Smashing Darling Blog

This weeks interview is with Donna Barnes, owner proprietress of Willow Tree Vintage. I am so lucky to have her and her store as my neighbor in Chester. She has a real passion for vintage with a keen eye on all of it so her quality is impeccable. If one of her pieces has a minor flaw she will always tell you. To be in her store is very magical because you want all the remnants of the past to talk. You want to hear the stories about what parties they went to or what the gossip of the day was. Talking to Donna herself is very special too. I know because I have spent many hours sitting on the wall outside our stores chatting. She is truly an amazing person. She has done so many things and been so many places her stories are fabulous too.

SD: When did your love of vintage clothing begin?
DB: Probably as a young child . I often played in my grandmother’s attic where she actually had trunks filled with antique clothing . I was quite an interesting dresser in high school.

SD: Where and how did you first start your business?
DB: I began in 1993, right after my son was born. I started working part-time in a vintage shop in the next town . it was a favorite place that my
daughter and I would go with our “mad money.”The shop was in a huge Victorian house, and had rooms and rooms of clothing, and hats and trims, and the most fabulous collection of jackets from the 1800’s, and a whole room filled with BALL GOWNS!! Just so much stuff!! The owner was getting elderly and needed help, so I packed up a playpen and some toys and we were off. After about a year, she rented me one of the rooms in the front with my own picture window to decorate, and my collections grew.

SD: Without giving away your secrets, where do you find most of the pieces?
DB: Oh, so many places. Actually there is such a large network of vintage dealers. Having a storefront in downtown Chester has been wonderful
because I get to buy from just regular people that come through the door and have their mothers’ or grandmothers’ things. When I first started, I would scrounge all the second hand shops looking for the really older pieces. Now many of the other antique shop owners that buy house estates will call me and I often buy everything pertaining to clothing and accessories. I can always network with other clothing dealers when I need a really peiod piece or I see that ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS piece that I want to put in my store. I don’t have as much time anymore to go searching, but have lots of fun when I’m on vacation checking out antique shops.

SD: Quality is a big issue, what is your standard? How do you decide which pieces actually make the selling floor in your store?
DB: Pretty high these days. Again, when I started, I took everything-washed everything, did my own repairs. I have always had an eye for the unusual, the most interesting fabrics and designs, but it has to be in really, really good condition to get into the shop. Nobody wants to buy anything with obvious flaws or big repairs. The pieces in my store are all clean and WEARABLE. And heaven forbid my store should smell like somebody’s grandmas attic or basement!

SD: What does your average day entail?
DB: Answering phone calls, doing little repair work on pieces, steaming clothing to put out. I have this “work room ” at home–which is cram filled with materials and clothing racks, and pieces of things, and BOXES of trims, and oh……stuff. Anyway I have been very true to my resolution this year of going through things, and bringing pieces in so other people could also enjoy them, and maybe even buy them, and I could continue buying MORE…….(ha)

SD: Describe your personal style.
DB: Very eclectic, however I see that I really do love more tailored clothing on me. I have always loved the longish riding coat and boots with my beret. maybe that’s kind of boring. I wanted to be a nun when I was in 4th grade because I loved the habit. My family told me to “knock it off’–we weren’t even catholic. I think its the drama of the clothing. However, I do not do ruffles well.

SD: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
DB: I really can’t say that I have any icons. There was never anyone fashion forward in my family-we grew up on the JC Penny catalog. I don’t even have an artistic background. I’m a cultural anthropologist, so I guess you could say my interest in ancient ceremonial pieces influenced me during my tribal period.

SD: Do you have any current fashion obsession?
DB: Yes-I love capes, little hats with black veils-gloves. anything that has beautiful finish or hand sewn detail work.

SD: What advice would you give someone just starting in your field?
DB: Oh-have a good plan , or at least have such a mad passionate love for what you are doing that you are willing to eat pasta 30 different ways and drink lots of cheap wine until you make money enabling someone else to cook for you. . get a good network going, and work together. Be a NICE person. Be honest. Save the drama for your fashions.

SD: Do you have any events you are getting ready for in the near future?
DB: Not at the moment. I had a really busy fall. Christmas is coming and we’ll have a bit of a whirlwind in the store.. I sell to quite a few stores, and just had some collections go off to London and California.

SD: Where else do you sell your vintage clothing besides Smashing Darling?
DB: No where else at the moment. Just Smashing Darling and at my shop The Willow Tree in downtown Chester,Ct.

SD: Do you have a question or a comment for anyone one Smashing Darling?
DB: Thanks Trish and Julie-I know this would be a great opportunity for me to get some more things up tomorrow–I will try!!!thank-you,thank-you!