Poppy Madness

Director/Photographer Poppy de Villeneuve is no stranger to vintage. Her mom, Jan Ward was a well known model in the early 70's. She worked with some of the great photographers of her time, like Norman Parkinson and Bill Gibb and would often get clothes from the shoots. So it's no surprise that  her vintage collection is as priceless and enviable as those mousy looks that made her famous. "My mom always influenced me to search for clothes that are ultimately ME," says Poppy with a sense of gratitude. And if that wasn't enough supermodel behavior, Poppy's dad Justin discovered Twiggy and lived with her for over 10 years! "Having those images around the house definitely influenced my style. I discovered my dad's old furs and leather pants. All a bit big for me, but my boyfriend has inherited his suits!" Poppy exclaims.

And then there is Poppy's involvement in a fun vintage magazine out of London, called Cheap Date, probably the first magazine of its kind. Launched in early 2000 by Kira Jolliffe, Cheap Date published vintage stories and features and collaborated with influential people like Liv Tyler, Bay Garnett and Craig McDean.  Poppy describes how she and another Cheap Date editor, "Iris Palmer lived together on Portobello Road and would run out when it started raining. A lot of the vendors would pack up in a haste and leave stuff behind. We found some amazing pieces there and shot them for the magazine. Cheap Date was anti-fashion, anti-dotal even though most of us were in the fashion industry in some way or another."

Poppy and I were both in Miami for Art Basel and had made plans to go vintage shopping at C. Madeleine's, a vintage store in North Miami that came highly recommended by any connoisseur I consulted. I was prepared for a high flux of fabulousness but when we entered the store we almost had a stroke! C. Madeleine's is huge! And it's practically impossible to grasp the entire content of the immense, impressive stock of clothing and accessories they carry. It took all my strength and dedication to stop shrieking and hyperventilating.

Poppy wears a Moschino skirt (made from decorative ribbons), 
Comme des Garcons T-shirt and what I call the ultimate Queen Latifah hat!

Givenchy sweater, Peerless of Boston floor length jersey skirt
and Fendi shoes

Jan and Justin de Villeneuve on their wedding day

House of Renfrew cotton and suede dress and straw hat

In the midst of our dress up party, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony showed up at
C. Madeleine's. It was also their first visit to the Miami treasure trove and they were as overwhelmed and psyched as we were about the incredible inventory. 
Kathy is wearing the 70s silk dress she bought.

Humberto is wearing 80's Versace men's pantalons and his own T-shirt.
Humberto told me he's been collecting men's and women's vintage clothes since collage. 

I am wearing Oscar de la Renta brocade jacket with fur trim cuffs, 
wool skirt and Chanel hat

Oscar de la Renta sparkle yellow cardigan, Maillaparty wool tricot skirt, Moschino belt,
Ginnie Johansen belt, Guiseppe Zanotti kitten heels with metal fish motif.
Man, I love this outfit but it was probably about $2000 all together.

Poppy bought Great Gatsby inspired Gianfranco Ferre white shorts (with the tags still on).
Humberto got an antique wall clock (amongst other fun stuff).

Sheepskin jacket and patchwork, belted dress