Four Things On My Mind This Week
Wherein I Further Submit to the Idea of Using Lists as a Format
Getting used to the idea of these shorter list posts. They’ll definitely be something to lean on this fall, as things chez Callaway get busy. Without further ado, four things that are on my mind this week.
1. My massive vintage liquidation sale. Maybe it’s a little gauche to call something of your own creation “epic,” but damn if this sale wasn’t just that.
My friends and fellow vintage slingers, Andra and Vadie, and I were floored by how many folks showed up to shop our closets and my backstock vintage on Saturday, Sept. 16. Just before our start time of 11 AM, there were 68 people lined up outside the electra eggleston studio, waiting to come in. WOW! After that, it was a steady flow of shoppers — some of them waiting up to two hours, in the rain (I am so sorry, guys!) — until we closed at 4 PM.
It was exciting to see how much love for great vintage there is in this city, where, when I started selling secondhand clothes semi-professionally in 2005, there were only a handful of dealers and a smallish cult of shoppers. We all knew each other then. Today, with the proliferation of local stand-alone businesses, pop-ups, fairs, and even sales on Instagram, vintage is a vital part of Nashville’s retail community, with a fan base that gets younger every year thanks to the sustainability angle and the ridiculous prices of new clothes.
I sold at least 85% of what I brought to the sale, which pre-sale filled a truck, the back of my SUV, and a station wagon. I have downsized my storage space, cleared out some psychic space that I can refill with new creative ventures, and am feeling 1000% at peace with my decision to let it all go. While I’ve loved selling vintage on the side all these years, I’m very happy to change my focus from seller to collector again. It’s time.
Mega thanks to Sarah Baer, a good friend who stopped by to bring me a pre-sale coffee from the new East Nashville location of Osa and ended up staying all day to play traffic cop and document the whole shebang. We love you, Sarah!
1. Steven Meisel boiler suit from Zara. I didn’t expect myself to be as down with the current nostalgia for ’90s fashion as I am. But then what style devotee doesn’t want to remember an era when fashion magazines were flourishing, supermodels were enjoying their golden age, and directional minimalism was king? (My current saved searches on The Real Real are an homage to some big players active in the Clinton-era: Jil Sander, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe, Romeo Gigli and, as always, Margiela.)
Another timeless superstar of fashion who really came into his own in the ’90s is photographer Steven Meisel, a downtown staple whose creativity and provocative (he shot Madonna’s Sex book after all) made him a perennial favorite of models and editors. (I am happy that I had the presence of mind to save issues of Italian Vogue from that era featuring his work, which played out in enormous spreads — we’re talking dozens and dozens of pages — and covered his take on conceptual themes ranging from mental institutions to circuses to celebrity tabloids. They’re all highly collectible.)
Meisel is having a moment. First, there was a big museum show debut in Spain late last year, followed by a new book that dropped during New York Fashion Week — Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel, featuring what I am sure are incredible photos of one of the ‘90s most iconic face. Then, last week, he debuted a fast-fashion collection for Zara.
The line is super sexy, androgynous, almost entirely black. The clothes are spare but luxe, and the quality of the materials has been amped up (think: real leather). There are both men’s and women’s pieces, but honestly the whole line could be considered unisex. And of course, Meisel shot the campaign.
My favorite: the supremely oversized boilersuit. It reminds me of something that might have been worn by another beloved fashion: the late Stephen Sprouse, who I adored. Anticipating the jumpsuit’s roominess, I got an S, which is still quite big. But I’m into it. I have a feeling these pieces are going to become collectors’ items, so get thee to a Zara, tout suite.
2. The debut of Artville. This Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 1 you won’t be able to throw a rock in Wedgewood-Houston without hitting an artist thanks to Artville, a new three-day visual art festival that highlights the work of local and national artists. Some of the artists taking part include Derrick Adams, Charles DuVernay, Rachel Hayes, my old pal Bryce McCloud, and my aforementioned bestie Vadis Turner.
The event is the brainchild of another friend, Samantha Saturn, who is carrying on a family legacy with this project. Artville will feature 20 public art installations and murals — including an installation by Jason Skinner of Bougettes & Arrows constructed on the fence of my rad client, Weiss Watch Company (405 Humphreys Street at the corner of Little Hamilton) — as well as shows at local galleries throughout the neighborhood and city. Most of the schedule is free, suitable for kids, and open to the public. You can secure tickets for select events and artist talks here.
3. Mayor Freddie O’Connell. As of Monday at 8 AM, FO’C was sworn in as Nashville’s new mayor. The large margin of Freddie’s victory over a conservative challenger left no doubt that after four years of a largely pro-business mayor (and I’d be lying if I said that this has been a terrible thing: my property value and business growth thank you, Mayor Cooper), the voters of Metro Nashville think that a progressive, pro-people leader is what the city needs at this critical juncture in our history.
Congratulations, Freddie! We can’t wait to see your Nashville take shape.
Now it’s time to turn our attention to East Tennessee, where Tennessee Three star Gloria Johnson has kicked off her Senate campaign against Marsha Blackburn. All the Dems reading this — and I’m talking about Dems everywhere, readers in LA, NYC and beyond — please consider making a donation to support Gloria’s campaign. We’re on a mission to turn Tennessee blue again and need all hands on deck.
Until next time!
Libby
Hello Libby,
Checks for Gloria Johnson can be sent to: Gloria for Tennessee, 73 White Bridge Rd #103-353,
Nashville, TN 37205
Lynette Purdue