Philadelphia Find: Vintage Willi Smith Lounge Wear

I was in Philadelphia over the weekend as part of my new gig. It was a pretty whirlwind tour and I didn’t get much opportunity for thrifting. But I did get super lucky at the one Salvation Army store I visited. Because I found a new-old-stock nightgown by Philadelphia-born-and-raised designer Willi Smith. And for just $3.

Here’s the story. Willi Smith was a young star of design back in the 1980s. Not unlike Adrienne Vittadini, his clothes were young daring and affordable (check out the original Bloomingdales price tag above — it was still attached . A lot of the ’80s-style looks (mullet skirts, oversized and boxy tops, bright, playful colours, etc.) that are being recycled today owe a lot to Smith. Unfortunately, Smith dies due to complications from AIDs in 1987.