Grade A Vintage Has (Temporarily) Arrived to the Hamptons, Meet the Man We Have to Thank for It
Alina sits down with Cameron Silver, whose famed LA vintage shop, Decades, has come to the Hamptons for a one-month residency in Sag Harbor
If you’ve spent any time shopping in East Hampton this summer, you may have noticed a big change.
Chanel.
Source: Haute Living
Valentino.
Source: WWD
Source: WWD
Prada.
Source: CR Fashion Book
Source: WWD
They’re all part of the new retail landscape.
Call me provincial, but I still remember getting slightly offended when Starbucks came to town.
Don’t get me wrong.
I love a luxury shopping experience as much as the next person.
But what’s always been missing in the Hamptons, in my opinion, is a great vintage offering.
Until now.
Cameron Silver, owner of Decades — the Los Angeles vintage shop beloved by celebrities — is in the Hamptons for a one-month residency.
Photo courtesy: Cameron Silver
Over the years, Cameron has dressed almost every major celebrity for almost every major red carpet.
Decades owner Cameron Silver with Selma Blair, Source: Moodboard
Decades owner Cameron Silver with Marisa Tomei in vintage Traina-Norell, Source: Decades Inc.
This summer, Cameron Silver has partnered with Sage & Madison, a shop and home with rooms for rent located in the heart of Sag Harbor — you guessed it, on the corner of Sage and Madison.
Source: Sage & Madison
Source: Sage & Madison
Cameron has taken over a portion of the space and filled it with vintage Valentino gowns, chic upcycled items and a rotation of fabulous new things by designers like Etro, Loretta Caponi and St. John.
I sat down for a chat with Cameron last week.
We talked about why he’s in the Hamptons, why he got into vintage in the first place and his cool project with Julianne Moore.
WHY THE HAMPTONS?
ALINA CHO: I must say, the prospect of having Cameron Silver in the Hamptons, with a curated new mix of clothing, but also the best of Decades, that's a really enticing proposition. How did you get involved?
CAMERON SILVER: Well, last year I did a little test run, a two-week pop-up in Wainscott, and it was extremely successful.
ALINA CHO: Some new, some vintage.
CAMERON SILVER: Exactly. And then I met Chris Coffee, who owns Sage & Madison, and we came up with this idea. It isn’t so bad to spend a month in Sag Harbor.
ALINA CHO: Yeah, no kidding. At the height of high season.
CAMERON SILVER: It’s perfect. I recognized that the Hamptons wants retail that isn't ubiquitous. And this is a nice place for discovery. So, everything here is either one of a kind, vintage or exclusive, and it doesn't live online. It's really a visceral shopping experience.
Source: Cameron Silver
ALINA CHO: I feel like post pandemic, particularly after we've spent the last two years plus online shopping for slippers and sweats, that we're ready for the [in-person shopping] experience, aren’t we?
CAMERON SILVER: Completely. I just sold the most gorgeous, embellished Valentino floor-length gown. It was spectacular. People want to play dress up, they want to shop in person.
Source: Alina Cho
ALINA CHO: What’s on offer here?
CAMERON SILVER: Every week, there is a different guest international designer, with whom I've collaborated. Etro, Loretta Caponi, which is the most beautiful lingerie and chic daywear from Florence.
Loretta Caponi dresses at Cameron Silver's Sage & Madison pop-up, Source: Cameron Silver
Then, I’m also working with St. John.
ALINA CHO: That's a throwback.
CAMERON SILVER: St. John looks really, really good. And I think it deserves a little renaissance. I have found so many young people buying vintage St. John. And designers are buying it for inspiration.
ALINA CHO: And then, in the other room?
CAMERON SILVER: It’s a mix of vintage and pre-loved [items] from Decades.
Source: Alina Cho
And then I'm working with about 20 guest designers who are either up-cyclers or sustainable practitioners.
Source: Alina Cho
ALINA CHO: It’s your eye.
CAMERON SILVER: It's curated, yeah. What's so much fun is I only sell things I like.
CAMERON X JULIANNE MOORE
CAMERON SILVER: I’m working on a project with Julianne Moore, to raise money for what was then called The Actors Fund and is now The Entertainment Fund.
Source: Biography.com
ALINA CHO: You and Julianne are hosting an event on August 6th, right?
CAMERON SILVER: Yeah. Our goal is to raise about a million dollars for the fund.
ALINA CHO: So, she's going to be selling some of her old pieces?
CAMERON SILVER: We will have pieces from Julianne, from Viola Davis...
Source: Lifetime
... from Cate Blanchett.
Source: Biography.com
ALINA CHO: Get out.
CAMERON SILVER: Yeah, all these different actresses are donating, and it will be in an auction format.
ALINA CHO: But will you be able to see the pieces here?
CAMERON SILVER: Oh, yeah. They'll be here. But the auction will be living online. So, people can bid from anywhere.
WHY VINTAGE?
ALINA CHO: Let's talk about Decades. You opened in 1997.
Source: Decades Inc.
CAMERON SILVER: Yeah, 25 years ago.
ALINA CHO: So, that's crazy.
CAMERON SILVER: Yeah, a quarter of a century ago. 40 pounds ago.
ALINA CHO: Ha! What was your idea in the 1990s? Because vintage was not a thing.
CAMERON SILVER: I wanted to demystify vintage.
Source: Decades Inc
ALINA CHO: Meaning what?
CAMERON SILVER: Make it modern. I think prior to Decades, and other stores that emerged at the same time, vintage had a connotation of being more costume or super period.
ALINA CHO: Mm-hmm.
CAMERON SILVER: I could propose a flapper dress, but make it look like it's today. I always ask myself, “Does this look modern and is it sexy?” When I say sexy, I mean, does it make you feel good?
ALINA CHO: At the end of the day, if that's how a woman feels when she puts on a garment, she's buying it.
CAMERON SILVER: For sure, right? Have you ever watched a straight guy buy jeans? Stares at his ass for an hour. Everybody wants to look good.
ALINA CHO: It’s interesting because vintage is having such a moment again, and I look at my closet differently.
CAMERON SILVER: You probably are a better shopper.
ALINA CHO: I am. I always say, “Buy better fewer.”
CAMERON SILVER: So, I say that. “Buy less more better.” And that's my philosophy. It’s chic to repeat.
WHAT ABOUT NEXT SUMMER?
ALINA CHO: Will you be back next summer?
CAMERON SILVER: I mean, if we make money. So far, so good.
ALINA CHO: And you're here until when?
CAMERON SILVER: I'm here until the 15th of August every day, 9 AM to 6 PM.
Source: Sage & Madison
ALINA CHO: Good for you.
CAMERON SILVER: And I have the keys. So, if you want to come at three in the morning and shop, we could make it happen. Just knock on my door.