RetroDress Brings Back The Vintage To Fit Your Lifestyle Now
Styles are always changing, yet they also find a way to recycle themselves into something new for each generation. Some of the latest styles borrow ideas from those older creations but nothing beats the original.
Vintage items are not always easy to find and they’re not always cheap but, when you get a hold of a piece which is authentic, it’s hard to let go. Laureen Redden had a special place in her heart for beautifully designed vintage pieces, especially those created for use in many older Hollywood films. While it seems like a business based around something that is no longer produced might be hard, she has proven otherwise. Through her website, RetroDress, Laureen sells a variety of beautiful vintage pieces that range from the 60’s up to the 80’s.
What was your inspiration for RetroDress?
A lifelong love of old (and not so old) Hollywood films, and the glamorous fashions created for the stars by Hollywood costume designers like Adrian, Helen Rose and Edith Head. One particularly inspirational movie still for me is a head shot of Barbra Streisand wearing an elaborate headdress by Cecil Beaton in the film, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
How has it changed or grown since it launched in 2001?
Since our launch, we have expanded our inventory of vintage designer apparel; added vintage wedding gowns and vintage clothing and accessories for men; and added the retro-styled Esther Williams Swimwear line in 2005.
What do you find most people like about vintage clothing?
The ability to wear something beautiful, unique and one of a kind to set themselves apart from the average fashion conscious man or woman.
How many products would you say are carried at one time?
We have over 3,500 vintage items currently listed on the site.
You mentioned a swimwear line that you carry, Esther Williams. With spring approaching, the summer months will soon follow. What are some of the top suits that your customers seem to be gravitating toward?
The Classic Sheath has always been our best seller. It’s an extremely flattering style that suits women of all ages. The Two Piece Classic is the two-piece version of the sheath, and a good choice for women who prefer a two piece suit.
Did you always envision yourself as an entrepreneur?
Heavens, no. Before launching Retrodress, I spent 22 years as an assistant to a CEO. It was rewarding but stressful, yet I never thought I’d leave that job.
What do you enjoy the most about running your own business?
Aside from the obvious, ie, being your own boss, what I enjoy most is the opportunity to chat, either by email or phone, with people all across the globe. We have customers in locales as far flung as Spain, Finland, Japan and New Zealand.
What lessons has RetroDress taught you?
Patience. In this age of ‘instant’ everything, it’s easy to forget that desired results are not always immediate, or immediately apparent. Sometimes your dream takes time to come to fruition.
Running a business can involve quite a bit trial and error. Were there any errors in your past that you were able to learn from?
Oh yes, some I’m too embarrassed to admit to, which let’s just say resulted from my being too trusting in my eagerness to try to make people happy. We pride ourselves on our high level of customer service, but sometimes you have to learn when to ‘just say no’.
Do you have any future plans for expansion, either with RetroDress or into any other business?
Yes. We are currently working on a site redesign to make RetroDress more user friendly and navigable with a searchable data base. We are also going to be adding vintage textiles, and are planning to launch a sister site, RetroJewel, as a venue to showcase vintage costume jewelry.
jaeda on February 18th, 2009 12:25 am
Retro style are really unfading style’s when it comes into dresses, because a lot of women are more fun of using the old fashion particularly in dress code…
Well, no wrong with that it is your way of expressing your fashion in that way around… your not only bring’s back the life before but you also make it a point that it always be there whenever the future may come….
Jaclyn Freeman on February 18th, 2009 6:28 am
I have noticed that retro styles are coming back more and more. but then again, older styles always seem to have a way of creeping back eventually. when i was in high school there were quite a few kid’s that dressed as if they were stuck in the 60’s, and today, most of jeans have flare bottoms on them which my mom call’s elephant pants or bell bottom’s.
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