Amalgamated Classic Clothing and Dry Goods to Open Saturday

Carrying everything from Edwardian-era dresses to “Mad Men” suits from the 1960s, Amalgamated Classic Clothing and Dry Goods promises to offer distinct fashions and other items that can’t be found anywhere else in Alexandria.

Shelley White, who operates the vintage clothing store with partner Gene Elm, said she’s planning to open the shop located at 1904 Mt. Vernon Avenue (next to ) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

White and Elm have rented constumes to several film and stage productions while working out of a facility in South Arlington.

When looking to open a retail shop, White said she has always been a fan of Del Ray. The Arlington resident’s kids have attended the and take lessons at Rock of Ages Music located behind .

“I live in South Arlington and I’ve always liked Del Ray,” White said. “It’s just a cool up-and-coming area to put our retail store.”

White said she hopes to benefit from the neighborhood’s foot traffic and her location near several popular restaurants, including .

White and Elm have clothed cast members of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and most recently a film set for release next year called “Kill Your Darlings.” It stars actor Daniel Radcliffe as beat poet Allen Ginsberg. (In case you are wondering, White says the “Harry Potter” star wears a size 36 suit.)

The pair picks up most of their inventory from auctions in New York. White said she has also traveled as far as Chicago to pick up new items.

Amalgamated carries vintage men’s, women’s and some children’s clothing, as well as select pieces of furniture, blankets and fabrics, pin-up art and vintage paper products like postcards. The store also carries vintage jewelry as well a line that White designs herself.

Prices for vintage dresses range from $35 to “a couple hundred dollars.”

“Some of this stuff is pretty rare,” White said.

There is a whole rack of “Mad Men”-style dresses in case you want to get into character to watch the hit AMC show on Sunday nights.

Men’s suits dating from the 1920s to 1960s range in sizes from 36 to 52.

The space most recently housed a walk-in clinic but received a renovation for Amalgamated. New floors were put in, as were dressing rooms and a back office.

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