I am a little obsessed with vintage fashion. The craftsmanship. The colors and textures. The stories behind the clothes. But vintage fashion shopping? Not so much! While I absolutely adore the Manhattan Vintage show I find my heart racing whenever I attend. And yes, that could be because of all of the amazing pieces, but it’s also because it’s really big. And busy. And a limited time only. (2 days!) For me it’s too much.
I would love a vintage shopping experience that feels like you’re in someone’s closet. A closet that just happens to be light and airy and filled with fabulously sourced pieces from the ‘80s ‘90s and early 2000s that you can look through at your leisure. And since we’re dreaming why don’t we have our friend be a stylist that can help us put together a look?
Oh wait. We’re not dreaming. We’re in Allison’s Archive, New York’s newest and possibly smallest vintage showroom. But in this case small isn’t bad. It’s more like a miniature jewelry box filled with exquisite pieces. Like a never-went-into-production Crucifix necklace by Gaultier. And handmade Chloe bags (from the Phoebe Philo era, of course). And the ever-popular J’adore Dior handbag (I am still kicking myself for getting rid of that t-shirt in a closet cleaning frenzy ages ago).
The Archive is the work of Allison Dickerman, who at 24 is already an expert at finding key vintage pieces. Whether it’s Paris or Miami she hunts down the one-of-a-kind pieces that are worth keeping for a lifetime. The boutique is by appointment only and some items are also available for editorial shoots as well.
“We are committed to not only providing one-of-a-kind pieces but also offering historical context for each garment,” shared Dickerman. “Our clients will have the opportunity to explore archival runway and editorial photos, which adds an exciting layer of history and meaning to the pieces they wear.”
To learn more and book an appointment at this East Williamsburg archive, visit www.allisonsarchive.shop
–Katya Moorman
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