“I lived in the tackiest place ever—Orlando Florida,” photographer Victoria Phillips said about how she got into vintage. “Everyone wore the same thing and it was these really bad quality fabrics and designs. Vintage was cool because it was one of a kind; I knew no one was going to have it. Plus when you’re that age and getting compliments from the older generation, you feel pretty cool.”
I own over 100 vintage t-shirts.
Phillips split her time between Florida and Toronto where her dad lived. “My parents were divorced and I’m sure my dad didn’t know what to do with us when we came to visit, I mean, you can only visit the museum so many times,” she said with a laugh. “So of course, he took me shopping, but we went to vintage stores. In fact, I still have a lot of the stuff I got when I was 12 years old from this place called Dennis’s House Of Vintage.” Phillips remained in contact with Dennis the owner and still counts him as an influence to this day. “I was always asking him questions about vintage and now we do a lot of business with the same people.”
I still have a lot of the stuff I bought when I was 12.
The core of Philips’ style is her massive vintage t-shirt collection (she has hundreds). The key to wearing really worn in t-shirts she says is keeping the rest of your outfit pristine. “They’re so versatile,” she explained. “I wear them with shorts, skirts, jeans, pants, everything. I’ll keep everything really clean if I wear a t-shirt, especially since most of mine are destroyed at this point. I’ll make sure my nails are done and my hair isn’t too greasy and I’ll wear makeup and make sure my shoes are clean and nice.”
Beyond the Row met up with the Brooklyn photographer and vintage collector to get insider tips on how to style vintage t-shirts.
