Fashion

Find Your Vintage Clothing Style at Carly Jean
By Kirsten Reinking

Whether you're a casual dresser or a fashionista who lives for clothes, finding a fabulous outfit that fits you is a treasure worth hunting for. But regular retail prices can make a dent in your wallet and mass-made clothing can lack quality or interesting style. Therefore, creative shoppers who need to stay on a budget turn to second-hand clothing for items that are both beautiful and durable. The old fashion adage "what's old is new again" is especially true for vintage styles.

Although you can find many vintage clothes on eBay, it's more fun to shop for them in person. And you can find the best in vintage at the Carly Jean store in Burbank, a one-stop shop for quality second-hand and retro-styled clothes at affordable prices.

With the motto "Keeping you out of the mall since 2004," the Carly Jean store offers customers a range of unique clothing artfully presented like a treasure trove. Owner Carly describes her store as "an eclectic boutique offering vintage and vintage-inspired clothing and accessories. There's something for everyone here, whether you're looking for classic, casual, or funky styles."

She became interested in the vintage clothing business as a girl when she went to estate sales and garage sales with her grandmother. "I loved the treasure-hunting aspect of it, going through boxes and knowing I'd find something amazing," she relates.

And she brings that same spirit of discovery when finding clothes for the store. To keep the store's inventory fresh and well-stocked, she goes on frequent buying trips to estate sales and antique stores, looking for vintage clothing from the 1920s to the 1950s, and retro pieces from the 1960s and 1970s. "I look for clothes that have some special quality to them," she says. "I always like to have a mix here. Elegant designer pieces, boho, romantic skirts, and then those classic items you can always wear that will never go out of style like jeans and little black dresses."

After selecting the clothes, Carly often writes information about an item on the sales tag to describe the decade of origin or its designer, a thoughtful touch that gives you an idea about the piece's history. Designer clothes she has re-sold recently include Pucci, Gucci, and Escada. She also keeps in touch with trends in high fashion and street fashion, talking to her customers to learn what they're interested in so she can buy accordingly.

The Carly Jean store also sells vintage and unique jewelry, handbags, shoes, and other accessories to put that finishing touch on outfits. Carly explains, "my goal is to provide customers with everything they need right here, from head to toe. I keep the prices low so people can buy a whole outfit instead of just one blouse or dress." Also, several of the jewelry pieces and purses are crafted by local artists like Bunny Lang, which you can find only at Carly Jean. And if you have your eye on that beautiful chiffon dress but think it's too sheer, don't worry. The store also sells practical items such as camisoles and tunics from the Idea Company to go under delicate tops and dresses.

Purchasing second-hand clothes gives you the satisfaction of taking steps to help the environment. By re-using and recycling good quality pieces that stand the test of time instead of buying mass-produced items of a lesser quality that wear out quickly, you can save money and prevent waste. However, customers new to vintage shopping often express concerns about a previously owned item's fit, cleanliness, and wear and tear. Therefore, Carly makes every effort to clean and repair the clothing herself and hand washes or dry-cleans each piece as needed before she puts them out for sale.

Since clothing sizes have varied considerably over the decades, the store has a large, well-lit dressing room so you won't have to guess if something will fit. And here's a tip: if you're handy with a sewing machine, hand-made vintage clothes often have deep hems and generous seams, so you can re-size the items to your measurements.

With a combination of low prices, beautiful clothes, and informed, friendly customer service, the Carly Jean boutique provides you with a satisfying vintage shopping experience.

3319 W. Magnolia on the corner of Magnolia and Lima streets, Carly Jean is open from 11:00 to 7:00, Monday through Saturday. Appointments for group or private shopping can be arranged. For more information about what's in stock and upcoming store events, please call
(818) 972-2500.