About Us

Better Dresses Vintage is mostly me, a married mother of three with a lifelong love of all things elegant and well-made -- especially lovely dresses.

Wondering where the store got its name? Well, not that long ago, any fine store that sold a variety of goods had a Better Dresses department. A few still do. Here are mid-century photographs, peering into the better dresses department at two different stores. The first somewhere in the mid-west, the other in suburban New Jersey. Neither a location associated with the finer things in life. Yet each, to me, could be a glimpse into heaven:  

Our logo was inspired by this photo of a fashionable young woman walking in front of the famous Barbizon Hotel in Manhattan (having stayed there myself I can tell you, you need a waistline that tiny to fit comfortably in their rooms):

I have no idea who she is, where she's headed, or why she's there. But she perfectly captured the mid-century look and feel I wanted for my shop. Any suggestions for what we might call her? Email me if you think of something clever. 

After collecting and wearing vintage clothing for years, I decided to turn my lifelong interest into a business. I quit my regular job and set to work. It's been a true labor of love. I hope you like what you see, and that you find something that suits you perfectly. If you have any questions, comments, requests, or advice, please call or email. We're happy to hear from you.

For more insight into my fascination with vintage clothing, as well as my personal opinions ("Casual Is Overrated"), helpful hints (how to repair and properly store your vintage items), and sneak peeks into my adventures as a movie extra, please see the BDV blog: FROM MY CLOSET. You can see excerpts of our latest posts toward the bottom of the Home Page. 

Finally, please visit our side venture, The Splendid Slipper on Etsy. We create ready-to-wear and custom-cobbled shoes for fun and fantasy.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

The content of this web site, including the blog and all images, are the intellectual property of BDV.

You may share photos of items listed for sale without permission, provided you mention they are from Better Dresses Vintage and/or provide a link to the original listing.

You may not reprint or repost any text, image, or blog, in full or in part, without the written permission of Better Dresses Vintage. If you share or quote from this site, please say it came from Better Dresses Vintage. A link to the original blog post, page, or listing would be appreciated.

BDV respects the intellectual property of others and will never intentionally use copyrighted material without permission. If you believe your copyright has been violated, please contact us immediately.