We came across Retold Vintage a few years ago and were blown away by founder Clare’s impeccable taste and collection of classic, tailored pieces. Buying vintage and second-hand is a really affordable way to shop more ethically, although can be intimidating if you don’t know where to start. So, we decided to get Clare’s top tips, as well as finding out what sparked her love affair with second-hand and why she set up Retold Vintage.
My love of vintage clothes came from my sister and I raiding my grandmothers dressing up box when we were young. It was full of the most beautiful old dresses and beaded bags she no longer used and I was just in love with them all, they were like pieces of treasure. If we were well behaved she'd sometimes even let us try on her 1950's and 1960's party gowns which I just remember being the most beautiful and decadent things i had ever seen. Over the years I've continued to crave finding my own treasure and with vintage what you get is just that. Each piece is truly unique and has a story. When I visit vintage stores here or overseas they are like a looking glass into a city, the racks of clothes can say so much about the people and its history. It’s just magic.
Retold launched in March 2018 so it’s almost a year old! Up to that point I had been working for Topshop as part of their visual and creative team. I had spent 15 amazing years with them but felt very much I wanted a new challenge and I was at a stage in my career where I was re-evaluating what was important to me.
I felt strongly after working for a fast fashion company that the relationship we have with our clothes needed to change, I craved clothing that felt special and unique and I was becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact the industry was having at the same time. So I had the idea of using my love of vintage to offer people who especially love that modern aesthetic (me included) an alternative shopping experience and at the same time use Retold as a platform to highlight sustainable issues and benefits of second-hand shopping. If by providing beautiful garments, I can get people to buy even just one less item new then that’s a small step in the right direction.
I love to travel and source overseas as well as in the UK and will happily spend hours scouring charity shops, estate sales and antique markets. If you visit my website you will see I have a clear aesthetic, I love tailoring, natural fabrics such as silks, cashmere, linen and timeless shapes like the classic blazer, the high-waisted trouser and double breasted coat. I look for special details whether it be a jacquard print or a statement sleeve and my favourite piece to source is a co-ord. I just find it amazing these sets stay together after all this time! I jump between the eras and love the eclectic mix that brings, so you may find an 80’s Escada blazer on the website one day and a 1940’s Corde bag the next. I unashamedly love neutrals and I have never been one for loud prints.
My favourite personal find has to be a vintage full length coat from Max Mara. It’s in the classic max mara brown we all know and love, in a beautiful soft / furry alpaca wool and has a hood which can be rare to find. I found it on my birthday at a vintage market in Rome. It was a beautiful day all round. For Retold it was a 1980's canary yellow silk co-ord from Kenzo. A wrap style blouse with a high waisted full skirt. Such an amazing and beautiful piece. I hope one day it comes back to me.
A pastel pink 80's wool suit. I um'd and ahh'd about it as the shape of the skirt wasn't quite right and I left it behind! I still think about it now…
I’m a bricks and mortar retailer at heart so would love to see Retold have its own concept store which I would design and curate in a way that really challenges the current experience of vintage shopping. I want to continue to collaborate with other stores, sustainable brands and stylists and hopefully one day create Retold menswear and homewares! Watch this space!
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