I have a confession to make: I have never felt cool enough to wear vintage. I’m intimidated by the idea of digging through racks and racks of clothes and putting together the right look. And I’m not confident enough to pull of an outfit from another decade.
But I’ve been getting a little romantic about ghosts of fashion past lately. (I think I can thank my recent obsession with Diane Von Furstenberg and reading her memoirs. Let the hunt for the perfect ‘70s wrap dress begin!)
I love the idea of vintage clothing – the history, the beauty, the transcendence into another era. I felt all of that when I walked into Bebe O’s Boutique the other day. It’s not simply about the reselling of clothes – although I am a fan of that, too – but about the re-creation of time.
Bebe O’s recently relocated to a big building diagonal from the Tower Theatre. Owner Lupe Aguilar-Oftedal is an expert in vintage fashion, and has filled the space with various outfit inspirations on ever-changing mannequins.
No matter what decade you’re going for, Lupe will help you pull the right dress, the right shoes, the right accessories. We talked a lot about the ‘20s, since I’m preparing for my “Downton Abbey” event at work right now. But I also wanted to go home with a ‘50s-style coat and an authentic mink fur (sorry PETA!).
Lupe and her husband, Martin Oftedal, travel out of town often to hunt for items. They’ll buy things like dresses and hats in bulk, perhaps even by the hundreds, and sift through and clean them to make sure only the best make it onto the sales floor. They also carry men’s clothing, and even items like old sports team jackets and jerseys. Not everything is vintage. For example, they’re carrying a line of locally-made flapper-style headbands right now, and frequently sell other items designed by local people.
The couple loves to give back to the community through Bebe O’s. Lupe likes to teach college interns about vintage clothing and how to put together looks for different decades. The store also holds fundraisers to benefit local organizations. An auction was held recently for the Alzheimer Memory Center.
And if you’re thinking about checking out Bebe O’s Boutique, there’s no better time than their next event, a Customer Appreciation Night & Toy Drive on Friday, December 12th, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Bebe O’s will have refreshments, a DJ and a visit from Santa. The entrance fee is a toy or cash donation.
For more information on the event, or to check out the new outfits and other items that are posted all the time, go to Bebe O’s Facebook! And I’d love to hear what decade you’re most inspired by. Comment below!
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