It’s always impressive when a celebrity gets her hands on a custom designer outfit or straight-from-the-runway look – especially if the outfit debuted on the runway a few days earlier (hello, Emma Stone). However, this year, the exclusive set is captivated by another sartorial feat – archival styling. Whether they’re heading to a packed press tour, the 2024 Met Gala, or kicking back on a laid-back vacation, these IT girls can’t stop adding vintage pieces to their rotation. It’s no wonder that these looks are gaining more and more applause by the day, and there is one lively point that you can largely thank for: Vintage tab.
If you watched the live coverage of this year’s Met Gala, followed the 96th Annual Academy Awards after-party, or simply followed Hailey Bieber on Instagram, you may not have known it, but you’ve already noticed plenty of looks from Los Angeles shopping over the past year . Recently at the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion fete, Emily Ratajkowski stocked up on Tab Vintage for both of her Met Gala moments, especially the sheer 23-year-old archival Versace gown she wore on the carpet (more on that later). The retailer even hit the 2024 Oscars when Cardi B showed up to the Vanity Fair after-party in another ultra-rare 2003 Versace gown, replete with rhinestones, lace and lots of fringe. And on a more casual note, in November, Tab Vintage gifted Bieber a burgundy Mugler velvet midi dress, which she wore to her intimate 27th birthday party.
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Although it may be tough to believe given her star-studded clientele, Alexis Novak, founder of the Los Angeles-based mail-order studio, only launched her business in 2019. And now, four years later, he says the procurement process still looks different every day. “Sometimes he searches through piles of junk at estate sales in hopes of finding a hidden treasure,” Novak tells TZR. “And on other days at 3 a.m. he attends a European auction.” Once Novak and her team secure these one-of-a-kind designs, they update their 120,000 Instagram followers with photos of the original runway look. Novak adopted this strategy back in 2020 – within the first month of setting up the brand’s Instagram account – in an effort to give its customers a taste of “the history and integrity of both the garment and the designer,” she adds.
Since then, this foolproof marketing tactic has caught the attention of countless celebrities, including Bella Hadid, Amal Clooney, Lori Harvey, and many more. Now Novak is still extremely vigorous on IG, but she also uploads all her modern stuff her website twice a month. Novak provides very detailed descriptions under each garment, including the exact designer collection it comes from, the specific material composition, as well as its current condition and any noteworthy decorations. Additionally, starting in July 2024, you will be able to purchase Tab Vintage products in person at the studio in Los Angeles
Even as the brand’s customer base continues to reach modern heights, Novak remains true to the same “snail-paced fashion” values she established four years ago, which include patience, trusting her sartorial instincts and taking as much time as she needs to prepare each outfit for wearing. “These works contain a lot of wisdom, commitment, talent and time to create,” says Novak. “That’s why when I become their guardian, I take it very seriously and I don’t take any shortcuts when it comes to protection.” And every time the star shows up in one of his prized finds, there’s no denying Novak’s passion for preservation.
Emily Ratajkowski
About an hour after the 2024 Met Gala, Ratajkowski lit up the red carpet in the aforementioned archival Versace gown, which Tab Vintage made looking brand modern. For Novak, providing Ratajkowski with a immaculate fall/winter 2001 collection was a career highlight. “I worked closely with celebrity stylists, Jordan Bickhem create this look and tell a story within the theme of the Gala,” says Novak. It’s no surprise that Novak and Bickhem understood the task, as EmRata’s first OOTN was decorated with a rhinestone floral motif – a clear reference to the “Garden of Time” dress code.
Hours later at the after-party, Ratajkowski made headlines again in another Tab Vintage moment, a completely sheer mini dress courtesy of Givechy by Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 1998. The mesh mini featured a beaded neckline and sparkly fringe at the hem, while a black underwear set was peeking out from underneath.
Bella Hadid
Whether you’ve purchased one of Ôrəbella Hadid’s perfumes or not, there’s a good chance that one of the stars of the founder’s press shoot appeared on your IG timeline earlier this month. One piece in particular went viral on the Internet: a pink Yves Saint Laurent midi dress from the Spring/Summer 1999 Couture collection. Fun fact: Novak claims that Hadid and her stylist Molly Dickson chose this design from Tab Vintage to reflect the ethereal atmosphere of her modern fragrances.
Kylie Jenner
Vintage lovers know that sourcing an archival designer swimsuit is arduous, but that’s not the case with Tab Vintage. Jenner bought it Chanel spring/summer 1995 crystal-encrusted bikini from a Los Angeles studio and modeled it while vacationing in Turks and Caicos in April.
Cardi B
Although she missed the Oscars this year, Cardi B made up for her absence by styling a stunning floor-length rhinestone gown by Versace Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2003. The rapper’s archival style began with a halter-neck bodice paired with a ruffled lace skirt and a fringe-embellished train. “We acquired this gown from a Haute Couture client who had this amazing gown tailored to Cardi B’s exact measurements, which were unexpectedly almost the same as the previous owner,” says Novak.
Hailey Bieber
In November, a week before she turned 27, Bieber shared her first of many birthday “accidents” with her 52.4 million IG followers, which she purchased from Tab Vintage. The founder of Rhode Skin was a vision of Elderly Hollywood glamor in… red velvet Thierry Mugler Couture gown around fall/winter 1998.
Lori Harvey
Considering she was invited to the world premiere Renaissance: Beyoncé’s movie, it’s no surprise that Harvey has achieved everything with her OOTN. To achieve this, she collaborated with Tab Vintage LBD with a high neckline topped with shiny vertical panels from the Thierry Mugler Fall/Winter 1989 Couture collection. “The look was ‘Cozy Opulence,’ and together with her stylist Jill Jacobs, we felt that this look perfectly reflected that theme,” says Novak.
Amal Clooney
Although it’s naked Christian Dior dress by John Galliano for fall/winter 2000 seemed just right for Clooney, Novak stated that the lace and tulle midi dress was actually a last-minute addition to her 2023 Venice Film Festival collection. Even though she doesn’t work with a stylist, Clooney styled the glamorous number like a pro, accessorizing with metallic silver Aquazzura pumps and plenty of Cartier bling.
Olivia Rodrigo
Unfortunately, Rodrigo was noticeably absent from this year’s Met Gala. However, at the after party following last year’s “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” scandal, the “Obsessed” singer styled sequin mini dress from the Chanel fall/winter 1994 collection originally designed by Lagerfeld. Novak said the goal was to stay true to both the theme and Rodrigo’s signature aesthetic — and with a black satin bow and ruffled lace neckline, there’s no doubt the mini did just that.
Sydney Sweeney
For 2022 GQ Men Of The Year in Madrid Sweeney teamed up with her longtime stylist Dickson and won it green satin Gianni Versace Couture dress for fall/winter 1995 from Tab Vintage. She let the dress draw all the attention and gave up on any additional accents.
Kendall Jenner
While promoting Hulu’s first season Kardashians in 2022, Jenner looked business chic in a gray vintage skirt set from Givechy. Her midi pencil skirt and peplum jacket are genuine fall 2007 fashion staples that perfectly match Jenner’s penchant for muted, neutral colors.
