INTERVIEW: Deja Vu Vintage Finery

Posted by: Sarah Scheideman , February 1, 2012

When throwing an event like Doo Wop in the Desert, the number one most important thing is the people who attend the party. Our mission is to “bring back the art of romance” and we do so by setting the stage, creating the atmosphere, booking the musical talent – all to set the perfect tone. Then, we sit back and let the people take it from there…

From that point forward, it is the people who have the power to take the event to the next level. And how does one do that you might ask? By simply ‘dressing the part’ the night of. It’s quintessential for the party goers to add their theatrical element to the event to bring it to life, to be the performance artists.

So, where does one go to in the desert to get the perfect vintage, semi-formal attire for the evening – for men and women?…

A couple weeks ago, while casually strolling the boulevard (more commonly know as Palm Canyon in Palm Springs, and even more specifically the Uptown Design District) we stumbled across an adorable boutique that was nestled inbetween a clutter of store fronts. We poked our heads in out of interest from the window display and fell in love. Inside the boutique were classic threads from the 1950′s-1980′s. On the front door of the store was a flyer to a Mid-century fashion show that was going to take place at the Ace Hotel, curated by them. It was love at first sight! They had the element that was missing to Doo Wop in the Desert… the fashionable threads to dress the people and bring their characters to life and really make the event a memorable one…

The boutique that we walked into that day was the Deja Vu Vintage Finery. It is located at 664 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, CA. Not only is it just down the street from the Ace Hotel, but it is also a new local business in town that actually has a long history, and a bright future ahead.

Read below to learn more about their collection, their past, and their future.

Sarah of The Coachella Valley Art Scene: Tell me a little bit about Deja Vu’s history as a store….

Deja Vu Vintage Finery: We were previously located inside Caroldean’s Resale Therapy and now have moved to our wonderful new location in the heart of the Uptown Design District on North Palm Canyon Drive.

Old Location:

We are very excited to be in this neighborhood featuring lots of vintage furniture stores, clothing boutiques and retro shops as well as design oriented gift and accessory stores.

New Location:

Sarah of The Coachella Valley Art Scene: What are William Miller (Deja Vu shop Owner) and Caroldean Ross’s (business partner, Owner of Resale Therapy) backgrounds?

Deja Vu Vintage Finery: Caroldean Ross has been in retail and fashion for over 30 years with previous stores on El Paseo, as well as Resale Therapy.

William Miller is a noted Interior Designer, former model, collector and expert on all things vintage, especially fashion.

Sarah of The Coachella Valley Art Scene: Can you tell me a bit about the clothing that is sold in your boutique? What most inspires you about it?

Deja Vu Vintage Finery: We are inspired by the quality of the Vintage pieces that we carry. We have everything for Men and Women from The 1950’s to the 1980’s. Our clothing selections are all premium vintage of top quality.

(**currently in store, limited edition, Doo Wop in the Desert fashion rack!)

For example, have a large selection of Men’s and Women’s vintage , from the Boho chic look to 50’s doo wop to 80s sheer dresses and blouses…

Sarah of The Coachella Valley Art Scene: Who are some top fashion icons?

Deja Vu Vintage Finery: Well, it’d have to be….

Karl Lagerfeld,

Christian Dior,

Valentino,

Chanel,

and Balenciaga.

Sarah of The Coachella Valley Art Scene: Can you tell me about some of your upcoming events?

Deja Vu Vintage Finery: Déjà Vu has been selected to do a major Fashion show during Modernism Week at The Ace Hotel & Swim Club which will reflect the places that were significant in the mid-century in Palm Springs and the clothing that would have been worn there. We are thrilled to present a glimpse into the past history of Palm Springs through fashion! The show is Feb. 16^th , starts at 7:00pm and is located inside the Commune of the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Tickets are $20.00 and benefit the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.

Tickets available on our website at www.dejavuroom.com