Stepping into Lenny's Vintage Vault is a little like stepping into a time machine that drops you off some time between the 1920s and the 1960s. Immaculately kept dresses, gowns, hats and handbags are just some of the things from a forgotten era that adorn the walls of Steveston's vintage dress store.
Connected to the upcycling specialty boutique It's Posh! at 3480 Moncton St., owner Lenny Entwistle said most of the items are drawn from her personal collection that she started several years prior.
Visitors to the store may recognize some of the pieces that were previously on display at Entwistle's other business in the village, Lenny's Beauty Salon. In fact, that's how she got the idea to start a standalone store.
"I hold a lot of parties in the salon. I sold to clients. All my friends and clients came to
rent dresses," said Entwistle, whose dream was to have her own collectible shop.
Opening on Canada Day, she said timing was also right as the cyclical nature of fashion has made her business very relevant.
"I love vintage just because of the way it's made so well. That's why we're still wearing it today," she said, adding people are tired of the disposable nature that reflects much of modern clothing.
Entwistle increases the inventory to the Vault's mostly hand-made European collection each time she visits her native England and scours other shops, auctions and yard sales.
She said her love for the items she buys goes beyond simple aesthetics.
"It's the history, too - I want to know who it belonged to, what event they wore it to, and how much money they bought it for."
One side of the store features all black apparel, such as various styles of women's evening wear, hats and accessories, and the
other is an opposite mirror image with light cream coloured formal clothing and purses.
Some are for sale, and continuing the tradition at the beauty salon, some can still be rented.
Guys won't feel left out, either - while most of what is wearable is tailored to women, there is a "huge men's hairdressing collection" including several vintage hats.
Interspersed between all the clothing is everything else: old lamps and clocks, mid-20th century British dolls standing in a wooden trunk, antique dressers.
Locally made one-off items, often taken in from customers on consignment, such as vintage paintings can be found as well.
People may recognize Lenny's Vintage Vault as Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer, a fictional location that was used during filming for the ABC show Once Upon a Time.
