Vintage Point

August 25, 2010

Site Staff,

You've always been a bit envious of thrifty girls. You know, the ones that somehow transform the most off-beat consignment store finds into drool-worthy outfits.

And while you'd love to rock a little vintage yourself, your attempts always seem to turn out more Flashdance (like an, ahem, 80's maniac) than stylish flashback.

For help deciding exactly which blasts-from-the-past should have a future in your wardrobe, check out Vicarious Vintage, the newly launched vintage web boutique run by transplant turned local girl Evie Lei Chic

Phillips.

It was while studying marketing at F.I.T. in New York that Phillips found she had a knack for re-vamping vintage pieces, shortening hemlines and adding embellishments. Post-graduation, requests came pouring in and Vicarious Vintage got off to a running start, until an unexpected accident left Phillips out of commission for nearly a year. A recuperative trip to her father’s Kauai home led to a fresh outlook – and a new Honolulu home and operating hub.

Stocked with an extensive array of pre-loved fashions, the shop offers a covetable mix of 80's rocker styles and hippie chic with a dash of surfer thrown in. You'll find everything from lace mini dresses and sheer-sleeved rompers to oversized blazers, braided belts, and plaid button-downs – some completely original, some reworked with the Vicarious touch.

The majority of merchandise is hand-picked by Phillips herself, who scours thrift shops accross the country and in Europe for hidden gems. And while she employs a select handful of freelancers, every last item requires her stamp of approval – nothing but the highest quality will do.

Best of all, since Phillips knows that what goes around comes around, the foundation of her business is built on donating 10 percent of all proceeds to philanthropic organizations.

So you rock a little retro.
And give vicariously.