Meet Brightside Vintage
Meet Brightside Vintage, curating a selection of incredible vintage goods this month at Moon+Arrow!
How did you first fall in love with vintage? Was there a specific piece or moment that started it all?
My love for vintage started at a young age. I remember my mom had inherited a lot of family heirlooms from my great grandmother, Frances, whom I’m named after. I’m also the second youngest of six kids. I have four brothers. So I would find solace from the chaos by escaping into the attic to immerse myself in all the “treasures” that were hidden up there. I would spend hours up there going through bags and bins of old clothes and relics. I’d have to carefully put everything back exactly as I found it so Mom never knew I was up there, but I just remember the feeling of connection to these pieces and the stories they could tell.
How would you describe your curatorial eye in three words?
intentional.
Subversive.
Sensual.
What makes you say “yes” to a piece?
I’m a sucker for an element of surprise. Whether it be through texture, fabrication, print or color. Subtle little elements that add a pique of interest always catch my eye.
Are there pieces you’ll never sell because they feel too personal?
I’ve just recently started to build an archival closet to eventually pass down to my daughters. One piece is a Vivienne Tam S/S1998 iconic Chakra dress and another is a F/W 1998 Anna Sui 70s style Penny Lane coat with crazy embroidery.
What do you love about being part of Philly’s creative ecosystem?
Philly has always been a city that harbors artists and creatives alike. I have been lucky enough to experience many iterations of it. As a college student studying fashion marketing in the early 2000s, to becoming a reiki master right on fabric row in the mid 2010s, to present day being a vintage clothing vendor. There’s this excitement and grit to the city that no matter how much older I get, it never goes away. I feel honored to be a part of this special community.
Who or what inspires your aesthetic?
I’m heavily influenced by the 90s minimalist designer aesthetic but with an edge. Sade is a muse that I think defines my taste, understated dominance.
Is there a dream piece you’re still hunting for?
An Alaia 90s dress would make all my Cher Horowitz Clueless dreams come true.
