A Passion for Vintage Fashion
Jo-Anne Lauzer

It's 10:50 on a cloudy Sunday morning and a small crowd begins to gather on the front steps of a charming heritage home nestled in Vancouver's East Side. They are all here because they have been personally invited to attend one of the city's best-kept secrets, Ivan's garage sale.

These sales are legendary amongst the true vintage shoppers and collectors; it is quite a coup to be on the list. "I don't open these sales to the public as I already have a rather select group of people that I like to invite." Held every few months, Ivan and a few other collectors get together to sell off part of their collection to a very eager crowd of shoppers. This is obviously not your typical garage sale.

The door opens, promptly at 11:00 a.m. and Ivan, dressed casually and in an almost unassuming manner, offers greetings. "Come on in. There is stuff set up in all the rooms, and I have moved some of the more valuable items into the kitchen. Last time a few of the more valuable pieces were torn, so I want to take some extra precaution this time." Once Ivan is done reviewing some basic guidelines, he steps aside allowing the crowd to enter. They quickly spread out and immediately begin "shopping."

The main floor of the house has been transformed into the most amazing sight -a visual feast for the vintage savvy. Clothing racks filled with vintage items have been set up in almost every room, including the hallways and the kitchen. Everything is reasonably priced; this is not a place to barter. Everyone is keenly aware of the amazing deals and is more than happy to pay the listed price.

Although there are a few people who own secondhand clothing shops, others are collectors and people who love wearing vintage clothing. Most have been here before and are no longer overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude and quality of the clothes. Lorna Ketler, who co-owns a small store called Bodacious Consignment, came prepared. "I did not bring a purse so that I could keep both hands free at all times. All I brought was the wad of cash in my pockets. I am here to shop."

As the colourful cast of characters continues to move about in every room, stopping only momentarily to chat, piles of clothing are being created everywhere. "If you see something you like, you might as well grab it and then decide later if you want it. Otherwise, it might not be there when you go back." This is wise advice from Lorna, who has within a few minutes filled both her arms full of amazing finds and is looking for a free corner to start her own pile.

All the while, Ivan looks on, almost like a proud father. His passion for vintage clothing is obvious; as is his joy in watching others revel in the vast selection of clothing from every imaginable era. Some of the more unique itemsinclude a classic 1920s flapper dress and a beautifully preserved vintage dress from the late 1800s. It is important to him that all these pieces find a good home, whether it is for a personal collection, to be worn in style, or even to be sold at a local secondhand clothing shop.

Everything changed when he was offered an internship in the Costume Department at the Vancouver Museum. He was initially asked to catalogue their collection of clothing and this eventually led to a 20-year career with the museum. About 10 years ago he decided to leave and began freelancing -quickly establishing himself as a highly sought-after expert in this field.

He is now considered to have one of the best collections of vintage clothing and accessories dating as far back as the 1800s. He sees himself as an archeologist, collecting catalogues, patterns, mannequins, books, magazines, hardware, and accessories -anything that will offer some insight into how people lived during that time. For Ivan, this is as much about the people as it is about the fashion. "These clothes and all the items from each era, reflect the people in their times." His home is now his museum.

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