Episode Details

On today's show, we're chatting with Annapurna Rogers, a Brooklyn-based vintage curator and the owner of Annapurna Vintage. Anna specializes in exceptional pieces from the 1960s through the 1990s for the modern woman – think well-constructed blazers, iconic coats, and those showstopper garments that elevate any wardrobe.

In this episode, she shares her journey from growing up as a thrift-loving kid in Portland, Oregon – where she'd walk to Valley Village and find mod 60s dresses to wear to middle school – to running the daily operations of the Arcade vintage store for A Current Affair in Industry City, Brooklyn, and eventually launching her own business.

She opens up about what she's learned from vintage-selling mentors, and about navigating the world of high-end vintage markets – including what's hot right now, and her philosophy on building a collection around quality and design

Plus, the unbelievable moment when Sabrina Carpenter's stylist reached out for a piece she'd just sold. What would you even do? It's a really fun one full of great stories and advice, so let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [2:52] Growing up, Annapurna visited the Value Village for vintage, and her mom made a lot of her clothes.
• [8:12] Her design internship in London that made her realize styling might be a good job for her
• [10:25] Her winding career path that eventually led her to vintage – - from restaurant management to high-end boutiques.
• [12:55] She started out in vintage by helping her friend get ready for the A Current Affair shows.
• [18:05] But she opened her Etsy store in 2016 to sell some of her personal collection
• [18:48] She gets her big break into vintage when A Current Affair opened a store in Industry City and needed a manager.
• [23:52] Learning to source based on public demand
• [31:04] How Annapurna developed her own vintage specialties.
• [34:33] She loves female designers like Anne Klein and Donna Karen.
• [41:19] Stocking both practical wardrobe staples and showstopper pieces, and the pressure dealers feel to find showstoppers for markets.
• [43:16] Preparing for major markets like A Current Affair and Pickwick.
• [47:16] What's hot right now: suede coats, leather jackets, feather coats, and silk slip dresses
• [51:02] When Sabrina Carpenter's stylist reached out for a piece she'd just sold
• [52:52] Holy grail finds she still thinks about, and other pieces from her personal collection

EPISODE MENTIONS:

• Annapurna Vintage
• Annapurna's Etsy
• Will, of The Find
• Pickwick Vintage
• A Current Affair
• Omnia
• Magpie Vintage
• Red