Up, Close & Personal Style: Colleen Nabhan

A Gal After My Own Heart

I was first introduced to Colleen at a birthday luncheon for my neighbor Carrie Duffy in 2021. Dressed in a distinctive yellow floral print Etro blazer, her striking personal style immediately intrigued me. My first impressions were correct: Colleen possesses an instinct for fashion that’s unique, savvy and sustainable. She’s a fellow devotee of Past Fashion: the art of curating a wardrobe from vintage, consignment and luxury resale channels. Colleen’s closet is stocked with exquisite, original and timeless pieces that mirror her style ethos, reduce her environmental impact and support circular fashion. Recently, I visited her beautiful home in Croatan, Virginia Beach, VA to chat about her lifetime love of fashion and surprisingly recent foray into the world of luxury vintage.

Up, Close & Personal Style

Q: How long have you been interested in fashion?

Colleen: I grew up in Dundee FL, a small town of less than 3000 people. We didn’t really have fashion, we had one mall, it was 45 minutes away. My family wasn’t wealthy. I hoarded copies of The JC Penney and Sears catalog, fantasizing about what I would wear. When I was old enough to pay for my own things, I frequented a small consignment shop one town over. If someone’s outfit inspired me, I would take mental notes and recreate it at the consignment store.

Q: When did you make the leap from hoarding J.C Penney and Sears catalogs to collecting vintage high fashion?

Colleen: I’ve always shopped second hand but I only just started collecting designer pieces after I turned 50. Since that time I’ve built a network of trusted vintage designer resources across the country. If I am on a trip I will visit a consignment shop I’ve researched. I love TheRealReal, of course! I find so many bags and so many key pieces from that site. I didn’t even own a designer bag until five years ago. My first designer piece was a truly vintage Chanel bag - it’s very, very vintage. When I carry it on the street I get stopped frequently. People always ask “Where did you get that?”

Q: Who are your favorite fashion designers

Colleen: I love Chanel, Dior, Valentino - vintage. I love Balmain. I love Balmain because I love (creative director) Olivier Rousteing. He was a dancer, I was a dancer. His story really resonates with me. I buy nearly everything vintage or resale, however I went to Paris specifically to buy a new Balmain jacket from the boutique. I tried on jacket after jacket - they didn’t fit right. These jackets are $2695 USD. I was prepared to go to Paris to buy a Balmain blazer that would be a classic part of my wardrobe. The 2023 collections in the boutique were cut boxy and baggy, a trendy reinterpretation of the original. I didn’t buy it. I was so disappointed. But I had been following a specific Balmain jacket on theRealReal. I shop exclusively by measurement, not by size, which I’ve learned. I saw the measurements on the jacket and I realized it was going to fit. Here I was ready to buy a new one. This jacket on theRealReal was essentially new, it had tags, but it was a few seasons old. I spent under $800. It’s my favorite jacket

Q: What modern style influences inspire you in 2024 and how do you work those elements into your personal style?

Colleen: Real women and celebrities. I’ve always collected inspiration from the people I observe who’s style I appreciate. Take Cindy Crawford for example, she will pair a luxury blouse with a jean and a blazer - I love that aesthetic. I look at people on Instagram of all ages who promote vintage and secondhand clothing and I learn from them. Modern contemporary brands like Zimmerman inspired me as well. I make my own way. I reverse engineer modern and vintage fashion elements and put pieces together myself. I talk to people in the vintage and consignment stores that I visit all over the country, I am curious and a discerning collector. 

Q: Any tips for someone dipping their toes into luxury resale?

Colleen: Know your dimensions! Don’t buy luxury online before you experience it in person. European sizing varies drastically by country of origin and rarely aligns with US sizing. You need to try it on. If you want Christian Louboutins, go to a store and try them on. Then buy your correct size on theRealReal. You want to feel good about wearing your things. If you buy a pair of shoes that costs $795 are you going to feel good about wearing them? Spend a little bit less at resale and then wear your shoes! Pair them with jeans and a blazer, and wear them to dinner.

Q: What are your trusted resources for buying authentic luxury fashion?

Colleen: TheRealReal is built on authentication so that’s a great resource. If you are going to go to a consignment store make sure they show you the services they use to authenticate. Do your research. If you are in a town with retail luxury boutiques or a brick and mortar TheRealReal, pop inside, touch the products, try things on, experience the quality and characteristics of luxury garments and accessories. Once you interface with authentic luxury products you will develop an inherent sense of the construction, the appearance of authentic brand tags and hallmarks. Another of my trusted luxury resale channels is Covet by Cristos (@covetbycristos), he hosts live Instagram sales during which his staff showcases products, discusses provenance, and shares styling tips. It’s very inspiring and his inventory is amazing.

Q: What do you say to people who argue “I don’t wear used clothes?”

Colleen: Why? Why don’t you wear used clothes? You can have them dry cleaned, they all have a story, it may not have ever been worn. Maybe it wasn’t her fit for the right occasion didn’t pop up. They are sharing something they spent a lot of money on and you are going to get the benefit of that mistake. It was so powerful visiting vintage stores in Paris, I went into six or seven of them. I felt more energy in those stores, being around the creative people, the love of fashion - the people in these stores loved the art and the history, the archives, the influences, the details, the back story - they were true devotees of fashion as a discipline and an artform. Verses the tourists in the Balmain and Saint Laurent boutiques, which I also visited. Those people were looking for the hottest trend, the newest thing, the biggest bag. It didn’t feel authentic to me. I am at home in vintage, upscale boutiques. The proprietors appreciate the ethos of high fashion and that’s what inspires me: other people who appreciate fashion. You don’t find that energy or vibe in the retail luxury shopping experience. It’s all about the “things.” I am all about the story.

Q: What are a few of your signature wardrobe staples

Colleen: Accessories, for sure: I love Chanel and Dior costume jewelry, a fantastic Fendi oversized belt, my Gucci horsebit leather bucket hat from 1979 and a dramatic Hermes scarf are key pieces for me. For clothing, I am an avid collector of leather pants and jackets (my favorite vintage brand is Jean Claude Jitous), sharp tailored blazers like those from Balmain and especially vintage Theirry Mugler. I pull it all together with a great handbag (perhaps “Marilyn,” my precious vintage Chanel calfskin double flap). and a distinctive pump - a few standouts include strappy Valentino Rockstuds, kelly green Bottega Venetta slides and you can’t go wrong with a classic snakeskin Manolo Blahnik sling back. 

A Few of Her Favorite Things

Colleen’s first-edition calfskin Chanel double flap hand bag affectionally named “Marilyn,” a nod to her golden blonde facade.

CALLING ALL Past Fashionistas!

Do you know a connoisseur of consignment? Are you obsessed with TheRealReal? Yearn for a vintage fashion moment? BFFS with the King of Thrift? I want to know! Share tips, tricks, and pictures of your favorite Past Fashion finds with me at jennmapp@mappcraft.com. I’d love to feature you or your resale-loving friend in a future installment of Up Close and Personal Style

xo

Jenn