Iconic Style: Robert Black’s Passion for Vintage Fashion

“When a client is shopping here, it really is about the experience more than anything else,” says Robert Black, co-founder of this truly unique boutique.

Black, founder of the international modeling and talent organization FORD/Robert Black Agency, and business partner Doreen Picerne, a philanthropist and fashionista, joined forces back in 2008 to turn their passion for extraordinary vintage clothing into a smart boutique for women who share their same passion. They began by rescuing one of Scottsdale’s older buildings from possible demolition—The White Hogan—which was built in 1950 and once was home to several generations of Native American silversmiths.

Photo by Kelly Capelli Photography

“We came up with the idea because we were passionate about fashion, history and preservation,” says Black. “We didn’t really know if it would work or not, but we knew that nobody else was offering it, so at least we could hope we could create a niche for what we do—and we have!”

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Black was raised in Arizona and was heavily influenced by ‘70s fashion. “It was all about how you looked and dressed, and the labels at that time, like Calvin Klein, Halston, and other great designers.”

Black went into modeling straight out of high school and worked at L’Image, a modeling school and agency. Eventually he purchased the agency arm of the business, which he transformed into the Robert Black Agency, later forming a partnership with Ford Inc. Corporation and becoming the FORD/Robert Black Agency.

For Black, it wasn’t much of a leap to move from the world of modeling to the world of fashion with his boutique.

“Fashion was always a part of what I did,” he says. “I was always working with designers; I was always around clothing, and went to all the big shows and collections.”

He and Picerne began to shop, looking for fine vintage pieces of exceptional quality. Although items are now sourced from all over the globe, initially much of the fashion was discovered in California.

“There were all these Hollywood designers working for the film studios,” he points out, “but they also did high-end ready-to-wear. And there were also many California-based designers who supplied clothing to television and film, but they weren’t working for the studios.”

Photo by Kelly Capelli Photography

When Black and Picerne opened the doors to Fashion by Robert Black in 2009, they realized they were in virtually uncharted waters, as this boutique is a far cry from a secondhand clothing shop.

“You really have to walk in here to understand the concept,” says Black. “There is an education that goes into it. We explain who the designers were, who the manufacturers were, and why the pieces are still in existence today: because the quality was better, the fabric was better, the construction was better. Most of it was handmade. Even if it was manufactured, there was somebody sitting at a machine, working on the garment, putting it together.”

The collection spans from the 1930s through the 1990s, ranging from pieces by well-known Southwest names like Lloyd Kiva to beaded, sequined creations from avant-garde designers dating back just two decades. Black serves as part sleuth, part historian as he examines each piece that comes in.

“If we don’t recognize the label, if it’s something new to us, we immediately start to do the research,” he says. Numbers on a union label can help determine a certain period of time, as can fonts used on designer labels. “You can even date something by the zipper,” he points out.

Black’s clients range from savvy vintage collectors to young girls going to prom to women going on cruises, who perhaps want a great dress to dance in and look pretty in.

“Typically someone who likes vintage clothing is a little out of the box,” says Black. “They’re creative, they’re well-traveled—or aspire to travel—and they want to stand out and feel good. Today we have ‘fast fashion’ that categorizes everyone into generic sizing. Once you try on something vintage and see how the fashion… is tailored to the body, you understand the difference. Vintage clothing should evoke an emotion or a fond memory. Fashion should always make the heart beat a little faster.”