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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack, located in the annex above Soho Retro, has vintage items from the `50s, `60s and `70s for sale.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack is open through late December.
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Upstairs Rack
The Upstairs Rack is located in the annex above Soho Retro, a store that specializes in vintage and modern pieces.
Soho Retro is taking vintage clothing to the next level with a second level pop-up store.
The shop, owned by Steve Thomas, is filled with eclectic vintage and modern furniture pieces. Now through December, Thomas is also venturing into the sale of vintage clothing with a pop up store, The Upstairs Rack, located in the adjacent annex upstairs from Soho Retro.
The Upstairs Rack includes vintage fashions collected over a lifetime by Frances Wood, a long time Birmingham resident and fashion maven. Many of the pieces come from the well-known department stores of the era including Black’s, Loveman’s, Pizitz and Parisians. Some of the clothing has never been worn and still has the price tags intact.
“Sometimes in searching for vintage furniture and furnishings, I will come across vintage clothing,” Thomas said. “But this collection was just too hard to turn down.”
The collection is extensive enough to fill three rooms with clothing and accessories that span three decades.
Beside a black and white photo of Frances and her husband Paul Wood on their wedding day, Oct. 10, 1954, hangs the sky blue dress she is wearing in the photo, complete with the accompanying hat and veil.
Thomas worked with Frances and Paul’s daughter, Von Sides, in bringing the vintage clothing to The Upstairs Rack.
In addition to clothing, there are also vintage purses, hats and accessories. The collection also includes vintage Vogue and Simplicity pattersn from the 1950s, `60s and `70s.
The display is a natural extension of Soho Retro with its nod to the mid century. Thomas, who was a banker for 36 years, decided to make a change in what he calls a “reinvention of my life” with the opening of Soho Retro five and a half years ago. He oversees the store with this daughter, Tonya Norwood.
The store was born out of Steve’s love for mid-century style and design of the `50s, `60s and `70s that was first inspired by his sister’s chic 1960s apartment.
“I love mid century style and design from the `50s, `60s and `70s,” Thomas said. “It’s been a passion of mine for many years.”
The store is 50 percent vintage and 50 percent modern, but the look and feel of it will make you feel like you are in another time.
“Some people have said they feel like they’ve stepped on to the Mad Men set,” Thomas said.
Soho Retro is located at 2805 18th Street South, in Downtown Homewood. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Upstairs Rack is located at the adjacent Upstairs Annex. It is open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Other days are available by appointment.
For more information, visit shopsohoretro.com and facebook.com/sohoretro.
