Advice needed on a Vintage Clothing Store

M

mrsyke

Registered Guest
Hi ALL,

I would like you input on the following site www.retrospectinternational.com please check it out and let me know what you think of the site. Its a new site just starting out but they are advertising in all the BIG fashion magazines so its deffinatlly wotrh looking at. They also tell me they have MANY more products there still uploading to the site.


Many Thanks ,

Simon.
 
Hi,

I think the site looks great.

But, there are a few things I would point out, and I hope you were wanting honest feedback.

I think the site will lose a lot of potential customers by not having garment measurements in the listings of ALL items (i only see them in one or two), nor details of condition. There are not a lot of items on the site that a collector would buy regardless of size or condition.

I also think that the price point might scare people off, even for a high end customer base. Rmemeber, even Vogue is telling readers about "vintage bargains" . For an item to command a high price, it has to truly have something special about it whether it be a known name or unique fabric, or stellar construction. High end customers won't pay a high end price just because its vintage. $539 US is very steep for a basic 50s Little Black Dress without a collectible name or more vavoom to it in cut or fabric. Those type of dresses are very common.

I am sorry, I don't want to sound negative, but unless you have a physical shop, there is a lot of competition on the internet and to charge the prices you need to have it ALL - not just good service, but measurements, and you have to be offering something that they just cannot find anywhere else.
 
I agree on the pricing and lack of pertinent information about condition etc. I would also say that the images are way too small for even those with the best eyesight and I wouldn't buy if I could only see one photo (and a tiny one to boot!)

Labels are pretty important for designer pieces, I'm fairly sure that blue Biba dress is a modern one (from their 90s relaunch) - the lack of a label photo would make me even more sure of that.

Best of luck with it!!!

Liz
 
I agree with above posts, the pictures are vague and show minimal details.
FYI; There has been alot of talk about the maniquin versus real person..and results are most prefer to see an item on a maniquin. ..unless it's someone famous.
 
Some sellers can and do use live models successfully. However, the model has to suit the era/look that they are going for, look like they are at ease and natural in the outfit (not strained or "roped into it") and their hair has to also suit. You have to at the very least not distract from the clothing, as you are selling clothing, not advertising work for the model.

When you click onto the site, you see an illustration of an elegant vintage lady - perhaps a hollywood starlet. It suggests glamor and that things are presented with an air of historical accuracy. And then there is the elegant lady with the hat. When you get inside, its a different story. The model exhibits are appealing to a modern person who likes to wear vintage things on occasion. But you still want to, if the prices are what they are, want to go that extra mile.

Your model appears to be very at ease wearing the skirts and they suit her.

However, when you get to the LBD her expression looks a little more strained, and her hair is just all wrong. I am not saying because she has wavy hair...it just distracts from the dress and you notice the hair instead of the outfit. I might suggest a french twist or at least pulled away in some way. It is not specific to any era - actually acceptable for all eras (french twist), and is classic (as the slogan is "classic clothign"). Also, I really find the dress hard to see the details on and am wondering if it isn't actually early 60s. But again, it is so hard to tell.

Also, as far as accessorization, the hat would make more sense if the hair is up.

As far as the 60s suit, the model looks very at ease and having fun. I might not retake the photo, but again, hair up would really set this outfit off. And if they are asking for these prices, you want every reason for someone to buy something.

Again, not to be harsh, but if these prices are being charged, then you have to be very high end in every way.
 
Thankyou, for your tactful and honest input..everything I wanted to say but couldn't find the right words.
 
I have to agree on the need for more and larger photos, including closeups and labels plus actual measurements. I always want to see a full length view of the garment, wihtout it being cut off.

The pricers are actually quite high , and you do need to provide everything to sell at that level.

There are a nummber of high end websites that the owners may want to look at for presentation - vintagetextile.com, isadoras.com and thefrock.com are all well presented and in the higher end of the market.

Hollis
 
well many of the items are not dated!!! nor condition given. the pics are all wonky...and the prices well...a frank usher dress from the '80s £399..er excuse me but l dont think so...a mention of ossie if appropriate perhaps but no way no!!

on one page it showed details of a top and dress bOTh showing the same dress as pics...

it looks like someone trying too hard to make a buck on the back of the media hype on the current 'vintage hype'

l'm sorry if its someone you know...but asked for our opinions... have a look at our margarets images for some great pics..model, styling and great vintage!!

l think there are many better established, less expensive sites out there!!
l do think all sites need two things.....1/something different form the rest to make them stand out.....2/ something personal, this one is a tad too sanitary....

hope this helps..
 
I agree with all that is said here and without seeming to be unkind, I do think the model is not right, particularly the hairstyle and knowing "how to wear" vintage, which is extremely important. Also, yes, the pics are wonky, on my screen many look stretched out of proportion and are unclear. The prices are too high for the items offered. More details needed on items and more pics, clearer pics, larger pics.
 
Speaking as a fashion collector myself I have to say what would put me off from buying from the web site is the lack of details on the items, Even if I am not interested in a particular item I do read what is said about it ,so that I can judgement as if the retailer has a good knowledge of what they are selling.
I am not saying that you do not , but with so little been said about each item their is no way I can get the confidence to consider buying anything. especially as you are asking for £975 for 1940s Heavy Beaded Evening Dress, I would need a lot more detail first photos etc .
I cannot easily see a contact address (postal) name of the owner , or the postage and insurance, or detail of how you intend to deliver that maybe just I have not found them.
Any way I am sorry to be so negative but that is just my thoughts

Paul
 
I cannot easily see a contact address (postal) name of the owner , or the postage and insurance, or detail of how you intend to deliver that maybe just I have not found them.

Paul has a good point. When charging the prices, you have to put the customer at ease that the merchant does exist, and can be contacted by mail or by phone.

I am not so particular when buying a $5 item if i really want it because i am willing to take a risk, but if its $500, I really would like to see a physical address and a phone number just in case a package should go missing.
 
I agree with what has been said, and on the case of using a real person/ a mannequin, on ebay at least, it always puts me off slightly when someone is wearing the clothes. Its hard to imagine you wearing the dress/skirt etc, when someone else is. Even if someone’s cropped the head off, in my opinion at least, it looks better.
 
Talking about mannequins and off track slightly, what do you think of the people who use the cutest girl with the big boobs and or male with the ..emm I will stop there..tee hee..funny thing is half the time people are not bidding on the garment but the look of model.

I do agree that some people model vintage clothing very well, without looking like the item belongs to them, as well as having the right look for the era they are portraying.
 
Jumping a little late onto the train here but I gotta agree with what everyone else is saying. The photos are too small and lack detail and refinment. The lighting is particularly poor and does little emphasize the quality of the garments. You should have photos of the details, such as buttons, embroidery, etc, of the clothing as well.

And like others have said, the model, should you choose to continue the model route, should be styled differently for clothing from different eras. Furthermore, the fact that the backgrounds have been replaced by blank white space is rather aesthetically distracting as well. Personally I like it when a garment is photographed against a relatively plain backdrop of color, such as black or gray or another neutral environment. But that the garment is in and environment, and not scissored out of one, is key. Right now the photos look like a scrapbook or paper dolls.

If you're going to run such a high-end price range shop, it is necessary to make it seem like the shop is a cut above the other rank and file quality vintage stores online. The opening page of the site promises professionally styled/photographed garments but the customer is let down by much lower calibre images.

Suffice to say, I think the site has a lot of work ahead of it if it wants to achieve the status it's aiming for.

Good luck!

~Tiff
 
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