COCAINEPRETTI: September 2010

In a continuation of the vintage series, Total Recall Vintage state their influences and their vintage perspective. I really love their reference points and recognized the reflection in the pieces from their online store.

C.P:What's your definition of vintage?Christine: For me, it’s not really about how old something is. I think it’s more about how much a single piece reflects the era that it’s from. That’s why I like to feature a lot of 90s items -- they may not be that old, but the style is something that’s pretty unique to that time. American Apparel can try all they want, but there’s nothing like the real thing.

Patrick: In our case, that era looks like the clothes found in the girlfriend of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s closet in an 80’s tech-noir movie.

C.P.:What inspired Total Recall Vintage and who are the team members?

Christine: Well, I started off selling vintage stuff on Etsy and I was having trouble selling some of the pieces that I thought were really cool. It took me awhile to realize that I was in the wrong place. I’m not really into anything pre-1976, which is what Etsy is mostly about. I didn’t really fit in with the rockabilly/crafter world, so I decided to go at it on my own.

The name comes from a mutual love of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies that Patrick and I share. Of all the Arnold-related names we could come up with, this was the best fit for a vintage shop. As for the team, it’s mostly Patrick and I. We also have some very generous friends who help us out with some of the photography and modeling in exchange for pizza and booze.

Patrick: I don’t do much. I set up work lights we bought at Home Depot and snap pictures on a point-and-shoot camera. I also develop our delusions of grandeur by running around the house, screaming at the top of my lungs about how we’re going to “make it big.”

C.P: Although vintage is broadly accepted, how do you about selecting items for your store? Do they reflect more personal taste versus possible consumers or a mixture of both?

Christine: I mostly pick things that I would want to wear. Every once in awhile I try to put something up that I don’t really like, but I usually end up taking it down after looking at it for a few days. I get kinda crazy about it sometimes.

C.P.: Personal style icon(s)?

Christine: I’m really into leather and studs, so probably Lord Humongous from The Road Warrior. I also like Courtney Love.

Patrick: I second the Lord Humongous, but I just don’t have the build to pull it off. I feel the same way about early skinhead fashion (the non-racist variety influenced by the rude boys of Jamaica) – I just don’t have the arm girth for it.

James Woods in Videodrome strikes way too close to home for me. He’s got this faded tan leather jacket and he pairs it up with a clean button-up and some slick slacks, and he looks exactly like me rolling into the office in December.

If I’d have to pick my most recent influences, I’d have to go with early 90’s Andre Agassi, especially his appearance at the French Open in 1990; if you ask me, all the bike punks on their fixies ought to write that man a fat check because this guy is their fountainhead.

And, you know, I always wanted to be John Leguizamo’s character in Summer of Sam – see-thru tank tops, gold figaro chains, and pinky rings – but I’ve never been able to completely break out of who I really am: a short kid in pinstripe pants and black-rimmed glasses, the prototypical 1950’s man in a light pink polo. I am Woody Allen. I am Toby McGuire. I am your grandfather’s Old Spice in the bathroom of his house with aluminum siding.

C.P.: Season must have for female? male?

Christine: Personally, I’m stocking up on blazers and faux fur. Living in Miami, I can only really do the faux fur for like 2 or 3 weeks out of the year, but I’ll wear it everyday. And everybody needs a mean looking pair of boots in their closet. The dirtier, the better.

Patrick: Pubic hair -- for both parties involved, thank you.

C.P.: Favorite piece from Total Recall?

Christine: The saved by the beach swimsuit, for sure. Everything about it is so hopelessly early 90s -- the colors, the high-cut legs, the pattern. Love it

Patrick: I like the “Ms. Fancy Pants Sweater” because I like the name, but it also reminds me of the Marilyn Monroe sweater that Toby McGuire stole in Wonder Boys

Be sure to visit the site at totalrecallvintage.com

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