Circle of Friends: Noren Vintage
and the 1999 Prada runway corset she will keep forever
For the second installment in Circle of Friends, conversations with those passionate about keeping items in circulation, I spoke to Nanor Momdjian-Adame, a Los Angeles native and the proud owner of Noren Vintage. The name ‘Noren’ stems from the Armenian word for ‘again,’ reflecting her mission to offer thoughtfully selected garments meant to be cherished and worn time and time again. As a connoisseur of vintage clothing, she is passionate about curating timeless vintage and designer pieces.
As someone who is also passionate about vintage designer pieces, I met Nanor at the Normal Market in Brooklyn when I purchased this amazing 1990s Giorgio Armani Japanese cloud print bodysuit from Noren. We chatted about how this piece would make a great grown-up going-out top, (yes, that colloquialism is back) I was looking to fill a wardrobe gap of what top (besides a white button-down) worked well with a black skirt for going to more elevated occasions, as a devotee of vintage Armani, this piece was just the fix I needed. I wore it twice within the first month, a sign of a good purchase. See below, on the left, worn to a black-tie dress-coded event with a vintage Prada kitten heel. On the right, the bathroom selfie I sent my styling-support group text to see if this fit worked to see Candace Bushnell at The Carlyle, the consensus was, it did, when worn with the vintage Versace velvet belt and Dries heels.
But enough about my outfits, I am excited to have Nanor in my Circle of Friends and introduce all you wonderful readers to her too!
What is your origin story of how you came to love and start selling vintage clothing?
It all started in 2013 when I was working for my friend Natalie, who owns Top Knot Vintage. She was the one who truly exposed me to the world of vintage fashion, and I became obsessed. In 2015, she encouraged me to start my own business, and that's when Penny Lane Vintage came to life. The name paid tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies, "Almost Famous." It wasn't until 2019 that I rebranded to Noren Vintage.
What is your go-to era or designer?
I'm all about 90s Prada. As a die-hard Prada enthusiast, I've long admired the balance of simplicity and edge in Miuccia's designs. What sets Prada apart for me is their aversion to logo-mania, unlike many other luxury brands. Instead, Prada embodies a refined form of luxury, characterized by timeless and understated sophistication—a quality that resonates deeply with my personal style.
Do you have a story of the most insane secondhand score you have had? Was it for yourself or a client?
Speaking of Prada, I would have to say my most insane find thus far is this Prada Fall-Winter 1999 runway corset. Initially, I thought of reselling it, but once it was in my hands, I couldn't bear to let it go. Especially because the chances of finding another at that price I got it for seemed slim to none. For now, it's a part of my personal collection, but I do offer it for rentals to share its beauty with others.
What do you think will be a trend in vintage for the second half of 2024?
To be honest, It's a bit challenging to predict with certainty. Trends tend to fade in and out rapidly, especially in the era of social media. My hope is to see more styles for the second half of 2024 that stand the test of time, pieces that I'll still adore 10+ years down the line.
Do you have a good tip for taking care of vintage pieces to continue to be loved and last?
One of the key things I've learned is the importance of having a reliable dry cleaner. It's truly disheartening to see how many of my beloved vintage pieces have been ruined by careless handling. Investing in proper care for your vintage items is essential. Sometimes, that means paying a bit extra for a trusted professional who understands the delicate nature of these garments. Additionally, it's crucial to properly store pieces made from natural fibers like wool, silk, linen, etc… Keeping them in garment bags and using proper hangers help maintain and preserve their longevity.
In your experience, what aspects of the clothing circulation business do you think needs improvement or a shift in perspective? How can we break down the barrier some have around buying pre-loved items?
From what I've learned, making clothing circulation more sustainable involves focusing more on transparency, using circular economy practices, and, most importantly, cutting down on overconsumption. To encourage more people to buy pre-loved items, we need to change how they see secondhand shopping. This means educating consumers, offering carefully selected options, and highlighting the benefits to shopping secondhand. I've found that it's easier to do this when I'm helping customers in person because that's when you can really connect with them and change their minds about pre-loved items.
What is your most treasured vintage piece in your personal collection- what makes it so special?
Apart from the Prada corset I mentioned earlier, my vintage Chanel bag holds a special spot in my heart (and closet). It's my first Chanel bag and I treated myself to it after a successful pop-up a few years ago, and it felt like a well-deserved reward. This bag means a lot to me—it's a reminder of hard work paying off. I can see myself passing it down someday.
The Summer pieces I would purchase from Noren Vintage:
Noren Vintage will be at the Normal Market this weekend, June 8th & 9th, if you are in LA I highly suggest stopping by!
Thank you for reading Something Borrowed, Never New, I appreciate your love and support and so do your Circle of Friends! You can follow along on instagam and subscribe for more conversations with those keeping our loved pieces in circulation.