It’s no secret that I love to dress up. Growing up, I didn’t realize how unusual and cool it was that fashion became such an integral part of our household. Don’t even get me started about my grandmother’s wardrobe.
What’s even more unusual is that neither of my parents worked in the fashion industry, but they both treated clothes in the same way some people treat art or architecture. He appreciated the craft, the silhouette, the feeling that comes from wearing a particular item. To this day, my parents stay tuned to all the latest runway shows and they often play them on their TV as background noise.
Despite my father’s appreciation for design and fashion, his motto has always been, “Invest in a few wonderful items that will last you a lifetime.” My brother and I grew up always wearing short clothes, linen and wool sets. I was often found picking out my clothes from head to toe and playing dress up in my mom’s wardrobe every night before elementary school.
Years later I inherited many of these pieces, and I still can’t believe the condition of these items. They’re decades old and still feel substantial, the fabrics have weight, the tailoring is precise, and the styles feel timeless but fresh at the same time. At the time, so much emphasis was placed on the construction and materials used that these designs have truly stood the test of time. To me, many of these pieces look more interesting than what is on the market now.
There are certain designers that appear again and again in my parents’ wardrobe. One of the most popular is Claude Montana. My mom wore a lot of her pieces, and they instantly transported me to that era of bold power dressing. Montana was known for the extreme silhouettes, dramatic shoulders and sense of architecture in his designs.
If you’re into vintage fashion and appreciate designers like Azzedine Whether it’s Alaia or Mugler, especially known for strong sculptural shapes, you’ll absolutely love Claude Montana. The content is thick and structured in such a way that it seems almost impossible to find it anymore.
Even today, I go to my mom and dad for fashion advice. He taught me early on that great style doesn’t mean chasing the new thing. It’s about design, quality and recognizing pieces that will still feel relevant decades later. Looking at his wardrobe now and looking at the pieces he gave me, they were perfect.
Below are some of my favorite pieces from my parents’ wardrobe and how I wear them.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
One of my favorite pieces is this baby blue Cloud Montana ruffle set that my mom wore years ago, which I actually wore on my honeymoon in Lake Como.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
Then we have my father’s iconic vintage Barney’s NY leather jacket, which, as you can see, has worn beautifully over time. I can’t believe how solid the color was at that time.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
One of the first things I borrowed from my mom is this blue cutout cinched Cloud Montana blazer. Here’s one styled with my mom’s first patent leather Chanel bag which I also have! Even the quality of this Chanel bag was very different at that time.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
This vintage embellished dress is unlike anything I see designers making right now, and the gold fish detail makes it feel even more special considering I have my own fish bag from my brand Vin.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
A vintage Valentino moment – playing with colors is all the rage right now and I haven’t seen anything like it on the market.
(Image credit: Claudia Lee)
(Image credit: Courtesy of Claudia Lee)
Another masterpiece from Claude Montana. My mom saw it as a set with a matching skirt, but I love to wear it with trousers, shorts, jeans – it honestly works with any and everything.
