Everything from iridescent, handmade kimonos to a vintage Jack Skellington-like coat and mask can be found in the front yard of the wig and makeup shop Coco Coquette during the Multi-Vendor Vintage Costume Yard Sale.
By Samantha Chavez
Photos by Aylin Martinez Barrera
An array of vintage and handmade costumes were on display at the 5th annual costume sale at Coco Coquette located on East Cesar Chavez.
The store, with locations in Austin and Denver, hosted its fifth annual sale on Sunday, Oct. 21.
“It’s a way for people to pick up (their) costume inspiration and not go to Spirit Halloween to buy something that’s just going to wind up in the landfill,” Coco Coquette employee Allyson Garro said. “It’s really fun to see our community come out, and it’s always really good vibes. People are always having a good time.”
The sale was another example in the battle between fast-fashion and sustainability. According to Vogue, vintage stores are becoming increasingly popular, especially the stores with hard-to-find couture pieces that celebrities frequently visit.
Coco Coquette has pieces for people who love to express themselves through their outfits. With colorful wigs lining one wall and large, jeweled earrings lining the other, everyone can find something for themselves, especially at the Yard Sale.
“We do this every year as a way to bring other customers and vintage vendors together to sell pieces that deserve to have another life,” Garro said.
This year was vendor Angeliska Polacheck’s first time selling clothes at the event.
“I’ve been collecting vintage, and I’ve been a customer for years,” Polacheck said. “I was just ready to let some things go off into the wild.”
Polacheck joked that collecting large amounts of vintage clothing is a hobby that runs in her family. The clothing lining her stand were just a few of the pieces that are apart of her large vintage collection.
Danielle Shepherd was another first-time vendor who designs her own clothes.
“They put up an ad, and I just responded, so it was lucky timing,” Shepherd said in reference to the sale.
Shepherds’ brand, Dashe, hasn’t existed long, but she makes a new product every weekend and also makes custom orders.
“I’ve been making costumes for about five years, but I’ve only been running my brand for about a year and a half,” Shepherd said.
The sale was for people who prefer making their own costumes from different pieces and purchasing vintage clothing is the perfect way to do so, Garro said.
“We’re just trying to keep stuff loved and in use,” Garro said. “We also want to spark inspiration to build a costume rather than just buying something in a bag.”
Although Coco Coquette is most widely known for its’ colorful, fun wigs, it’s making a name for itself when it comes to the local vintage clothing scene, signaling a push for more sustainable, collectible fashion.
