Meet San Diego local and vintage fashion collector Gillian Flynn.
PHOTO BY BECCA BATISTA
THE COLLECTOR
As a longtime journalist and magazine editor, Gillian Flynn’s artful eye has been curated through her ability to forecast trends, which she now applies to the world of vintage fashion. The Del Mar resident has parlayed her editorial career into her current role as a brand strategist and passionate vintage collector. Her Instagram account, @the.vintage.editor, showcases the more than 2,500 pieces in her arsenal, which she’s kind enough to share with her devoted shoppers. “I am always happy to release them into the world, which reflects my general philosophy in life. If I hold on too tightly, I won’t make room for anything else,” says Flynn, a member of the Covet by Christos network, who exclusively stocks her vintage pieces at Van De Vort boutiques at One Paseo and Flower Hill. “I buy entire closets, so open space is vital.”
THE PASSION
Flynn’s sources of inspiration are boundless. “If you know fashion history, you know its future, I am constantly looking at runways on the Vogue Runway app and books and old magazines at RSF Book Cellar, getting a sense of codes that fashion houses are reviving,” she notes. As for which designer creations are most coveted, she cites a few. “Tom Ford’s era at Gucci will always be seminal along with Phoebe Philo’s era at Chloe and Celine. As for the other big houses, Dior and Saint Laurent remain juggernauts,” she says. “With the forthcoming series [The New Look on Apple], and the commercial success of current designer Maria Grazia Chuiri, Dior silhouettes will continue to be prized.”
THE TAKEAWAY
“Vintage is going nowhere, as proven by the red carpets and the record-breaking Sotheby’s auction of Princess Di’s sweater,” notes Flynn, who personally adores anything tuxedo by Saint Laurent. “Vintage is confi dence within reach. I can grab something from my closet and walk out the door, certain that nobody will have what I’m wearing. Plus, vintage has a story to tell. Who can say that about Zara?”
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