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Rare Archival Finds from The Collection of Pechuga Vintage
LA-based Pechuga Vintage is the go-to name in the business. Here are six rare finds from their showroom collection.
Pechuga’s story is not the usual one: The founder of Pechuga Vintage, Johnny Valencia, studied economics and political science and pursued a career in diplomacy before discovering his true passion.
“At some point, I started to question if I wanted to work in diplomacy for the rest of my life. I found an internship at Vivienne Westwood, and my love for fashion history really was born. I started devouring everything that Westwood was inspired by: the Victorian fashion, the dandies, the punk. I ended up becoming the buyer for the boutiques and managing stuff, and finally reached my peak.”
Now Johnny runs one of the most valued vintage showrooms in the world. Some of his customers are Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cardi B, Daddy Yankee, and Lady Gaga.
Everything in the showroom is available to buy or rent, and anyone interested in fashion is welcome to visit.
“The basis of my business is always education. I’d like to think of my showroom more as a library than a museum, because I welcome people to try things on and delve into the history behind the pieces. I don’t know everything, and that’s okay.
Every day is an opportunity to learn. The inclination and the curiosity are what keep this business going.
We work a lot with stylists, and a lot of our clients are musicians and entertainers. We are very open about who we work with because ultimately it’s my clients’ love for fashion that also keeps me in tune with what they’re doing”, Johnny says.
Find below five unique items from Pechuga Vintage’s collection.
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Chanel Hula Hoop Bag, Spring/Summer 2013
The Hula Hoop Bag from Spring/Summer 2013 exemplifies Karl Lagerfeld’s approach to reimagining classic Chanel codes with wit and scale. Presented as a functional beach accessory with room for towels and a handle that doubles as a hanger, the design blurred practicality with spectacle. Its notoriety extended beyond the runway: Floyd Mayweather flaunted it on Instagram, Kris Jenner was spotted considering it in-store, and Gia Gunn spoofed its silhouette in her RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 entrance.
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Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik “9-5” Denim Holster Boots, 2016
Part of the 2016 Denim Desserts collaboration, Rihanna’s thigh-high “9-5” Denim Holster Boots fused Western detailing with a material Manolo Blahnik rarely explored. The design, first unveiled in the April 2016 issue of British Vogue, was produced in only 45 pairs, elevating its rarity and desirability. Rihanna gifted a pair to Jennifer Lopez, who wore them in her “Ain’t Your Mama” video, cementing the boots’ place as both a collectible and a pop-cultural artifact.
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Marc Jacobs Duster Coat, Fall/Winter 2016
Look 20 of Marc Jacobs’ Fall/Winter 2016 show was modeled by Lady Gaga, who joined the runway just after performing her David Bowie tribute at the Grammys. Jacobs listed her under her birth name, Stefani Germanotta, causing initial confusion in the audience. The moment underscored the show’s interplay between celebrity and anonymity, while also highlighting Gaga’s ongoing relationship with Jacobs.
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Versace Bomber Coat, Fall/Winter 1992 “Miss S&M” Collection
Gianni Versace’s Fall/Winter 1992 Miss S&M collection translated bondage aesthetics into high fashion, confronting mainstream audiences with themes of sexuality, power, and subculture. The work divided critics: Helmut Newton admired the audacity, while Suzy Menkes objected to the overt eroticism. The bomber coat stood as one of the collection’s defining pieces, situating Versace at the center of debates about glamour, provocation, and women’s agency.
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Prada Fox Fur Stole, Spring/Summer 2011
Miuccia Prada’s Spring Summer 2011 collection diverged from the era’s minimalism, mixing utilitarian uniforms with references to Baroque ornament and Josephine Baker. Among its most memorable accessories was the fox fur stole, later worn by Rihanna in her “S&M” music video. She revisited the design years later, spotted in the white and navy variation while in New York in 2022, sourced from Pechuga.
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Pechuga Vintage Pillow with Atelier Versace Scarf, 1990s / Erté Print
Gianni Versace was deeply influenced by Erté, whose ornamental illustrations informed the designer’s body-conscious tailoring and extravagant prints of the 1980s and ’90s. This Pechuga pillow recontextualizes a 1990s Atelier Versace scarf featuring Erté’s 1987 artwork Mermaid on Seahorse.
Chanel Hula Hoop bag