Norma Kamali’s contribution to the proliferation of sportswear is pretty much indisputable. Following her successful collaboration with Everlast last year, that took grey jersey out of it’s context and transformed them into wearable pieces with a twist, interest in her older archive pieces seem to have sky-rocketed. You can already have access to her wonderfully extensive vintage shoe, handbag and hat collection online but genuine 80’s pieces are a little harder to come by. I have my little eBay vintage designer collecting obsessions from time to time. Last year it was vintage YSL, this year it was vintage Gina shoes and now I’m loving Norma Kamali pieces. My rule is to never spend more than $50 on anything but I think that rule is fast wavering having checked out the high starting and reserve prices on these pieces.
Maxi Grey Cocoon Slouch Peacoat
Pearly Metallic Quilted Kimono Coat
There’s just something very current about the long cocoon grey coat or the structural volume of the black quilted vest. Is it the 20 year trend rotation rule striking again? Nicholas Ghesquiere may have taken Cristobal Balenciaga’s archive collection as a direct source of inspiration for the A/W06 collection but I also detect some similarity to Norma Kamali’s early collections for her OMO (On My Own) collection.
Now, I must go do some further eBay ferreting to bag a bargain Kamali piece.
I love Norma Kamali soooo much. I wish I could afford stuff from her Everlast collection.
I definitely frequently scour ebay for a Kamali bargain… maybe one day we’ll be bidding against eachother, lol!
Wow, I love the black quilted vest! The sleeves are just amazing.
The black quilted vest is adorable! It would look great on you, Susie! (hint hint)
Susie, as a fellow clothes “collector,” I would LOVE to know your secret to “not spending over $50 on anything”!! I really need to curtail my spending– my limit is $200 on a single item (most often that’s for shoes), but as a grad student you can understand how that put me in debt.
I love the long gray peacoat. I wish I could wear things like that, but alas, I’m an abnormally short person. Good luck on the under $50 rule, that seems quite the challenge.
Off topic, but I love your blog, do you mind if I link you?
I actually love that vest. I’m very into exaggerated sleeves/shoulders.
its me again… i know its a rather broad question, but about how much does vintage YSL cost?? (i know prices depend on what the item is, but since its YSL, is it too costly??) <3