Vintage Vegas: Classic couture making a comeback

Wednesday, June 6, 2001 | 8:26 a.m.

Sliding his fingers over a sundress from the 1940s, Valentino Parker explains, "This is when ladies used to dress like ladies."

The cotton floral dress, covered with light splashes of sequins, hangs next to other vintage dresses in Valentino's Zootsuit Connection, a specialty shop on South Sixth Street owned by Parker and his wife, Beverly.

With pleated fans on the front straps, it's an an elegant dress that Parker considers timeless.

"There are certain eras that will always be in style," Parker said, looking around the store. "The '20s and '40s for example. If you wear a dress from the '40s to a party, it will always be a hit."

With the recent release of "Pearl Harbor," fashion experts are anticipating a surge of '40s-style clothing to hit the racks this fall, a trend Parker said he has seen on runway models decked out in tailored suits and skirts and thick, high-heeled shoes.

As a longtime collector of vintage clothing, he couldn't be more prepared.

Parker and his wife travel the country in search of one-of-a-kind outfits worn over the past decades. Fashion trends lead to featured items on the racks at Valentino's. The rest of the clothes the couple have amassed over 25 years wait in a warehouse for time to roll back again.

"I pack it up and say, 'It'll be back,' " Valentino said with a smile.

"There's not a year that the fashion industry comes past that doesn't include (vintage)," he added, referring to the repeating fashion trends. "(And) there's a look for everybody from every era."

His store carries an assortment of vintage suits, pants, shirts, neckties and hats that date back to the '20s. He also carries reproductions of vintage clothing made by such manufacturers as Da Vinci and Avanti. The Parkers also carry their own line of custom-made zoot suits.

Similar to other local vintage stores, Parker's clientele is mostly tourists. "Eighty percent of my customers are tourists," he said. "A lot of Europeans."

Not as many locals frequent his store, he said. "This is a Gap and Wal-Mart town."

Quality came first

Wearing a blue hand-screened Avanti button-down shirt, a matching blue fedora hat and matching square-toed dress shoes, Parker wouldn't dream of wearing a mass-produced outfit from a rack in a department store.

The quality put into vintage clothing is so much better, he said. "And it's one of a kind."

Pointing to a '40s gaberdine western shirt, he explains: "See that? They're not going to sew suede onto gaberdine (today). Everything is manufactured."

The same goes for a '40s original western squaw dress on display nearby.

"You can see the hand stitches, each panel sewn on by hand," he said, holding up the dress. "They're not going to do this anymore."

Mint-condition original 1950s jeweled handbags are lined on a top shelf. Vintage hats adorn vintage mannequins and original hand-painted '40s- and '50s-era neckties hang on a rack.

"When you see that label you know it's quality," he said as he flipped a tie around to show the Sulka label.

"When you start wearing this stuff you can't wear anything else," he said. "The only place you can go from here is custom-made clothing or top-of-the-line stores.

"Either you're going to buy vintage or pay a lot of money."

Or buy Da Vinci, he said.

"Some men's shirts are just classic," Parker said, referring to the two-tone panel shirts made by Da Vinci, a California clothing manufacturer that has been making shirts since 1952. "They don't go out of style.

"Da Vinci is still doing linen (shirts)," he said. "That's why Da Vinci is alive, because of the quality."

Catching on

Parker and his wife, originally from New York, formerly lived in California, where they owned a vintage store, before moving to Las Vegas and setting up shop in 1988.

Since their arrival the two have seen several vintage stores come and go -- unlike larger cities where vintage clothing is a fashion staple.

"I was just by myself one time," he said. "They had all come and gone. (But) on Melrose (Avenue in Los Angeles), there were hundreds of us."

Fortunately for Parker, Las Vegas draws people from all over the globe -- whether they're tourists or newcomers.

"People moving from (New York) are looking for this kind of stuff, this kind of lifestyle," he said.

Pointing to a rack of '70s pants, including a blue rayon twill and never-been-worn original slacks with geometric prints and paisleys, he explained, "In New York, in the (Grenwich) Village, they swoop this stuff up."

Still, Las Vegas isn't completely lacking style when it comes to vintage clothing.

At the Buffalo Exchange, near UNLV on South Maryland Parkway, college-age shoppers can buy vintage disco dresses and '70s pants.

Manager Julie Shellman said the store caters to an equal mix of locals and tourists, which include people looking for duds to wear to '70s-themed parties and club events.

Locals can also visit the Attic on South Main Street for their retro wear. The vintage clothing store was founded in 1989 and gained national attention three years ago when it was featured on a Visa TV commercial.

For designer vintage, Melina Crisostomo, owner of Retro Vintage Clothing on South Valley View Boulevard, has clothing that goes back several decades.

"I probably do four to six '70s parties a week," Crisostomo said, referring to shoppers who come in looking for authentic retro, including 1980s clothes.

"I have to sell '80s," she said. "Now '80s is considered vintage."

Crisostomo opened Retro Vintage Clothing five years ago and, similar to Valentino's Zootsuit Collection, her clientele includes tourists.

She also provides clothing for local shows and events, and sells vintage designer clothing -- Gucci, Chanel and Pucci -- online. "Tons of eBay," Crisostomo said. "Most of my domestic shipments go to New York."

And although Las Vegas doesn't have the boutique-lined streets found in other cities, her local clientele is growing -- especially with the influx of newcomers to the valley.

"It's boomed because Las Vegas has grown," Crisostomo said. "People are coming in from bigger cities who are used to (buying and wearing) vintage.

"Five years ago this town was not ready for this. I'm glad I stuck it out because it's finally successful," she said.

"A lot of (people) shop here for events. They're going to a cocktail party or a grand opening at a hotel because they don't want to wear the same things as someone else."

Similar to Parker, Crisostomo said she prefers the detailed stitching and uniqueness of vintage clothing over clothing made today.

"Vintage, it's made better," she said. "Vintage is still here because of the quality of the fabrics and of the construction ... the stitching, where you're getting mother-of-pearl buttons."

And, vintage outfits are one of a kind, she said.

"Vintage -- it's unique. In malls, walking through, not only does (clothing) start looking exactly alike, it is (alike). So much is manufactured overseas and mass produced. If you want a great pair of slacks you're going to pay $350 for it for the detailed construction.

"My favorite stuff ... is 1940s women's-fitted jackets. They just do not make jackets like that anymore. And if they do, you're going to pay a lot for them."

For example, Crisostomo said as she pointed to a stack of 1930s vintage shirts, "If you open up Vogue this month there's a whole layout of shirts like this. But they cost $3,000."

And with vintage clothing, "You can get really creative," she said. "You almost have to have a creative sense to wear it. To dress in this fashion you have to know what your style is."

Keeping it alive

Julie Shellman, who wears mostly '50s clothing, said she likes the idea of wearing an outfit that probably meant something special to someone at one time.

"Seventy-five percent of my closet is vintage," Shellman said. "I've worn different eras. I used to be into the '60s -- go-go boots, mini dresses. Then I got more into the '50s. I live in the Huntridge area (of Las Vegas). My whole house is '50s.

"It's neat that (the clothes) have a history," Shellman said. "I go to an estate sale ... and I know that someone else had a lot of fun with it. Especially in Vegas. Back then people used to dress up."

And because of the detail paid to clothing manufactured in the past, the outfits will endure, she said.

"I have things that are 40 years old and are still in good shape."

Parker also appreciates the idea of preserving clothing that defined America during the 20th century.

"Once it's cleaned and put back on the market, it's an honor," Parker said. "Another generation can enjoy it.

"It deserves to still be around and worn," Parker added. "Our fathers and grandfathers wore this. This is America. Once it's gone that's it."

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