Tag: vintage clothing

Ruby Boots Gets Her Glam On

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It’s not every day you see someone in the Nashville scene who has ditched the denim and opted for glitz and glam. It’s also not every day you meet someone like Nashville-based, Australian singer/songwriter Bex Chilcott (aka Ruby Boots). In an endless sea of cuffed denim, Bex is sure to catch your eye. (By the way, I love denim.)

Her bold posture and inquisitive gaze, alone, are alluring, but combine those with her embellished vintage duds, and it’s pure gold. Her style swings between edgy glam rock and Western-inspired wear (more rhinestone, less chaps). Either way the pendulum swings, her style is soaked in wonderful vibes reminiscent of the 1970s. Her Instagram is a dreamy feed of stylish second-hand pieces, including unitards, suits, bell bottoms, platform boots, and wide-brimmed hats. From my first Google search, I was digging Bex’s style and vibe, and I was really looking forward to working with her and learning more about what sparked her adventurous style.

 Music powerhouses such as Deborah Harry, Stevie Nicks, and Linda Ronstadt are a few of the trailblazers Bex draws inspiration from. Much like these icons, Bex has developed a specific style that speaks of her grit, resilience, and all-around badassery. She also stressed “inspiration, not imitation.”

Style Tip: When pulling inspiration from your style icon, do just that. Never imitate, unless you want to look like you’re playing dress up. Instead, take note of what is working for their personality, why it’s working for them, and build from there. Then, apply that same logic when curating your own wardrobe. Also, nothing is more striking than a person who is confident in their own skin!


I have to admit, following the shoot, I immediately wanted to raid her closet to see what other treasures she had. Honestly, I have never wanted to scout out someone’s closet more. Just the few retro gems I saw her model were embellished with fringe and sequined sleeves, and were cut from shimmery fabrics. Among the footwear were booties with cowhide detailing, thigh-highs (not photographed), and a chunky-heeled glitter boots. Nope, not a single basic item in the collection. Nothing new, overly trendy, ordinary, or cliché. Aren’t you curious about her closet, too? We may need a closet tour. 

Bex has successfully curated a stylish wardrobe using only pieces she loves. These pieces currently highlight her preferred personality traits — ferocity and defiance. If you dig Bex’s vintage duds, here are a few of her Nashville faves: High Class Hillbilly, Electric Thread, Gun Street Goods, Goodbye Girls, and 8th Ave Vintage.

Even though this powerhouse babe has a grand collection of lust worthy duds, I believe she could captivate an audience in any old rag.

Take a moment to check out her latest music video for “Don’t Talk About It.”

Clothing: Laura Citron (black and silver top) / Opium Vintage (red jacket) / Ola_Mai (Gold Dress)
Location: Marathon Village / Photo Asist: Beca Lewis Skeels

Jonny P Wears It Well

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On a recent gray summer morning, Jonny P and I met up at 8th Avenue Antiques in Nashville, Tennessee. From the exterior, 8th looks like an excellent antique shop you’d check out for furniture and other home goods — and it is. But it is also a trove of well-preserved vintage clothing. I arrived a little early to get my camera set up inside the shop, keeping one eye on the door. Folks young and old trickled in wearing their sleepy, rainy day duds and then in walked Jonny P. I had never met him before, and he was backlit from the cloudy soft-box-like light outside, but without question, I knew it was him just by his stride and silhouette. He’s the only man I’ve seen in Nashville with a silhouette that sharp. As for the stride, it’s one that says style is more than the items you wear.

For those not really hip to Jonny P and all his skills, he was once the “J” in J and HP Clothing that provided both ready-to-wear and custom items ranging from re-purposed vintage to bespoke suiting. With a history of tailoring, suiting, and vintage riding in his back pocket, it’s no wonder his stylish ways appear to be effortless.

Other than his ability to tailor his wardrobe to his build, something unique to his style is the way he combines textures, styles, and color in non-traditional ways. Pulling inspiration from suited older men and trend-setting skate culture, his outfits almost always combine current staples and fun vintage pieces in a fresh way. He calls his current wave of style funky-urban, tailored vintage, and he wears it well.

In a culture saturated in fast fashion, it makes sense that the person drawn to the art of tailoring would also have a great appreciation for the craftsmanship of past clothing. The quality and vibe created in those old, woven threads have withstood decades, inspired countless designers, and cannot be duplicated. After about a half-hour or so of talking and studying the items Jonny P took interest in, I had questions … How does one know what vintage pieces will hold up? What alterations are possible? What makes a vintage piece a good addition to mix in with a current closet? Since Jonny P is the expert in tailoring and vintage, I trusted him to educate me in what to look for in a lasting vintage piece, especially one that I purchase with the intention of altering.

When considering a vintage purchase, Jonny P keeps his selection terms pretty simple. He’s on the hunt for uniqueness, quality, and the right price:

  • Uniqueness: Beautiful silhouettes, colors, patterns, textures, unabashed voice, and vibe are immediate draws. Right now, Jonny P is especially interested in patchwork and collegiate details.
  • Quality: Making sure the fabric is durable enough for more mileage is important, especially in tension areas such as knees, butt, elbows, and along the seams — strong stitching, attention to detail, seams.
  • Price: Since the item will most likely need alterations, make sure the original cost is low enough that the additional cost of alterations doesn’t surpass the value of the item itself.

When purchasing a piece — new or old — with hopes of alterations, there are two main problem areas to be aware of:

  • Shoulders: According to Jonny P, the shoulder area is one of the trickiest to alter. When interested in a shirt or jacket, do yourself a favor and make sure the fit in the shoulders is good from the start.
  • Sleeve length: Sleeves can always be shortened, but if the sleeve is a questionable length, roll it back and check the seam allowance. Make sure there is room to let it out, if necessary.

Other than those two areas, most alterations are possible. Jonny P left me with one final bit he believes to be true: Style isn’t the items you wear; it’s you and how you wear the pieces.

We had a rainy end to our meet up. He got in his candy red ’64 Chevy Impala, grabbed his Stetson from the passenger seat, posed for one last shot while the rain picked up and then headed out. As for me, my previously straightened hair was curling up and frizzing. I caught a glimpse of my crazy hair in the reflection of my car window, laughed, and told myself to wear it well.

Nikki Lane: Vintage Is As Vintage Does

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“I’ve never had that moment … where you walk in and a girl has your dress on — that doesn’t happen to me. That doesn’t happen to the people I get to work with and curate ideas for because we’re not using something that’s already been mass-produced. We’re trying to create a look that someone else will mass produce because we’ve given them that inspiration.” — Nikki Lane

Nikki Lane’s passion for rescuing vintage pieces, or puppies as she jokingly refers to them, began when she was a stylist in Los Angeles and New York City. She took note of the vintage items designers such as Karl Lagerfeld were pulling their inspiration from. Those vintage pieces — the OGs, themselves — inspired everything from the fabric weave and color patterns, to the structure of items that hit the runway to become the next mass-produced fad. Seeing firsthand the chain of the fashion industry production, Nikki fell in love with vintage — the inspiration itself. From then on, she worked to create looks, for herself and clients, that others would want to recreate instead of wearing something that’s already available in the market.

Her love of vintage and drive to create original looks led her to an oversized personal collection of clothes sitting in a backroom, that eventually grew to a horse trailer, and now the 600-square-foot shop that is High Class Hillbilly. All items have been personally vetted by the stylish singer/songwriter and, if it’s not something she loves, it doesn’t make the cut.

When it come to her personal style, only her shoes, underwear, and single pair of Imogene + Willie jeans are new. Everything else, head-to-toe, is vintage. Juggling a shop and music career, Lane looks for individualized vintage clothing she can function in while she’s in town or on tour. She’s created an iconic look that follows her lifestyle and plays a huge part in her cohesive brand.

After speaking with Nikki about her vintage pursuit, I have a few bits to pass along to those interested in their own collection:

– Thrift stores and vintage shops are not the same. Sure, every now and then you’ll get lucky and find an awesome vintage piece at the thrift store, but most the time, it’s just older clothing. Flea markets, antiques shops, estate sales, and High Class Hillbilly are good places to start your vintage collection.

– Good vintage shoes/boots are rare. If you come across a beautiful pair, don’t think twice, make them yours.

– If you don’t own a pair of vintage Levi’s, your ass is missing out. Seriously, they make your butt look amazing and the denim holds up a lot longer than today’s Levi’s.

– Never underestimate the power of an ol’ Stetson. Try to keep one at arm’s reach or, at least, in your car.

– If the vintage item doesn’t work for you, just re-sell it. It’s already be worn for years, so no one will be weird about you trying it out for a few days.

– Classic red nail polish goes with every single outfit.

– When you create a style that follows your lifestyle and interests, you can count on having forever pieces versus trendy pieces.

Pro Tip: Chances are, if you start owning more than a handful of vintage pieces, you may find yourself in need of a good Alterations Specialist. I cannot stress how important it is for you to do your homework and read the reviews. Your best bet is almost always taking your prized vintage to someone based off recommendations. If you are nervous about sending your most treasured piece to an alteration shop, start by taking something you are less attached to.

Do you have any favorite vintage spots in town? Any recommendations on a killer alterations shop? Let us know!