Vestiaire Collective x Byronesque Unveils a Pop-Up of Vintage Fashion Gems
Avid vintage fashion shoppers, get ready to make some of the biggest purchases of your life. Come 17 April, 200 iconic pieces from fashion history will be up for grabs at the Vestiaire Collective X Byronesque Digital Pop-Up.
Featuring seminal works by designers like Maison Martin Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier and Helmut Lang, the pop-up has been carefully curated by Byronesque, a personal shopping service that specializes in contemporary vintage fashion with a focus on subcultures.
The pop-up will go live on Vestiaire Collective, the go-to online platform for pre-loved luxury shopping. The collaboration also marks the launch of Vestiaire's Archive Series, which will showcase unique vintage collections.
Below, we've highlighted some of our favourite pieces from the collection — along with the history that comes with them.
This one's a must-have for any devotee of Rei Kawakubo. The highly sought-after piece is actually a re-issued show robe that looks just like the one that was often worn by the revered Japanese cult designer in the '80s.
"The Tabi boot is the most important footprint of my career: it’s recognisable, it still goes on after 25 years, and it has never been copied," said Maison Martin Margiela.
That statement held true until Vetements unveiled its homage to the iconic shoe at Paris Fashion Week this year. Regardless, we still very much prefer this original pair that was reimagined and painted over by the Belgian designer.
Even before the logomania craze of the '90s was revived by brands like Gucci, Prada and Fendi (which just last week revealed a capsule collection featuring its archival logo), Jeremy Scott showcased the trend for his runway show at the turn of the millennium. Streetwear enthusiasts will recognize this bomber jacket for exactly what it is: an exceptional nod to nostalgia that is surprisingly modern.
"Martin could have been predicting the end of glamour and ostentation with this pre-recession warning. Or an indication of his own fragility towards an industry he left only a few seasons later," says Byronesque founder, Gill Linton.
Either way, one thing's for sure: a bag wrapped in tape that boldy declares in bright red font, "FRAGILE", is as good a way as any to make a statement.
This is the trench coat to end all trench coats. This leather number is actually one of the lesser-known pieces by the legendary Jean Paul Gaultier. For his version of the autumn staple, the couturier didn't just limit the belt to the waist; like a true innovator, he wrapped one each around the collar, the cuffs and even across the shoulders.
Shot by subculture legend Derek Ridgers and styled by Byronesque's Fashion Director, Tara St Hill, the campaign film for the Vestiaire Collective X Byronesque pop-up perfectly captures the essence of the collection. Reminiscent of the underground '80s club scene, the hypnotic video pays tribute to a bygone era when what you wore mattered more than who you were.
The film stars models Suzi Leenaars in authenticated Sex & Seditionaries garments from 1976 and Carl Hjelm in a one-of-a-kind suit comprised of a Yves Saint Laurent leather blouse, Maison Martin Margiela jacket and a pair of Comme des Garçons trousers — all vintage. Rick Owens' muse and wife Michèle Lamy even makes a cameo in the video. Watch below.
The Vestiaire Collective X Byronesque Digital Pop-Up goes live on 17 April at VestiaireCollective.com.
