Grab a piece of Paul Brockman's 55,000 Dress Collection

Paul Brockman and his wife Margot - 
Courtesy of Elodia Corona - Creative Director/ PR - 55 thousand Dresses

Every once in a while I am lucky enough to meet an amazing person in the fashion world.

This spring my friend and vintage fashion blogger, Lotta Yanong of Delux Redux 

Vintage, invited me to join her on an amazing trip to to meet Paul Brockman and view his 55,000 Dress Collection. His collection has vintage dresses from the 1950's all the way to the late 90's. This collection has been recently titled the worlds largest collection of designer label dresses in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The warehouse in Gardena, CA

We were lucky enough to view the collection located out in Gardena, California. When we entered the warehouse where they were stored, it was like accidentally stepping into a vintage lover's dream. Trying to keep my cool, I was hoping to purchase some of these gems for my boutique in Chicago.

Everywhere there were racks of multiple dresses from past decades just waiting to be unleashed and debuted on their newest buyer. I was so excited looking through each section, it was almost overwhelming.

You might ask how did this man get so many dresses? Well, the answer is purely

enchanting and what most women would dream of. Paul bought them for his wife. A wonderful, romantic story that is intertwined with the collection. Even making it more appealing, hearing his stories while perusing through it. After all, this out of love? He bought these dresses because he always wanted his wife, Margot, to step out in the newest and next dashing thing when they went out dancing together.

Still in love over 50 years later, Paul and his wife Margot came here when they were first

married from Bremen Germany. Paul, as a child had been affected by the war and how clothes would be a scarcity just as much as food. As a young man he had fetched employment at a local ocean port. He had never seen so many dresses come in at the port in his life. They were from the United States and at the time the American dresses were influenced by the designer Christian Dior. He had never seen such beautiful, feminine pieces with tucked in waists and full skirts. This experience would soon funnel an obsession with collecting dresses for Margot spanning over five decades.

Paul with his Lucille Ball dress

Here in the United States is where they built their life. Paul built his construction business from the ground up as a very hard and smart working man. With this success, he liked to buy Margot something new to go dancing in. Paul not only bought new, he also bought dresses from yard sales and estate sales. He even scored a dress that was formerly owned by Lucille Ball. We were lucky enough to see that one in their personal collection at home.

Le Thrift Consignment is now featuring dresses from this famous collection. Yours to purchase and enjoy here.

Here are just a few of the pieces we have from his collection.

Evelyn Rice's Desert Belle 

red vintage dress

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Styled by Saybury 

silk robe dress

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Jonny Herbert Original 

seafoam blue vintage dress

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Le Thrift Street Style

We're excited to show you another street style look put together by the girls at Le Thrift.  We were inspired by this gorgeous vintage Mark Shale printed skirt.  Paired with a Louis Vuitton cardi, chunky necklace, Christian Dior sunglasses, a vintage bag, and a great pair of mary-janes, this is the perfect look for fall.  A helpful styling tip: accessorize with colors picked up from your favorite printed skirt like I did with the red necklace.                                                                     - Lauren Berger

Steal My Style:

Dior Sunglasses $94.99

Louis Vuitton Cardigan $89.99

Mark Shale skirt $45.99

Neil Perreira Necklace $84.99

Sigerson Morrison Heels $42.99

Vintage Purse $32.99

MGO Spring Fashion Show with Le Thrift

This spring was an amazing show with MGO Fashion Company and Le Thrift. This video is the show - featuring clothing and accessories from Le Thrift Consignment Boutique (www.LeThrift.com), filmed and edited by the talented Casey Mitchell. 

Stay tuned for our video highlighting vintage inspired, gorgeous summer styles in Chicago, partnering with Virgil Solis from Rubyhornet.com! Can't wait to release the pictures and video!

This August will be The Wicker Park Fashion Fest produced by MGO Fashion Company. We will post videos of the show premiering our fall collection of vintage and designer (Pucci, Hermes, Chanel, BCBG, Michael Kors and much more.

A Moment In Time

Now after spending Valentine's Day with my love, I started to think about romance, the meaning of it all and what it meant to our ancestors years ago. How have times changed? How do we share romantic gestures? 

A very cute vintage Valentine's Day card from the 1930's.

As Steve and Johnnie from Life After Dark, a WGN AM radio talk show guest commented, there has been a communication breakdown with our loved ones in the past years due to technology (my boyfriend has AM radio on all the time in the house.. on a transistor radio). That over 70% of Americans text each other "I love you" rather than saying it directly to one another. This as a result has changed the effect of those three words. Do we now take it granted from our significant others? Has our idea of romanced changed? Or is it rather the way we communicate to one another is all together different?

This also translates into our culture and even the way our goods are produced these days. Larger manufacturers, cheaper materials in our housing, processed fast food and the urgency to have material goods right away. In a fast paced nation of "we want it right now and for a cheaper price," some of the romance of the way things are made has diminished.

 Vintage Bag Advertisements

A few weeks ago, a wonderful woman from Elgin, IL decided to consign some of her mother's gorgeous vintage purses from the 1920's and 30's. When I saw them, I literally fell in love. After doing a little research on each bag, it was hard to imagine these things were hand made. Each precious thread and bead so carefully crafted to create these romantic little purses. 

A purse factory in the 1930's.

I tried to even imagine an artistan in Paris or Austria sitting there day in and day out arduously giving their talents into these little treasures. Something that was expected at this time, but such a rarity in today's standards. There was some romance and mystery to this. Did this person have a special Valentine or romance waiting for them at the end of their tiresome and long day?

Did the woman who bought these purses wear them for special occasions or with her favorite date?

These thoughts made me remember that showing your love, whether it is a labor of love or the love of my life, that I should take the time to tell them that I love them to their face or dedicate more time to the things I love creating. With that said, the next time I am writing a love letter to my Valentine, hopefully he will gladly remember that moment in time.

Here are the gorgeous little treasures I am now consigning at LeThrift.com

 Vintage Micro Petit Point Purse 

Austrian, circa 1930's

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Vintage Enameled Mesh Purse  - Art Deco 

German, circa 1930's

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Vintage French Hand Beaded Handbag 

French, circa 1920's

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Vintage Whiting and Davis Gold Mesh Hand Bag

American, circa 1930's

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 What do you think? Do you adore these purses as much as I do? I would love to hear your feedback.

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WE LOVE YOU VALENTINE! SALE

Also, don't forget, we are having our "We Love You... Valentine" Sale. All items are 25% off until Friday  2/18/11. Use Promo code LTValentine in the promo discount area when checking out your order.