VINTAGE HOLIDAY DRESSING
'tis the season for glamour
WINTER COATS GIFT GUIDE
VINTAGE
a quarterly magazine featuring vintage items from Shop Stylaphile and more
NAPIER NECKLACES
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Wondering what to get the vintage lover on your list? We've got you covered.
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[NOT] UGLY SWEATERS
Ditch the ugly sweater contest this year and invest in a beautiful vintage pullover you'll wear again and again.
THE MAGIC OF WISH BOOKS
Taking a trip down holiday toy memory lane with vintage Sears and JCPenney catalogs.
VINTAGE FRIENDSHIPS
My friend Kevin Davis is a book cover supermodel. But for the last four decades, he's just been "Kev" to me.
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DRESSING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Outfit inspo to get you from Friendsgiving to Black Friday shopping, and even that office holiday party.
WINTER IS COMING
A winter coat doesn't have to be so boring. These vintage options will have you feeling both warm AND glam at the same time.
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WINDOW DRESSING
Tis the season for festive cocktail dresses, and ours have found their place inside a few fabulously decorated store windows.
S H O P 1 9 4 0 s
Thanksgiving is next week, and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for this year. And it's mainly because of you, the reader. The way you've embraced my little startup magazine has been overwhelming. I have read your comments and your emails, and it makes my heart swell to hear how this publication is bringing back so many great memories for you. It's the reason I started it in the first place...to share my love of vintage clothing and fashion history. And the more you enjoy it, the more effort I put into it.
In this issue, I'm telling vintage stories that focus on the joy of childhood. From sharing my vintage toy collection as part of "The Magic of the Wish Book" article to encouraging you to check with your inner child before making that new year's resolution list, the theme for the winter/holiday edition is all about remembering the joy of the past, especially given the various challenges of the present.
Speaking of blasts from the past, one of my best friends from childhood is now a book cover supermodel. You may recognize Kevin Davis from one of hundreds of book covers. But you don't know the full story. A few years ago, Kevin was struggling, homeless, and addicted to meth. Today, he's sharing his story of recovery, as well as reinvention, with his ever-expanding audience. And I'm sharing the back-story of how we met and why our friendship has lasted for all of these many years.
Finally, there's plenty of vintage fashion and outfit ideas in this issue to help you navigate the holidays in style. From [not] ugly sweaters to little black (and silver, and gold) cocktail dresses that are perfect for the party season, I hope you'll find something that makes you feel nostalgic and sparks your inner joy.
Sydney
SYDNEY STONE editor-in-chief
letter
from the editor
Cover: 1950s Towncliffe coat. More details on page 33.
size inclusive options
HOLIDAY DRESSING [NOT] UGLY SWEATERS
WINTER COATS COCKTAIL DRESSES
A lot of the vintage featured in this issue tends to be smaller sizes, as is generally the nature with older clothes. So we've included size-inclusive alternatives on Amazon that can give you the same incredible style in the size that's perfect for you. Click on any of the categories for modern day size options.
S H O P 1 9 5 0 s
VINTAGE NEW YORK
Check out VINTAGE fashion magazine's new YouTube series that spotlights New York City vintage shops while providing a little history lesson of the neighborhood they're located in. Plus vintage styling tips & restaurant recommendations!
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holiday dressing
Yes, the holidays can be stressful. But dressing for them doesn't have to be.
From Friendsgiving to Black Friday shopping, office party to snow days, here's a little #outfitinspo.
holiday dressing
Friendsgiving
1980s Adolfo Knits skirt suit
Amazon essentials earrings
Ted Baker watch
Yohora crossbody bag
Modatope boots
holiday dressing
Black Friday Shopping
Hulken bag
Naturalizer lug-sole loafers
Swarovski sunglasses
Corkcicle Rifle Paper Tumbler
Levi's jeans
1960s color block sweater dress/jacket
holiday dressing
Office Party
Michael Kors sandals
pre-loved
Louis Vuitton clutch
Robert Lee Morris earrings
Coach watch
1960s J.W. Mays beaded dress
Snow Day
Spanx leggings
Coach tote
1980s Fair Isle wool cardigan
UGG boots
Ray-Ban sunglasss
The North Face hat
VINTAGE
reader stories
Arianna in her Y2K era, wearing vintage
7 For All Mankind low-rise jeans and a classic navy Juicy Couture jacket
Meet Arianna Grossman, VINTAGE magazine's first official intern. A high school senior, she's off to college next year to study fashion. And she already gets an A+ when it comes to knowing her fashion history. We asked about her intern experience.
What have you learned while interning at VINTAGE?
Interning here has taught me about all of the different eras and how to determine what's actually vintage. Also, there's something special about vintage pieces...how they carry history and meaning that connect you to the past, yet still make you look modern and stylish.
What have you enjoyed most about being an intern?
One of the highlights of my internship has been exploring Y2K fashion. It's my favorite fashion era. I’ve always been obsessed with the low-rise jeans and velour tracksuits from the early 2000s.
You did a lot of research on vintage shops in New York. Any favorites?
Yes! I've found it so interesting to see how store owners use their own creativity to bring vintage to life in their shops. Here's a few of my absolute faves...
L Train Vintage 204 1st Avenue
Manhattan Beacon's Closet 74 Guernsey Street
Brooklyn
10 ft Single by Stella Dallas 285 North 6th Street
Do you have a great vintage story? I'd love to share it in an upcoming issue. Send it to editor@vintagefashionmagazine
Brooklyn Rogue 154 Allen Street
Manhattan
vintage classics
THE [NOT] UGLY SWEATER
Instead of buying an "ugly" holiday sweater you'll only wear once, why not invest in a stunning vintage one you'll cherish for years to come? Check out the four vintage beauties on the following pages and change the winning sweater narrative to something more stylish.
THE ESPRIT
big, oversized, and screaming 1980s
1980s Esprit
Pullover
1980s Forenzo Leather
Patchwork Sweater
THE FORENZA
mixed media, pure style
did somebody say on-trend?
1980s Lillie Rubin Cat Sweater
cute, cozy, and coloring your world
1980s Esprit
Turtleneck
S H O P 1 9 6 0 s S H O P S T Y L AP H I L E . C O M
vintage
bags
fashionable fragrances
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Buying vintage clothing as a holiday gift can be tricky. The following pages feature clever alternatives that give glamour vibes without having to worry about recipient size.
nostalgic notions
stylish reads
vintage bags
Gucci shoulder bag
Prada quilted tote
Chanel camera bag
Prada Tessuto bag
Gucci Sherry bag
Chanel envelope bag
Chanel bucket bag
Fendi shoulder bag
fashionable fragrances
Jo Malone Rose Amber
Marc Jacobs Perfect
Dolce & Gabbana Violet Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune
Juliette Has a Gun Parfum
Phlur Moonstone Body Spray
Tresor Midnight Rose
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria
stylish reads
Versace
Louis Vuitton
Birth of Modern Luxury
Coco Chanel
McQueen
nostalgic notions
"Oh Fudge!" Pens "Shitters Full" Pens
Bluetooth Record Player
Carrie Bradshaw Necklace Sixteen Candles Quotes Tote
Retro Bluetooth Speaker Vintage Television Earrings Desktop Gumball Machine
S H O P 1 9 7 0 s
the magic of the WISH BOOK
by Sydney Stone
Did you know there's a place online where you can browse vintage wish books and catalogs from JCPenney,
Sears, and Montgomery Ward? It's called MuseTechnical.com, and the creators of the site are making sure that the magic and memories of the wish book continues for future generations.
I can remember how excited I would get when the holiday catalogs arrived in the mail. The first thing I, and any kid at the time, would do is flip past all the boring clothes and go right to the toy section. You knew you were getting close when you'd see those black-and-white pages in the middle showcasing even more boring stuff. But then...the roller skates! Paydirt!!! Then nothing but page after page of all the latest baby dolls and Barbie dolls and games and fun. That's when you reached for a pen and immediately started circling things to let Santa know exactly what you wanted that year.
These days when I'm flipping through these catalogs, I'm way more interested in the vintage clothing that I used to skip over so flippantly. But when I happen to see one of my favorite childhood toys, the first thing I do is head over to Etsy or eBay to see if I can find it. So now, in addition to my vintage closet, I've developed quite the vintage toy collection. Here's a few of my favorites, plus the catalog page and the vintage stories that go along with them.
The Popeye Punching Bag
I don't really remember playing with this because I was only three at the time. But this photo of me with my mom has always been one my favorites. It was taken in 1972 on Christmas morning in our living room in Atlanta. I actually found the nightgown my mom was wearing in this photo on Etsy, and it's now one of my most treasured vintage pieces.
Top photo of my mother and me on Christmas morning, 1972. I'm in awe of my new Popeye punching bag that she ordered from the Sears Wish Book.
The Flip Wilson "Geraldine" Doll
My dad loved to watch The Flip Wilson Show in the early 1970s. And I can still remember sitting in his lap and watching it with him. I was obsessed with Flip's flamboyant drag character Geraldine, and according to my parents, I would run around the house saying, "the devil made me buy this dress!" (That's a line I still use today when I spend too much money on vintage.) And even though the pull-string and voice box of my vintage Flip Wilson doll no longer work, the memory of bonding and laughing with my dad while watching this show is priceless.
The Fisher-Price House Boat
This was my absolute favorite bathtub toy for my entire childhood. It made a sputtering sound when you pulled it across the water and it even had its own detachable life boat, plus life preservers. I would always position the mom character driving the boat, and when my mother would ask why, I was say, "because the dad is busy cooking a hamburger for the dog and somebody has to drive the boat!" It's hard to believe this was only $5.97 back in the day considering how much joy I got out of it. I paid a lot (a way lot) more for the one I found on Etsy a few years ago, but it was in mint shape and had all the original parts. And yes, the first thing I did when I opened the box was take everything out and put it in the bathtub.
The "Happy Baby" Doll
I wanted this doll because it would laugh and giggle whenever you threw it up in the air. However, when the batteries were about to run out, she kind of sounded like a possessed demon-doll. My favorite Happy Baby memory was leaving it next door at my aunt's house and asking my older sister to go get it for me because it was raining outside. She did, and as she was running across the front yard bringing it back, she slipped and fell in the mud, and I was screaming "my doll! my doll!" with no concern whatsoever for my sweet sister. I still apologize to her to for that.
The Holy Grail: FASHION PLATES!
This was by far the most life-altering gift I ever received as a child. Fashion Plates made me obsessed with all things fashion-related, from design to styling to merchandising. I loved being able to mix and match the plates to make different outfits, which is pretty much what I've been doing with my life ever since. Combine this little contraption with the fact that my sister (the one who heroically saved my doll from the mud that day) subscribed to all the fashion magazines in the 70s and 80s, and you can pretty much understand my love of fashion and how I became the creator and editor of a vintage fashion magazine.
The True Magic of the Wish Books
I grew up in Atlanta, but my family moved to Gadsden, Alabama (where my parents were from) in 1974. I can remember going to one particular great aunt and uncle's house every year to drop off Christmas presents for them. I never really understood why these were the only great-relatives that we would buy presents for. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that my oldest sister explained it to me. The reason we moved to Gadsden was because my dad, who was an alcoholic at the time, had lost his heating and air-conditioning business because of his drinking. When we moved back, my parents didn't have the money to give us the kind of Christmas they wanted to, so this great aunt and uncle bought everything for us that year. It was the year I got the Happy Baby doll.
My dad stopped drinking eventually, and we always had the most amazing Christmases. But hearing that story made me realize how hard my parents had to work to buy all the things I was so carelessly circling in those catalogs. The fact that they never forgot what my aunt and uncle did for us that year just goes to show the true character of the two people that raised me. We continued to buy presents for "Aunt Carrie" and "Poppa Preston" every year until they passed away. And now that my own parents are no longer with us, the memories of all those Christmas mornings live on, thanks to the magic of online wish books.
new year old you it's time to get vintage with your resolutions
Instead of vowing to become "the new you" yet again, this year, think about the old you. The oldest you, actually. We're talking inner child. That magical little person you were until society imposed expectations, limits and standards all over your hopes and dreams. Before you write out any goals or intentions for 2025, give yourself a little history lesson.
WHAT THINGS DID YOU LOVE TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
This year, do more of it! When you resurrect your inner child's playful spirit, you'll be surprised at the level of joy that surfaces along with it. If your first instinct says, "I'm too old for that," that's a clear sign you need to do it. And once you do actually reconnect with your childhood passion, do it like nobody's watching.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Are you that now? If not, ask yourself why. It's never too late to pursue your dreams! Maybe 2025 is the year you start a side-hustle that turns into your dream job. That's exactly how VINTAGE fashion magazine came into fruition! Prioritize working on a passion project each day this year and see where it leads. Your "second act" is waiting for you. You just need to step onstage.
WHAT'S AN OUTFIT YOU HAD IN THE PAST YOU WISH YOU HAD NOW?
If you want to up-level your style this year, you might want to do a deep-dive into the past. Look through old photos of yourself. Is there an outfit or a piece of clothing that you absolutely loved? One that made you feel incredibly confident or brings back great memories? Make that your new "uniform." Buy vintage or modern versions of the same look and mix it up with different accessories. Finding your "decade" or your "look" will make getting dressed every day a lot easier, and so much more fun!
WINTER
IS COMING
It's time to invest in a coat that will keep you cozy and stylish all season long. On the following pages are five vintage versions that will have you looking oh-so-cool while keeping you incredibly warm.
1990s Wilsons Leather "Penny Lane" suede coat $275
1970s cognac leather trench $225
1950s Towncliffe boucle wool coat with faux fur trim $325
1950s plaid double-breasted peacoat $175
The Wallace Company 1950s wool coat $175
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VINTAGE FRIENDSHIP
What do you do when one of your best friends from childhood becomes a supermodel? You tell everyone! And you celebrate not only his success, but the way he's using his own story of addiction & recovery to help others.
by Sydney Stone
You may recognize my friend Kevin Davis from one of his many book covers. Or you might be one of his 205,000 (and counting!) Instagram followers. Perhaps he's even one of your "book boyfriends."
But over the last four decades, he's just been "Kev" to me. It's what I've called him for the entirety of our friendship, which started way back in the 1980s.
Kevin and I grew up in Gadsden, Alabama, a tiny town an hour north of Birmingham. We met in the parking lot of the Gadsden Mall. Every weekend, teenagers from all the local high schools would head down to the mall after closing hours and drive around the parking lot. I'm not kidding. Driving around the mall was the only thing we had to do for entertainment in Gadsden. That was one of the main reasons we both wanted to move out.
Of course, Kevin and I had no idea that our chance meeting behind the Belk department store that summer would be the foundation of a friendship that would last forever, and that it would follow us from Gadsden to Atlanta...and later me to New York and him to super-stardom. Here's how it all went down, and how we've managed to keep in touch after all these years.
Check out more of Kevin's book covers here
Kevin wearing a t-shirt from Silber Fuchs NYC
Kevin and I went to different high schools, so we got together mostly on the weekends. Our Saturday nights began parked outside a liquor store in the Agricola Shopping Center. We'd ask someone of legal age going inside if they'd buy us a bottle of Bacardi if we gave them the money, plus a generous tip. It worked every time.
Then we'd meet up with our friend Staci (pictured right) and immediately head to Sonic for frozen slushies to mix with the Bacardi. After that, it was off to the mall, or to a house party, or later - after the mall banned all teenagers from the parking lotwe'd "cruise" Broad Street. And even though we had to get really creative to have any kind of fun in Gadsden, that time of my life gave me some of my best memories. Driving around with Kevin... blasting Cheap Trick...singing at the top of our lungs. And nights spent hanging out in his swimming pool, talking about how he wanted to be George Michael and how I wished I could dance like Janet Jackson. I asked Kevin what he remembered most about those days.
"Definitely cruising Broad Street and the mall," he said. "And Gulf Shores."
I laughed, remembering one of our beach trips when Kevin and I found ourselves both interested in the same cute guy. He was your typical 80s Tom Cruise-looking muscle guy, driving around the local beach arcade in a fancy convertible. I won that summer fling, but to this day, we both agree that it was only because Kevin wasn't trying hard enough.
There were signs way back then that Kevin and I were already becoming the people we are now. I remember having a birthday party in January of my senior year. Inside, my house was filled with all these people eating and drinking, but Kevin and I were outside in the cold taking photos of each other with a disposable camera. We'd even hold it up facing us, taking selfies way before the term "selfie" ever existed. We were definitely becoming our authentic selves, but we both knew we had to get out of Gadsden in order to live our authentic lives. Gadsden is an extremely conservative town. Kevin and I were not.
After high school, Kevin joined the Air Force and I went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I moved to Atlanta in 1994 to pursue an acting career, and Kevin ended up relocating there soon after.
"I'd visited Atlanta and had my first experience of what a gay community could be," he said. "When I first came out to my family, it was a bit rough. I felt like some distance would be best, so I took off for Atlanta."
Things did get better with Kevin's family after that, and he and I picked up right where we left off. There were endless brunches at Einstein's on Juniper, coffee dates at Cafe Intermezzo, and all night dance parties at The Chamber and Backstreet.
1995: Headed to a holiday bash in Atlanta
1987: Me, Staci and Kevin in Gadsden
2009: Home in Gadsden for the holidays
kevin and I continued to hang out together over the next five years, and then I moved to New York. He visited me in Manhattan, and we'd still see each other every year in Gadsden when we were both home for Christmas. We had this tradition where everyone that was home for the holidays would meet up with friends that still lived in town at a local bar on Broad Street, the same street we used to "cruise" when we were younger. If you want to get an idea of our annual holiday gatherings in "Gadrock" - as we affectionately refer to our hometown, watch the 1996 movie Beautiful Girls, and just replace the setting of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts with deep-south Gadsden, Alabama. Everything else is pretty much the same. The one thing Kevin failed to mention during our
hometown reunions was that after struggling with chronic pain for several years, he'd managed to develop an addiction to meth. It got so bad in fact that he ended up homeless, sleeping in his car. Then he got arrested for possession. And I knew absolutely nothing about any of it. I asked him why he didn't reach out to me back when all of this started.
"I didn't tell anyone about what I going through when I was
The photo below of Kevin and me still remains one of my favorites. I just feel like it sums up our friendship in so many different ways. It was taken at Einsteins in Atlanta one night in 2009 when I was home visiting. Afterwards, we went out dancing and Kevin spilled his drink on my "naked" dress. Now half my chest was soaked and I was even more naked. I just laughed and said, "It's okay, only one nipple is showing through." He immediately poured a little of his drink on the other side of my dress, patted me down, and said, "okay, now both your nipples are showing so it doesn't look awkward." To this day, we still laugh hysterically about that memory.
I asked Kevin why he thought our friendship has lasted for so many years and through so much distance.
homeless," he said. "It just gradually got worse and I was embarrassed at the situation I was in. I just kept hoping that I was going to be able to pull myself out of it, although I was feeling a bit hopeless at the time."
Kevin did pull himself out of it eventually. He got clean and sober in 2018, and then a year later, he was approached by a photographer asking if he'd be interested in doing some book cover modeling. The rest, as they say, is history. Kevin has been sharing his story of addiction and recovery with hundreds of thousands of people and giving them hope that not only is there light at the end of the tunnel, but that life on the other side of addiction can become more fulfilling and purposeful than you can possibly imagine.
"We just clicked from the very beginning," he said. "But also because we had such similar viewpoints, dreams, and aspirations. I think moving out of Gadsden opened our minds up to bigger things. We've continued on the same path and are still going after our dreams, even at this age. It's just nice to have someone that goes so far back with you and that is still one of your favorite people in this world."
That feeling is mutual, of course. We may not be related by blood, but Kevin is definitely part of my chosen family. My mother adored him, and when she passed away in 2016, Kevin was one of the first people to step up to be a pallbearer. That day, he not only helped carry my mom to her final resting place, he also helped carry my grief. That's just who Kevin is, and that's what real friendship is all about.
So even though Kevin never became George Michael and I still can't dance like Janet Jackson, we've stayed true to who we are, and to each other.
You can read more about Kevin's personal journey in this lovely article from Instinct Magazine, and join his thousands of followers on Facebook or Instagram.
S H O P 1 9 9 0 s
WINDO W dressing
the cocktail dress...it's a classic choice for holiday parties, especially when it's vintage
1980s Victor Costa strapless dress $375
1990s Lillie Rubin sequined snake-print dress $175
1990s Pilar Rossi strapless color-block dress $125
1980s Stepping Out drop-waist gold lamé dress $125
Rare 1980s Lillie Rubin strapless dress (with matching bolero jacket) $575
1980s Lillie Rubin crystal embellished velvet dress $375
1960s brown and gold embroidered maxi dress $575
NAPIER IS EVERYTHINGIER
The brand famous for its print ads in the 1980s remains relevant, wearable, and easily attainable on resale sites
If the 1980s is your jam, Napier is your brand. Bold, gold, and just like everything associated with the decade of decadence...BIG!
The ultimate OG statement necklaces, these pieces still look modern, even today, and can instantly add the perfect touch of drama to any look.
Top photo: 1980s Gucci leather trimmed jacket, $575; Bottom: 1980s Lillie Rubin silk dress, $175
S H O P Y2K
S H O P S T Y L AP H I L E . C O M
THE MICKEY MOUSE TOY WATCH
There have been many variations of the Mickey Mouse watch through the years. But this one was the bomb!
I remember getting this watch for Christmas back in 1977. I thought it was so cool that Mickey's feet were animated and would "run" as the watch ticked. Now it kind of looks like a mini-bomb on my wrist and probably wouldn't make it through airport security. But back in the late 1970s, this Mickey Mouse watch was "da bomb". I found this one on Etsy. It was too small for my wrist, so I had to pin it on the underside for the photo. It no longer works, of course. But just seeing it in my jewelry tray along with my other watches brings me ridiculous joy. It's a nice little reminder of Christmases past, and parents determined to provide the kind of memories that last a lifetime.
Thank you, next...
The Spring issue is coming in March. Click here to be notified the second it drops!