Decades Vintage Clothing
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-3819
Phone: (801) 537-1357
04/11/2007 Posted by photolady
Being a costume designer, I have shopped at Decades for several years, but yesterday was the last time. The owner of the shop has the best selection and prices in town, but it is not worth putting up with his attitude. I have spent many hundreds of dollars there for show costumes, but each time I come in for something for myself or with a cast member, I am treated like a potential suspect, or worse, an idiot whom he assumes will ruin his clothing. I live an hour away, and yesterday made the trip with a budget to purchase 9 costumes for two characters, with more purchasing trips planned for upcoming weeks before the show. After choosing about 10 articles for try-on (which were not vintage, but 80's-90's cocktail dresses which could be remade into flapper costumes), he told us that we could only try on one or two. I understand that true vintage items are too fragile to be tried on. I understand that he has a lot of teenagers that come in there just for fun and don't take good care. But I am a grown woman with an education in costuming, and a repeat customer with money to spend. Yet each time I come in for a specific purchase, I am thwarted at every turn. Many of the purchases I have actually made there have been when the owner was out. Once I fell in love with a red velvet 60s dress on a mannequin. When I asked to try it on, he told me it was "already sold." Two months later I came back and it was still there. The employee on duty let me try it on and I bought it on the spot and have used it in three productions since. Several times the owner has refused to let me or my daughter (who is a costume design college major) try anything on. Interestingly, when I have been there with my husband, I have been allowed try-ons, but not with my daughter. What's up with that? We are petite women who understand how to care for clothing and have serious money to spend. I just don't get it! I told him (nicely) how I felt and that I wouldn't come back. Very sad.
Pros: good selection
Cons: terrible service
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