Devynn Alston, Contributing Writer
Bygones Vintage Clothing is a boutique in Carytown with pieces dating from the 1800s to 1976. The owner Maynee Cayton prides herself on creating an inclusive space — bringing old Hollywood glamour right to Richmond.
Since opening their doors in 1979, the store’s staff has looked to buy and sell vintage and antique pieces to and from Richmonders — to gain a lot of its antique pieces, they will have buying appointments with anyone who has something special to sell.
In these buying appointments, the owner, Maynee Cayton, and her employees get to see one-of-a-kind antiques ranging from clothes, accessories and jewelry. The knowledgeable staff has the ability to pinpoint the different eras of the items that get brought into their store, according to Cayton.
“When people come in for buying appointments, that’s always cool, because they’ll pull all these boxes out of their attics that have been in there for years and years, and you get to dig through them, and see history that hasn’t been touched for however many decades,” Bygones employee Emily Pricenski said. “It’s always a surprise.”
Princeski has been a collector and studier of vintage for a long time, Bygones is more than just a job to her. It is something she is truly passionate about.
The store finds and sells reproduction items — which are newly manufactured objects designed to closely resemble or imitate older, original or antique items.
Cayton said she does not have to guess what vintage looks like.
“I was born in 1950, so I remember the 50s, the 60s, 70s, 80s, so I don’t have to guess. I just know,” Cayton said.
The store doesn’t sell anything newer than the 70s. Throughout the 70s and 80s, there was a lot of vintage, but today there is not as much, according to Cayton. As time progressed, she decided to stay in the earlier decades of the 20th century, which started the inclusion of reproductions in her store.
Selling reproductions is a way to be a lot more inclusive, according to Cayton. Vintage items run small and do not offer a lot of options. A lot of people just could not wear vintage clothes at one point.
Vintage lovers can find home at Bygones in Carytown, 2916 W. Cary St. They are open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. every day.