Stylish home of “ain’t there no mo’”
Step inside Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothing & Costumes and your senses will instantly be assaulted by decades of eclectic vintage pieces: 1920s beaded sheath dresses, 1940s men’s silk smoking jackets, 1960s go-go dresses, 1970s powder-blue leisure suits, 1980s poufy-sleeved pastel prom gowns (were those ever right?). Owned by local actor and singer Claudia Baumgarten, Miss Claudia’s is the oldest non-corporate vintage and costume shop in New Orleans run by a sole proprietor. While her shop primarily carries Southern vintage and showcases labels from local stores that “ain’t there no mo’,” such as D. H. Holmes and Maison Blanche, the store is receptive of all things vintage and all things fun. Digging through her clothing racks, you are likely to find everything from velvet opera capes to old lettermen jackets, to a 1950s sheer pink lace pleated tulle party dress that harks back to Grace Kelly.
After Hurricane Katrina, so many new grassroots krewes sprang up to celebrate New Orleans culture that Baumgarten expanded her costume selection. While it’s typical of many New Orleanians to have a “costume closet,” you don’t need to have an entire space dedicated to the art of dressing up to be able to find room for a few vibrantly colored wigs, some rhinestone jewelry, glittery platform boots, colorful tights and tutus, or unusual collectible cuff links. Aside from costuming for Halloween and Mardi Gras, you can also pick up a flowered headpiece for Day of the Dead, lederhosen for Oktoberfest, or a green top hat for St. Patrick’s Day. And if you’re unsure exactly what look you’re striving for, bring in your ideas, and the staff, who “specialize in imagination,” will help you put together the perfect ensemble.
Info
Address 4204 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, +1 504.897.6310, www.missclaudias.com | Hours Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–5pm| Tip When you’re finished at Miss Claudia’s, stroll down to the Club Ms. Mae’s (4336 Magazine St). It takes pride in being New Orleans’ cheapest 24-hour dive bar. In 2011, well drink prices were finally adjusted for inflation, going from $1 to $2. New Orleanians, not the best with change, did not protest and accepted the “rate hike” with a raised glass.
Baumgarten says that her clientele ranges from the bohemian to the conservative, proof that costuming in New Orleans is truly egalitarian.
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