18 Jan Best of 2018: Malena’s Most Memorable Instagram Posts
Everyone knows when a new year rolls around, we must reflect on the year we are leaving behind. Here at Malena’s Vintage, (or any vintage shop), time is somewhat of an interesting topic. With our business, we see countless pieces of history every day. If you are reading this blog post, you probably know that we specialize in women’s wearables from the turn of the century to the 1970s. So for us, time is a formality! Why not combine the old with the new? You might see our current intern Arianna rocking a Victorian blouse with a skirt from 1968. Malena herself often combines century-old jewelry with pieces from the mid-1900s! For our shop, Instagram has become the best time capsule to showcase everything we have to offer you and showcase our own looks from time to time.
So with the dawn of 2019, the team here at Malena’s wanted to share with you some of our favorite posts (and yours!) from yesteryear. Here are our top twelve posts from 2018!
Number 12: The Ultimate Judith Leiber Collector’s Piece
An incredibly sought after piece from Judith Leiber.
If you love vintage, you’ve probably heard a little thing or two about the late Judith Leiber. Born in the 1920s, she became the first female member of the Hungarian Handbag Guild. Judith, her mother, and her sister were survivors of the Holocaust during the Nazi occupation in Budapest. Judith married her husband in 1946, and together they moved to New York City in 1947. From there, Judith built her handbag and accessory empire in 1963 and eventually retired in 1998. It’s safe to say her legacy lived on after her retirement and still lives on today despite her death just last year (Jewish Women’s Archive).
This lucite purse is one of her most coveted designs, and it was no surprise to us that as soon as it was posted it sold. The details of the cast kissing lock are impeccable! Styling tip: with any lucite bag, we love to line it with a fun scarf or hankie to hide our goodies and give the bag an ever-changing appearance. Gotta keep it interesting, right?
Number 11: Malena Goes to the Ball (Or Gay Bingo)
Malena in her Black Tie Gay Bingo gown. The annual event benefits the AIDS Fund Philly.
Malena and her husband, Josh, are off to the annual Philly Black Tie Gay Bingo! This incredible event occurs every spring and benefits the Philly AIDS Fund. The shape flow of this vintage gown caught everyone’s attention. The gown has no designer label, but the fitted bodice, and full, floor-length skirt give just the right shape and flow for a fun evening benefitting a great cause. It’s expertly tailored organdy and fitted crepe rayon lining are impeccably made. The dress even has a matching shawl that Malena opted to use as a sort of flowing, summery cape.
All of this plus the bold blue and green rose print made for a statement at last year’s event. Malena opted to pair the dress with a sparkling gunmetal gray bow belt and a bold rhinestone necklace. Josh and Malena danced the night away with drag queens, pin-up models, and some of Philly’s most elite people. It was an amazing evening and we cannot wait to experience it this year at their upcoming annual event.
Number 10: KimoNO She Betta Don’t!
Malena in her prime! Summer Malena is a happy Malena.
If you have been around the shop during the warmer months, you have most likely witnessed Malena, Rob, or Kari wearing kimonos. Why kimonos? Because they’re easy, breezy, beautiful…. wait, this isn’t a Covergirl ad. Whatever kimonos are fun! They’re super simple to add to your wardrobe and no two kimonos are alike, so it’s easy to create a collection. Japanese kimonos have been around for centuries. They are known for expressing individuality, wealth, and prosperity all throughout history. After the second World War, western style seeped its way into Japan, and kimonos have since become more traditional garb for special occasions.
Until now, of course. Many popular brands (yes, we’re looking at you, Free People), have adopted the drapey, flowing garment into their own styles. Here at Malena’s, we love finding the original thing that sparked the recent trend. Like I mentioned earlier, kimonos are super easy to incorporate into your daily look. Whether they’re floor-length or waist-length, pair them with denim and a white tee and you’re good to go! Of course, Malena adds her signature Gucci belt, silver Franco Sarto flats, and gold medallion statement necklace.
Number 9: The Ring Leader
Combine an antique beaver top hat and a 70s plaid princess coat and you are a Ring Leader!
We love to have fun at the shop, and you could say it’s always a three-ring circus between appointments, clients coming in to buy, and keeping the place somewhat organized. This post was comical because 1) the pairing of pieces could not have been better and 2) boss lady, duh. This princess coat is an example of an era copying another era. The 1940s were when princess coats first entered the scene; fit & flare shape paired with dramatic buttons and made of wool with a silk lining. This coat, however, is actually from the 1970s! The plaid is indicative of the decade, as well as the slight difference in construction oddly enough. Paired with an Edwardian-era beaver top hat, it is the perfect ring leader costume!
Number 8: Blast from the Past
Back in her college days, Malena was still an avid vintage fiend while working at Olives Very Vintage in Brooklyn.
Instagram LOVES baby Malena! How could you not? This shot by one of her good friends from college obviously was one of the shop’s most well-received posts and a personal favorite amongst the staff. The photo shows Malena from her college days, circa the late 90s or early 2000s at Olives Very Vintage in Brooklyn, one of her first jobs in the vintage business. Clearly, Malena was in it from the start!
Malena went to Parsons School of Design over the Summer for a high school program when she was just 15. Parsons is the first school in the U.S. to have a fashion design program. Designers such as Jeremy Scott (Moschino), Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi, Donna Karan, Alexander Wang, Tom Ford, Prabal Gurung, Bill Blass, and even Claire McCardell attended Parsons. The school is located in Greenwich Village and continues to pump out innovative artists and creative folks who we know as influencers and trendsetters today.
Number 7: Happy Birthday, Kari!
Happy 21st Birthday, Kari! Photo by Sabina Sister Photography
Shopgal Kari has finally turned 21, and we are so excited to finally be able to have martinis with her! This wonderful human being has been a part of Malena’s for over 3 years. She started as an intern in high school and eventually became a regular employee, basically becoming Malena’s right hand over the years. Kari is multi-faceted when it comes to fashion. She wears bold colors and prints, combines patterns with wovens and pulls it off perfectly.
It’s no surprise to see Kari in the ranks of top twelve for 2018. She is a staple and we love her dearly (obviously you all do, too!) Thanks to Sabina for the wonderful headshot.
Number 6: Slip Into These Puppies
Did you know we have hoards of vintage and antique lingerie? Photo by Lauren Schwarz Photography
Ah, I just couldn’t avoid a pun for this one. This post was fun. We worked with Lauren Schwarz to get a little lingerie shoot together last spring. The photos turned out incredible, and we had a lot of fun styling and organizing everything with Lauren!
Lingerie is a hot topic in both the vintage community and resale community, for different reasons. The glamour and elegance vintage lingerie is highly sought after for photography and film purposes. However, selling someone’s old underwear isn’t always the most glamorous trade. What many people don’t know is that most of the lingerie from the 1920s through the 1960s is actually rarely worn. Of course, slips were some of the most commonly used pieces under a dress or skirt, but a lace bullet bra with matching hosiery? Probably a bachelorette gift somewhere along the way that never got worn! So, don’t get grossed out by vintage lingerie. Especially since we make sure to clean it (if it doesn’t still have the original tags on it).
Number 5: Psychedelic 70s
A lovely customer snagged this beautiful 1970s scarf print maxi dress.
We absolutely love when our clients find that perfect piece to add to their wardrobe. That’s part of our job, anyway! Malena’s keen eye for spotting a size rarely fails her. When this customer walked in the door and explained what she was looking for, Malena knew this dress was the dress for her.
The 1970s are known for wild prints and bold colors. This polyester maxi dress is no exception! The combination of bright red and multicolored paisley bandana print is not the easiest to work into your wardrobe, but when the dress fits, it’s too good to pass up.
Number 4: Malena, Meet Marilyn
Marilyn once owned a fabulous store full of jewelry!
Last April, Malena flew down to Sarasota to meet with Marilyn. Marilyn had recently retired and closed her jewelry store after being in business for decades. Marilyn’s collection was extensive but specialized mainly in costume jewelry from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Her collection included tons of novelty brooches and pins, rhinestone necklaces, Bakelite bracelets, enamel compacts, and so much more.
Malena agreed to buy out Marilyn’s collection – something Malena has done once or twice before with other dealers. This costume jewelry collection was impeccable and worth every penny! Malena and Josh loaded up a rental car and spent a week driving up the east coast with the car full of hundreds of pounds of rhinestones, plastic, and metal. Upon their arrival in West Chester, we as a shop decided the collection deserved to be appreciated and shopped, so naturally we had a sale honoring Marilyn’s collection. We are so happy to have worked with another seasoned vintage dealer and are elated that we were able to provide new homes for countless vintage treasures.
Number 3: Celebrating 15 Years
Our fifteenth-anniversary party and sale in June was a hit, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
This post needs little introduction. As a team, we are so fortunate to have the ability to celebrate 15 years of business in the heart of downtown West Chester. Operating a small business is no small feat. Operating a small business in West Chester is especially challenging. Between the ever-changing scene and climate, nothing is consistent. Every year, we lose a handful of West Chester staples, and each year new shops and restaurants appear.
All of our success and longevity is owed to you, our customers, our friends, our family. Without you, we would not be here. Thank you.
Number 2: White Winter Windows
Our award-winning 2018 holiday windows were the talk of the town!
The windows. Where do we begin? Well, word on the street this year was that there was a contest amongst all the businesses in the borough. Who would have the most festive and impactful holiday window display? Immediately our gears began to turn. Winter whites. It had been done before, it wasn’t original, but we knew we could really pack a punch with it. So that’s what we did, and it became original after all.
A highlight of the front window, in particular, is Percy the peacock. Percy is part of Malena’s personal collection and was a gift from her husband, Josh, from a few holidays previous. The albino taxidermy peacock was once a part of a Ralph Lauren window display, and only a handful were made. Once the windows were taken down, the peacocks went up for sale. Needless to say, Josh did really well that Christmas.
Number 1: A Caftan Fit for a Queen
A wonderful surprise from Josh for Malena’s birthday was this incredible one-of-a-kind caftan.
Finally, we have reached our number one post of 2018! For Malena’s birthday this year, Josh surprised her with a one of a kind caftan from a little shop in L.A. Of course, the birthday queen had to model her newest acquisition for the gram, and only with a glass of sauvignon blanc in her hand.
It’s been a blast to recount 2018’s best Instagram posts with you all. We here at Malena’s cannot wait to see what 2019 has in store for us, and we will be sure to share it with you every step of the way.
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