Gillian Flynn in vintage Chanel couture from her collection. “This dress feels like current Balmainor Alessandra Rich,” says Flynn. “The past has never been so present.” PHOTO BY BECCA BATISTA
A wordsmith by trade, former Modern Luxury editor Gillian Flynn has carved a new niche for herself as The Vintage Editor, through which she’s diving into the world of sustainable style. With a by-appointment-only showroom in Leucadia, the British-born New Yorker, who arrived in San Diego 20 years ago, is now on a high-octane venture into the world of vintage fashion. Follow along. @the.vintage.editor
1 Tell us about your new endeavor. Right now, every fashion house from Gucci to Prada goes to the archives for inspiration, so why not wear the original? It’s all about mixing the past and present to create a singular style. Whether it’s a hostess gift or a cocktail dress, people have grown tired of blending in. I vet the ultimate selection to help them stand out.
2 What sparked this new business? Like Lady Gaga, I was born this way. My mom pushed my pram though Camden in London, and I grew up shopping at flea markets and antique shops in NYC. Later as a magazine editor, I wore vintage on the party circuit. So, when I fled the corporate world, it unfolded pretty naturally.
3 What services do you offer and what kind of apparel can shoppers expect to find? I’m open for private appointments and small events at my studio in Leucadia. The collection features everything from YSL and Tom Ford-era Gucci to everyday outerwear. My clientele taps into vintage—not fast fashion—to reflect current trends. More than anything, though, they want the history and provenance. There’s no backstory to ‘made in China.’ Oh, and I always stock lots of midcentury barware.
4 What have been your most exciting finds? There’s the red Halston caftan, a Gucci leather trench from the ’70s and a Chanel tuxedo with elephant buttons. Coco was superstitious and enlisted lucky charms in her designs. I have some heroic art pieces too, but, sigh, people come to me for clothes.
5 What does the art of dressing well mean to you? Knowing what you wear. Everyone investigates the ingredients of their food. Imagine if we applied an ounce of that curiosity to our wardrobe.
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