subscribe to style file blog via RSSScreaming Mimi’s Gets Hell-Bent For Leather
November 10, 2009 6:10 pm
Leather was a major trend on the Spring 2010 runways, so it’s an opportune moment for Screaming Mimi’s to go straight to the source. The downtown store, a favorite of vintage enthusiasts since the late seventies, is releasing an all-leather archive this month, culled from the personal collection of a certain daddy with a thing for fine craftsmanship.
The gent in question was a fairly petite man, so the sale is being aimed at women and should fit sizes 4 through 8. “It’s the most exciting find I’ve come across in over 30 years,” says Screaming Mimi’s owner Laura Wills, noting that the one-of-kind pieces, amassed over three decades, reflect every leather influence from motocross to rodeo. For the uninhibited, there are items like the studded, slogan-bearing motorcycle jacket at left, and while we can’t be sure, we’re willing to bet a thigh-length leather dress will look better on you than it did on the original owner. More accessible, perhaps, are the accessories, which range from gauntlet gloves to biker caps. “We put out just a tiny bit already to see the reaction, and it was so immediate,” says Wills. “Alice Dellal came in and immediately pounced on a black leather bracelet with spikes.”
The collection, which exhibits the intricate workmanship of custom leather specialists in New York and San Francisco, many now defunct, should be a treasure trove of inspiration for stylists and designers. “It’s interesting to see how things like this can cross over into contemporary fashion,” says Wills, but she adds, “The pieces are so iconic they go beyond fashion. They’re just beautifully crafted, amazing-looking garments. Fashion-wise, it’s right; historically, it’s right.”
The pieces debut November 18, with prices ranging from $125 to $2,800.
382 Lafayette St., NYC, (212) 677-6464, www.screamingmimis.com.
tags: Screaming Mimi's
