The Style Council! Seyta Selter of Duchess Clothier

    This month's vintage clothing lover is Seyta Selter of Portland, Oregon.
    Seyta of Duchess Clothier creates "custom suits and other tailored garments based on historical styles and the belief that stylish men should have the opportunity to affordably dress like gentlemen in garments that fit properly."
    Seyta created the perfectly cut mod influenced suit that my husband wore at our wedding.

- How long have you been collecting vintage clothing for?

Since my first thrift store forays in junior high school, I have been wearing and admiring vintage.

- What got you into vintage clothing?

My proclivity for vintage clothing is as natural as my blood. I don’t think anything ever got me into vintage clothing per se-- it more needed to come out of me from within. I have even gone so far in this passion as to make clothing gentlemen in suit styles from eras past my career.

- What are your favorite eras of clothing?

For women, I love the 1900s-1930s the best.  But I seem to mostly wear dresses from the 1940s and especially mod 1960s. Funny how that works. When I dress up, however, I prefer 1930’s. I also love the 1940s and Edwardian inspired clothing from the 1970s.  For men, I enjoy everything from Victorian through the 1970s.

- What do you like about clothing from these eras?

The complex elegance of 1930s clothing is very appealing to me, as with pretty much every other descriptor one could use in reference to art deco in general.

- Who are some of your favorite vintage designers?

Madeleine Vionnet and Paul Poiret are standouts to me in their exciting innovations in style— Vionnet with the 1930s bias cut and möbius strip gown, and Poiret for his unique (if uncomfortable) pegged gown style.

- Who are some of your favorite modern designers?

I am interested in the work of Alexander McQueen and Jean-Paul Gaultier for their beautiful absurdities, but I don’t really follow fashion much.

- What would be your ultimate vintage find?

I would love to find a perfectly fitting silk union suit.

- Where do you do the majority of your vintage shopping- garage, estate and rummage sales, thrift stores, vintage stores, online vintage stores or eBay?

I am a huge fan of the estate sale.  The sense of adventure and optimism that precludes estate sale shopping makes it the best venue for me to enjoy finding clothing.

- Is vintage clothing popular in the city that you live in?

I would say that vintage clothing definitely has a large place in the overriding sense of fashion in Portland.  Friends from other places have noted upon visiting the profusion of excellent vintage clothing stores our city has to offer.

- Who are some of your favorite style icons?

Although I do not personally emulate his style, my favorite fashion icon is Edward III, Prince of Wales, who later became the Duke of Windsor.  Despite tenuous social and political stances, this dapper man arguably did more for exciting menswear than anyone else in the 20th century. We have him to thank for outrageous combinations of pattern in dress, a great sporting English look, and of course, the Windsor knot.

- What are your favorite vintage movies, music and television programs?

I love the subdued yet masterful costumes by Oleg Cassini in the 1946 version of Razor’s Edge.  I am also a fan of the Mod Squad, and most classic noir films.

- Do you collect any other types of collectibles or antiques?

I have no real collections to speak of, but have a tendency to be drawn toward all things gilt and gaudy.

Thanks to Seyta for answering our Style Council interview questions!

You too could be featured on Lulu's Vintage Style Council!

Just email me lulusvintage (at) yahoo.com a photo of yourself wearing vintage (it can be a modern outfit accented with vintage accessories or a complete vintage ensemble) and answer my interview questions

 

Comments

[henriette weber andersen]

Hi, I would love to take part - but I have to take a photo first.. oh , and where do you hide your email ?

all the best from Denmark

Hi Henriette,
Thanks for your interest in The Style Council!
Please email your photo and interview answers to:
lulusvintage (at) yahoo.com
You will be contacted via email at the end of the month if your interview has been chosen
-Lulu