My Grandfather had a wooden trunk for his military service memorabilia, and other special items that he had accumulated over the span of his life. Every weekend I spent with him as a child, I would beg to be allowed to go through it to see these glorious materials of yesteryear and maybe even have the opportunity to try on his famed uniforms. And unfortunately every weekend that I spent with him as a child,  he sternly reminded me of the "Fingerprints on Wet Car Paint Fiasco of 1987" exemplifying my utter carelessness with delicate items so the answer was repeatedly in the negative. ( Side note: If you happen to know my Father he'll tell you the full story like it happened yesterday. And if you don't, I'm not giving you his number because the story is beyond humiliating and has followed me around for more than 20 years.)

So I was pleased to discover the wonder on 14th Street that is Treasury. The store itself, just as the official name describes it, is a vast treasure trove of specialty vintage items. Walking around the space, actually feels like you are walking through a life size version of my grandfather's infamous trunk. Each rack of clothing and accessories provides solid evidence that every item has been personally picked with care by an informed and stylish hand. Treasury is a rare gem of the Midtown District, as well as the Metropolitan area.

Recently one of the owners, Katerina Herodotou, was kind enough to answer a few questions about vintage style, tailoring, and her current store favorites. And she even trusted me, unlike my family, to freely walk around the store, take pictures, and (Gasp!) touch a few of the items.

1) What is the story behind Treasury? What drove you or inspired you to open a vintage store?Treasury grew out of a roving vintage shop Cathy and I started in 2007 called Listopad . Cathy and I were both feeling a need for a new retail experience in DC that combined the creativity of the DIY scene and celebrated the social options in DC so we began throwing vintage parties at bars and other spaces in DC with DJs, drinks, and clothes. We opened Treasury when we decided to have a brick and mortar space and really dedicate ourselves to offering high quality vintage in a more consumable environment.

2) You have an amazing onsite seamstress, what are the services that are available? Costs?
Kristen is awesome! We offer free minor mending/fixes on same day store-bought goods and reasonable prices for alterations like hemming, waist modifications, etc. Kristen is also available to alter any of your clothing and she does personal consultations. Hemming and waistlines range from $10-$20; pricing depends on the item since vintage can be intricate. The great thing is that Kristen knows the ins and outs of vintage and how to make it work with the modern figure.

3) When buying garments for your store, what do you look for in the particular garment?
We look at the quality of the fabric first, hands down. You can usually tell a vintage piece in a pile or rack of clothes just from the look of the fabric. If it is a natural fiber or a high-quality synthetic, the sheen, elasticity, and color of the fabric. Then we go for craftsmanship. We check the inner workings: seams, zippers, clasps, etc. If the garment can be turned inside out and still look gorgeous, it is a great piece. Lastly, we always have a specific "Treasury" aesthetic in mind when we are buying. We like to think of it as a hybrid earthy-glamour-rocker-woodsman chic.

4) Most gentleman are leery of buying vintage garments, what are three Treasury rules of thumb when shopping for vintage clothing?
Wearabitity is number one. If you put it on and it feels good and you can move around in it, it is good to go! Secondly, get it tailored. If you like the fabric and cut of a piece but the fit is not just right, get it tailored to fit you perfectly and you will adore the piece forever. Tailoring a suit jacket can transform a mediocre garment into a lifetime investment. Third, have fun. You can work within current trends and make something your own when you buy vintage. It is more personal and more authentic. Treasury also offers personal shopping services if a client needs a pointer or two.

5) What are some of your favorite items in the store currently?
Fitted heavy wool army trench coats and navy pea coats from '30s-'50s (see the movie "Defiance" which made us want every civilian man to wear vintage military wear), wool ties (cozy yet dandy) accented with just the right tie clip, Beatnik leather loafers, textured cravats... We rotate inventory constantly so our favorites are ever-changing.

6) Name your favorite male style icon.
Ohhh hard!!! I'm gonna have to say a mixture of James Dean and Montgomery Clift. Hot hot hot!

                            

   Check out Treasury, located at 1843 14th St. NW, second floor, Washington DC 20009
                                   Tuesday- Saturday 12-7 pm and Sunday 12pm-6pm