(Photo via Amy Yee)
Each year you politely implore your relatives to gift you “gift certificates only, please,” and each year they let you down. It might as well be a tradition at this point– that inevitable, subtly passive aggressive, five-times-too-large homely sweater, that was without a doubt harvested from the clearance section.
But suck it up and smile for the camera, even if the fabric vaguely smells of urine, and return the dang thing. Because if you pool your sweater money, you’ll be rewarded handsomely in the afterlife (i.e., I Survived the Holidays January 2016) with cash to spend at Maeven vintage, popping up in Greenpoint throughout the month of January.
Maeven’s owner, Amy Yee, is a vintage vet– and having spent the last 17 years digging up great vintage finds, she certainly qualifies as such. “You see so much of the same stuff over and over again,” she told us over the phone. This sameness fatigue has inspired Yee to go for pieces that combine two important qualities: first, they have to be different and unexpected, and second they have to be high quality, but relatively affordable at the same time. “That’s the most important thing about vintage,” she said.
Metallic blouse (Photo courtesy of Maeven)
For the month of January, Yee will be taking over 170 Franklin Street, home to the booze purveyors of Duke’s Liquor Box. She’ll pack as much in there as she can, but assured us: “It’ll still be shoppable.” Yee’s bringing in furniture, and will set up window displays and proper fitting rooms, all to make her patrons feel comfortable– honestly, these things are something of a luxury when it comes to vintage, particularly when we’re talking pop-up shops.
Yee’s also bringing in Shahla Karimi, a local jewelry designer and friend, to sell her wares for a weekend of January 16 through 17.
(Photo courtesy of Maeven)
(Photo courtesy of Maeven)
Yee normally has her studio inside the Pencil Factory, where she takes private shopping appointments. The place is “jam packed with goods,” which she’ll be pulling from to stock the pop-up space all month long. As for what you can expect to find, Yee explained that she doesn’t place an emphasis on “any particular era,” but is rather more concerned with picking “classic” pieces like denim. You’ll find Levi’s, denim jackets, dresses, and shorts. “There will be lots and lots of denim,” she said. “Denim everything.”
Her emphasis on keeping it classic doesn’t mean Yee’s looking completely backwards, she’s also got her eyes to the streets for current trends. “I’ve seen lots of matching sets, knit sets, 70’s,” she said, ticking off the current sartorial mood. “Lots of shearling, turtlenecks.” Expect to find on-trend items that are stylish without being over-the-top. “I’m definitely picking and pulling pieces with an eye towards things that are wearable and feel relevant,” Yee explained. “I’m always looking quality fabrics and notable tailoring, always conscious of being able to offer value to customers.”
Maeven vintage pop-up runs from January 2 to January 31, open Tuesday through Sunday, 12 pm to 8 pm at 170 Franklin Street.
Click thumbnails for more photos.
