We love vintage like nobody’s business. To that end, we’re talking to some of our very favorite vintage sellers on how they get the job done — with a tour of a few of their best pieces. Today, we talk with Suz Stringer of Vintage DTLA. Follow her excellent, art-filled Instagram!
Shop: Vintage DTLA
Location: Downtown LA (obvs)
Our pick: This amazing Eisenberg Original flower clip (see below)
How would you describe the vibe at Vintage DTLA?
My shop reflects my life, a mish mosh of adventures. So many of my pieces were found by happenstance, which is the real joy of shopping for vintage. I hope that people visiting my shop will have that same experience of finding something special while hunting for vintage treasures. Most people know the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”, but they don’t know the second part of it: “Satisfaction brought it back.”
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found while buying for Vintage DTLA? Did you keep it for yourself or sell it?
My favorite things to collect are 1920s hand-painted French celluloid bangles with Asian motifs. While I’ve traveled extensively in Europe and lived in Asia, they are a rare find. On a ski trip to Wyoming, I stopped at a thrift shop and started digging through their costume jewelry. A bucket labeled “junk jewelry” caught my eye. Deep down amongst the broken and tarnished jewelry, I discovered a perfectly preserved celluloid bracelet with a geisha painted on it. I couldn’t believe my luck…and then I found a pair of lucite Chanel earrings! I kept the bracelet and love wearing it stacked up my arm with the other dozen or so that I’ve collected over the years. As for the earrings, I promptly sold them to a Chanel collector friend I have in China.
Is vintage your full-time job or do you do other sorts of work as well? If so, what kind?
These days, vintage is my second full-time job. After I finish with my job where I work for my family’s jewelry company (new fashion jewelry), I sell vintage to other collectors and dealers all over the world.
What makes vintage pieces where you’re from special?
I think what makes my pieces special are the stories they have to tell. Sometimes I know their provenance, but a lot of times I have to do extensive research. I love putting together the pieces of the puzzle of by who, why and where something was made.
Outside of LA, where’s your favorite place to travel for vintage? Is there anything specific you look for there?
As an avid traveler, I often plan trips to coincide with flea markets and antique shows. Researching the best places to treasure hunt is my favorite part of planning a trip. Whenever I go to Japan, I try to find out when local temples and shrines are having bazaars. Toji Temple’s monthly flea market is always a good bet when in Kyoto. I’m always on the search for bizen yaki pottery, especially when I can find them in their original signed wooden boxes.
Like a lot of people, I have a terrible case of wanderlust right now under stay-at-home orders. Even after restrictions are lifted, travel and retail will undoubtably change. Nothing will replace going to antique shops, antique shows and flea markets — there’s something so satisfying about the tactile experience of vintage shopping. Until things get back to a semblance of normality, I can escape through online sites like Etsy and explore the entire world when I have a hankering to go on the hunt.
I know some people can be weird about vintage jewelry (I have a friend who’s a feng shui expert who won’t even look at it.) I’m wondering if you do anything to consider a piece’s past — like saging, any way to respect or celebrate the previous owners.
I think anything worth collecting has a story to tell. Scratches, wear and boo-boos tell you that a piece of jewelry was thoroughly enjoyed and tells part of its story. So many collectors stash their vintage jewelry away in drawers and boxes only to come out again when they are going to resell them. For me, I like to let these pieces continue to tell their stories by actually wearing them. It’s a great way to honor the designers, craftsmen and previous guardians.
I’m wondering if there’s a movie or TV show that you think has particularly amazing vintage costumes or jewelry?
I love watching the Downton Abbey for the clothes, hats, gloves, and jewelry. When the series originally debuted, I would get together with a good collector friend of mine every Sunday night to watch it donning our best vintage jewelry. Copiously layered 1920s opera-length beads are still timeless today.
A good education in vintage costume jewelry can be had by watching classic movies. I’m always on the lookout for jewelry by Joseff of Hollywood and Hobé in old movies. Some of my favorites are the Joseff pieces made for Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. The intricate collars, slithering snake arm cuffs, and elaborate headdresses are all so over-the-top. I’ve read that this movie nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox — I’m sure the jewelry and costumes took a toll on the budget.
Don’t miss our previous interview, with Thies Powell of Thies Powell Vintage!