The Joel Blair Collection

Proudly acquired by
Le Grand Costumier

Joel Blair, West Virginia, 1996 or ‘97 (with Bill Briers and Moriah Hampton).

In 1990, age 16, a summer camp sweetheart took me on a road trip to Kensington Market, Toronto’s famous thrift store district. I was hooked. For the next 18 years, my primary leisure activity was wondering into thrift stores (en français: Friperies) to search for the perfect pair of corduroy flares, striped zip-up jackets, terry cloth and knitwear shirts, and velour sweaters. We were archeologists. The joy was in the search and showing off your finds in class or at the next house party. The perfect piece was so rarely found. Often what I left with was another item slightly stained, with a difficult zipper, and that almost, but never quite fit. In those years I shopped in stores in Toronto, around Virginia & further south, and Montreal’s rue Mont Royal.

Shout out to early style inspirations from friends Mat Crawford, Wade Hampton, Jen Jellett & Patricia Cornier among many others.

When I turned 30 I mostly stopped dressing in vintage clothes because I wanted better fits and fresh xyz zippers. These pieces were put in storage boxes where the’ve stayed for the past 17 years. I told myself I was saving them for my son but he’s basic and makes fun of my “old-timey” stuff.

(Not shown here is my collection of sweet vintage coats, recently sold.)

I documented my collection here so it was easier to say goodbye to these clothes and the memories of my youth that saturate each piece. Plus I’m tried of living in a home (where I’ve rented to 23 years) surrounded by memories.

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”
–The Great Gatsby

In September 2022 The Joel Blair Collection was acquired by Montreal’s Le Grand Costumier, a not-for-profit wardrobe archive of more than 100,000 pieces available exclusively to media productions and the performing arts. Look out for my stuff in the next prestige tv show or movie.

Zip-up jackets ‘70s-’80s

The ultimate zip-up track jacket is defined by the number stripes. Simply put, the more stripes the better.

1970s zip-ups are more likely a soft cotton feel which gives an unstructured fit but is super cozy.

Terry cloth shirts

It’s like wearing a towel. In the humid Montreal summers, terry cloth shirts are the best. Most of these were too small for me to start with.

Velour sweaters

Rare and wonderful. The absolute most cozy and huggable top ever. I kept the v-neck.

More sweaters

This stunning knit and suede sweater is an example of a vintage piece I couldn’t resist even though it was for sure too small for me. I think I wore it one time.

The Green Sunrise Sweater

Short shorts, or as they used to be called: shorts.

Shirts ‘50s – ‘70s

Various 50s & 60s tops. I think there’s an episode of Mad Men with Don Draper is rocking one of these.

I’m not going to name any names here, but I was seeing a lovely young woman who decided this green shirt belonged in my wardrobe instead of wasting away in her (ex?)boyfriend’s closet. So she snuck it out and gave it to me. While I appreciated the gesture, I didn’t want to get caught wearing out.

My favourite all time top

The worlds greatest golf shirt. I rocked this for over a decade. If you’re a pattern maker please reproduce this piece.

Levis flares

Levi’s 517, white tab, corduroy flares, circa 1970s. The last word in men’s fashion. I wore the hell out of the blue and brown flares here. I dare you to find a vintage pair of 517s in 34W 36L today. If you saw me between 1998-2003 you saw me wearing these pants. I never found a pair of pants I loved as much as I love these. Sigh.

The cut-offs were flares before I made shorts. I like how the brand name also reinforces my gender identity.

Disco shirts

Three Disco shirts + one Hawaiian shirt. In the early 2000s I tried to wear these out a few times but make no mistake, polyester is plastic. It doesn’t breath. Imagine wearing a garbage bag on the dance floor. I was always sweating like an animal underneath. I never understood how these were built for the disco. Sweet patterns though. Also they’re in great condition because again, plastic.

Bell bottoms

Bell bottoms were for costumes only. I wore the burgundy pair once or twice and they remain in perfect condition. The brown bells are fit for Baz Luhrmann’s new Elvis movie. I still remember trying these on the first time at my favourite store in Kensington Market and how they fit like they were tailored specially or me. I think I was 19. I only wore them out a couple times to costume parties because they look like I used the ”Bedazzler”. However I’m keeping these because A. The magical fabric of these pants is fantastically comfortable, like nothing else I’ve ever worn. And B. They still fit like a glove which reminds me I’m ageless so they make me feel good.