Keeping Vintage in Vogue

With a love for the 1930s Victorian era, it's no surprise Janet Phillips opened Feather's Vintage Clothing. Feather's has been a staple in the Oregon Historic District since 1978.

"I had a collection of vintage clothing and my partner had antiques, so we blended them together," Phillips said.

Today, Phillips finds most of her items from flea markets, as well as estate, yard and garage sales. "Sometimes I get a house call or people bring stuff in," she added. "It's odd but interesting what people keep around."

Phillips has sold a couple of wedding and prom dresses, but her best sellers are costume jewelry, hats and clothing.

"All these items in the store are new to me," she said. "When I started everything was from the ‘20s and ‘30s with hardly anything from the ‘50s. Now all the kids want ‘80s, but mostly everything in here is from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s."

While her collection has changed throughout the years, one thing remains the same.

"I buy what I like, and I hope others will like it, too," Phillips said. "Fashion repeats every 20 years. I pick stuff out that people will seriously wear."

Phillips does receive a few helping hands from her son and daughter. Her son has a collection of vinyl in the store, along with rock ‘n' roll T-shirts, and her daughter has an eye for handbags and clothing.

During the past 30 years, Feather's has been graced with the presence of Sheryl Crow and Hall & Oates. Scenes from the 2002 movie Blue Car were even filmed inside its walls.

But according to Phillips, "my most memorable moments are just being here."

"It's a one-woman operation," she said. "It is hard work accumulating, repairing and selling, but I am lucky to wake up every morning and do this."

"There is a great mix of interesting folks here," Phillips said of the district. "I'd rather be here than any other spot in Dayton."