Dream Closet pegs students' fashion tastes

New vintage clothing store located below Bead Paradise

Maggie Chaney and Helen Mittler are in touch with the Oberlin community. But they aren't planning campus-wide dialogues or town meetings-they're selling clothes.

The two women opened Dream Closet, a vintage clothing store, under the new Bead Paradise store in June. The racks are full of a few Obie staples: black basics, 60s and 70s vintage, denim and tank tops galore.

"We wanted to provide shopping that would cater to students," Chaney said. Mittler added that they want the store to be very student friendly.

The store is nicely set up. About half the store is denim, mainly jeans with a few overalls, jackets and other denim clothes. The rest of the store is 60s and 70s vintage, with one large rack of black clothes, mostly pants and skirts.

Of course, there are also other treasures as well: fake fur coats, converse sneakers and 70s-style t-shirts, for starters. The store's stock is large and varied. It is full of clothes, but still well-organized.

The store's prices are definitely vintage and not thrift. Jeans seem to be between $9 and $20. Dresses and skirts run in about the same range, but some are much more expensive. There are also a few housewares such as dishes and kitchen equipment.

The store's stock comes from private sources, said Chaney. She said she has "pickers" all over the state looking for clothes to sell.

Chaney and Mittler said they have been shell-shocked by the business they have had in the last few weeks since students started returning. They are busy getting ready for more traffic; the two run the store without any other in-store help.

Both Chaney and Mittler have ties with Oberlin. Chaney grew up in Oberlin and Mittler still lives here. The two women have known each other since they were children, and joke that they are "very familiar with the clothing we're selling."

Chaney added that the store hopes to appeal to townspeople as well. "We realize there is more to Oberlin than students. We want to have clothes for the whole spectrum," she said.

In any case, the two have Oberlin students' fashion tastes down to a tee.

An Obie's dream closet:The Dream Closet, a new vintage clothing store downtown, sells many of the Oberlin clothing staples: jeans, vintage 60s and 70s wear and basic blacks. (photo by Melanie English)