Vintage 80s Mervyn's Sweaters │ Perennial Vintage Supply

I talk often (to anyone who will listen) about my love for sweaters and cardigan sweaters. 

They're a staple in my wardrobe and should be in most people's wardrobes... even if you live in California or Florida (or internationally, somewhere semi-tropical). You never know when it will freeze - even if it's as rare as seeing Santa in the summer.

They're fun and very versatile in make or materials, and when it comes to cardigans, even as a self-proclaimed minimalist, I could own way too many of them because I love them so much. (I don't though. I inevitably wear many once or twice, get my cardigan needs fulfilled, and sell them in my shop).

But, if I truly had the space, I think I'd own 50 or 60 sweaters and cardigans because, as I've said, they're versatile and I love them like I love coffee: I can't live without them.

I sell an overabundance of sweaters partly because I have an attraction to them like they're a part of my family... and the sweater just doesn't know it.

But, I also sell sweaters because they sell so well. Sweaters are an easy on-and-off item, as well as something you can choose to heighten the average outfit. Like cardigans, hello. One of the most understated outfit items ever. They're classy!

Sweaters are often novelty sweaters. Have you heard of this term? Novelty sweaters tend to be sweaters that weren't made in an overabundance as well as more unusual in their design or shape. 

For example, I've found random sweaters over the years made in the 1970s that have, say, an embroidered elephant, or monkey on them, or ones that are specific to a country with the country's name on it. These are ones I've never seen before, nor have I come across duplicates in the decade and a half I've been hunting for them.

They can be funky, with extra materials hanging on the front of them, or even handmade one-of-a-kind sweaters that grandma made for Christmas. Novelty sweaters. I suppose the classic ugly Christmas sweater is a part of the novelty sweater section too.

This doesn't mean you can't find modern ones that look similar. But, there's a uniqueness with vintage novelty sweaters that out-competes any modern-day sweater. The material is usually 100% better than its modern counterpart, and so is its manufacturing.

I recently thrifted four - yes, four - different colors of the same crew neck, shetland wool sweater made by Mervyn's. Somebody loved sweaters like I did! (My people.) And they are all deadstock, meaning, they've never been worn, and still either have their original sales tags on them, or the plastic connectors still attached to the label.

Mervyn's was a Californian department store chain. I grew up with this big box store and bought and wore a plethora of their clothing while growing up in the '80s. The Mervyn's corporation began in San Lorenzo, California in 1949 and was eventually bought out by Kohls/ Target Corp in 2009. I miss seeing their logo on the side of the storefront. It was such a part of my youth growing up in Sacramento. 

So, when I find Mervyn's items while I'm sourcing for vintage, it always invigorates a nostalgic love. This, in turn, almost forces me to sell them. So I snap them up before someone else can.

Like Levi's, a local designer from San Francisco in 1853, Mervyn's as a retailer is a part of me. And to be able to sell these California clothes to the world makes me happy; I feel fully integrated into my community. (By the way, there's a fantastic book about Levi Strauss, called Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Bue Jeans to the World that goes over the entire history behind his denim.)

So, if you like classic crew neck shetland sweaters like I do -these are originally men's sweaters, but as always, just as great for women - check out my listings. They're quality-made (shetland just isn't used much anymore by manufacturers) and classic. They'll be in style forever. 

Add a wonderful wool sweater to your perennial wardrobe today.