...I wonder what treasures might have been in the attic?
Love this gorgeous selection - the blue shoes caught my eye, so cute. I have a couple of pieces of vintage acid-wash denim, so gorgeous. That brand name would have been VERY daring in the 80s!
Thank you so much for sharing your treasures!