“In a way I’m not really concerned with labels,” said VTG Wonderland co-founder Kody Pangburn. “I get my fill of labels and high end designer at work. Of course, if money were not an issue, I’d definitely have more designer stuff, but only because of its longevity. I’d love a good pair of Rag & Bone boots, Acne jeans or a Balenciaga bag. But, I don’t need these things because of their labels. Having pieces that aren’t so noticeable is more practical for my style.”
I favor pants over skirts. And, well, pants literally over skirts.
Pangburn is all about practicality. The former theater costume designer and stylist grew up in rural Wisconsin where her biggest influence didn’t come from the runway. “My mom was very stylish, but she didn’t know it,” she said with a smile. “She favored unique pieces that were masculine yet casual. She wore a lot of pants, and that style carried over with me. In fact, my wardrobe staples now are literally my mom’s jeans.”
I’m not really concerned with labels, I like unique pieces no one else has.
Midwest mom style might not be the first thing one thinks about when they’re considering high fashion, but Pangburn often finds inspiration in unexpected places. “Phoebe Philo sort of started that whole mom-on-the-run style when she started wearing Nike’s with everything,” she noted. “That style is really in now. I noticed this year at Capsule Show that a lot of women were wearing dresses over pants with sneakers. It’s different, but it’s still comfortable and sexy.”
Phoebe Philo kind of set that sexy, casual mom trend.
“I like the juxtaposition of wearing really designer pieces with really low end pieces,” Pangburn explained. “I wear a lot of vintage pants that I get for very cheap, but I’ll wear them with, say, a Chanel jacket. Although, I got that for really cheap too!” Pangburn sources a lot of inventory for her company–which specialized in high end, designer accesories such as Chanel, YSL, and Celine–so she’s constantly out on the hunt. “I keep my eye open. You really have to hunt for designer pieces and it’s really fun to find them, but for the most part, I don’t really wear labels, I like unique one-of-a-kind pieces instead.”
Pangburn’s not about just vintage items though. “I love Zara, but who doesn’t? It’s so great and I can get my fix of what I like from my favorite designers like Jil Sander, Celine, and Chloe. I love things that don’t scream designer though. You’d never see me with a Celine bag just because everyone has one and it’s Celine. That’s not very me.”
