Vintage Treasures at the Fairest of the Fairs in East Hampton

The East End’s best source for pristine vintage clothing at any price is the Ladies Village Improvement Society (LVIS) in East Hampton. And, the best-of-the-best, special items culled from donations and collected throughout the year, will be on sale at their 118th annual summer fair on Saturday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Everything on the sale racks has met with the approval of the vintage clothing committee made up of four very particular and sartorially savvy ladies: Lora Nelson, Mo Cohen and Francesca and Pia Freedman.

“This coat,” Ms. Nelson said pulling a floor-length red velvet opera coat with a fur collar from the racks, “was worn by Irving Berlin’s granddaughter to the opera!”

“This coat,” said Ms. Cohen brandishing a cut velvet car coat with a deep sheared muskrat collar, “really hangs well.”

It seems that LVIS’s stash of vintage items is gaining acclaim as top quality items become harder and harder to find. None other than Sarah Jessica Parker, who helped bring vintage into the vocabulary of millions with her HBO series Sex and the City, has been seen at the booth in recent years. Another tastemaker, Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, has also been seen buying from the booth in summers past.

This year, the LVIS invited Patch to peruse the merchandise in advance of the fair. More than a dozen racks have been carefully organized by style, color and function. The selection includes designer labels, shoes, hats, couture suits and dresses from Hong Kong and India, as well as brightly colored maxi dresses from Peck & Peck and Henri Bendel.    

The fair is one of the major sources of funding for the LVIS. Hundreds of members and volunteers including representatives of the village municipal staff and the Lions Club participate to create one of the most memorable events of any summer in East Hampton.

This year, the “Kids Korner” of the fair will have costumes on hand for children to dress up in as well as a carousel and rides. There is also a BBQ, musical entertainment, food and garden stalls and a silent auction.

In 1895, 21 ladies set a goal to keep East Hampton beautiful and formed the Ladies’ Village Improvement Society. In 1938, following the great hurricane, the LVIS was responsible for helping to restore the village. They planted the trees that line Main Street today and they organize the flowers and maintenance of the village greens that make the village one of the most beautiful in the country. The LVIS also awards scholarships to gifted local high school seniors each year.

The fair increases traffic in the village and the lot adjacent to the LVIS fills up early. To help facilitate parking and traffic on the day of the fair the LVIS has organized shuttle buses that will run from the John Marshall School parking lot, off Gingerbread Lane, to the fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.