86 Vintage: Little Sis' Boutique Grows Up
Strolling through 86 Vintage is like touring the dream wardrobe of Imitation of Christ’s Tara Subkoff when she was a 20-something-year-old kid.
Vintage summer frocks monopolize hangers at the Los Angeles store, and the space between them is sprinkled with reconstructed skirts, blouses and dresses. Purses from the ’60s and ’70s decorate the walls, while mod, cowboy and biker boots are neatly scattered about. Vintage belts and buckles are on display, along with cowboy hats and feathered earrings. Each accessory and every piece of clothing is playfully shown off to delight potential wearers.
Nestled in La Brea Avenue’s antique row, next door to its parent company, vintage shop Rock and Rodeo, 4-year-old 86 Vintage is finally coming into its own. What began as an outlet for Rock and Rodeo’s less collectible vintage has blossomed into a buzz-worthy boutique that offers a collection of fresh vintage gear and a growing selection of local designer works for women.
“86 was opened with the idea that there was something for anybody—we wanted to offer a wide variety and low price points to the public,” co-owner Robin Fauser said.
Though 86 Vintage recently turned to all girls’ gear, it continues in this spirit. Prices at the store, which is open seven days a week, never top three digits, unlike Rock and Rodeo, which is open by appointment only and carries high-end collectibles, such as Nudie suits that start at $10,000.
While Rock and Rodeo’s mix is more about singular pieces of rock couture, the merchandise at 86 Vintage is geared toward current trends in young womenswear. Still, both retailers are built on carefully hand-selected collections, and—despite a passionate regard for vintage—stand ready to dismantle decades of design.
“At Rock and Rodeo, sometimes clients will have us completely redesign a piece for them. We brought this service to 86 Vintage and recently began turning dresses into fresher skirts, or trimming button-down shirts into halter tops,” said Fauser’s partner, Mary Ossanna.
These 86 Vintage originals are ready-to-wear. If any jeans, tees and boots a buyer favors cannot be worn right off the rack, the owners will gladly tailor clothes to fit or “give a great pair of leather boots a little stretch for the perfect size,” Fauser said.
The mix of vintage and custom seems to be working. According to Ossanna, one 86 Vintage original was recently put on the racks only to be sold less than 30 minutes later, turning the store’s namesake into somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“To ’86’ something means that it’s no longer available,” she explained. “For example, if a restaurant special was salmon and they ran out of it, they would post ’86’ on the salmon. We applied 86 to vintage clothing because once an item is purchased, it can’t be replaced.” —Kristopher Dukes
