your questions : our answers

Q : What the heck is enokiworld?

A : The site is the retail 'boutique' and all of our efforts are focused on our ever changing digital catalog. It used to be that you had to have a personal stylist in your humble entourage or live in a big city to have access to the kinds of fabulous clothing we carry, but not anymore. Our inventory is vast and we try to always have a varied representation available for babes who are into glam or ladies who have a thing for classic little cocktail dresses. We also realize that there are women who like to wear both and that's why we have such a varied selection. There are so many fabulous aspects to being online - you can shop at your desk with your hair all messy and we're open all day, every day. Probably the best thing about our clothing is that from the time we have it until the time it gets to you, it hasn't been tried on a million times, stretched, scented with a million different perfumes or damaged. It also means that we're not hoarding all the great stuff for rock stars and actresses in the back room. We'll help you find the perfect thing, sure - but everyone (from our famous customers all the way to cousin Jane in Missoula, Montana) gets the same special treatment. We truly believe in wearing your vintage and we understand that condition is almost equal to style so we do everything we can to preserve it. You can also rest assured that as women who love to wear vintage ourselves, we intuitively understand what it's like to wear dresses and bras and high heels but practicality and comfort are as important as style when choosing pieces to add to your wardrobe. If you have any questions at all about a fabric, just ask. If you want to know how lightweight a wool gab on a certain dress is, we'll tell you. If you're wondering how your Sophia Loren bod is going to look in a Courreges cut-out jumpsuit, it's something we're hip to. 
 
 

Q : How big is your company

A : Honestly, it's me. It has always been me, Madeline. My ex-husband used to help around the place, printing UPS labels and sending confirmation emails. I put on a fantastic show, making it seem like we were many people and in many ways, I am. So get to know me, I'll get to know you and you can have a friend that knows her fashion history and is tactfully honest with you. I'm a pretty crappy salesperson that way. I would rather not make the sale than send you something I know is not meant to be. I do marketing, PR, buying, joke-cracking, artwork, inventory, shipping, html, billing, writing, packing, steaming, printing and wicked phone schmozzing. I am the three-ring circus you have always known as enokiworld. I'm just me. You'll love it.
 

Q : Do you buy or do consignment?

A : I do. If you've got something you think is really great, I'd love to see pictures. I specialize in designer clothing from the 1940s through the 1970s and condition is crucial to me. Everyone from the Duchess of Windsor to Jackie Onassis consigned their clothing - how do you think they kept rolling in the new stuff? I try to limit consignment arrangements to really special pieces. Everything else is a flat buy.
 
 

Q : What is your return policy?

A : We sure do. If you've got something you think is really great, we'd love to see pictures. We specialize in designer clothing from the 1940s through the 1970s and condition is crucial to us. Everyone from the Duchess of Windsor to Jackie Onassis consigned their clothing - how do you think they kept rolling in the new stuff?
 

Q : How do you feel about altering vintage?

A : I believe in preservation as much as possible. While I encourage the adjustment of a hem or changing out shoulder pads, I try to stay away from rebuilding vintage clothing. Eventually, if enough women have a vintage garment altered, it will end up being nothing more than a vehicle for the label and will have little to do with the original designer's creation. If you're looking for something that looks like this season's latest Galliano for Dior but are trying to make that out of a vintage Halston dress - I'd be happy to help you find the John Galliano so the Halston can remain a Halston. There is a little piece of history in the clothing and I'd hate to see it die.  
 

Q : Do you ship internationally?

A : All the time. enokiworld girls are all across the globe - from Copenhagen to Tokyo. Shipping fees are determined by weight and value of item so if you'd like an overseas quote, let me know which item you're dying to have and I'll tell you how much it will cost to get it in your hands. Duty and other third party fees may apply. This is totally out of my control.
 

Q : What condition are these pieces in?

A : On each individual item description page, there is a little icon in the lower left corner that says "Click Me". This is not a bad idea. It will take you to a page that will walk you through all of our grading in detail.
 

Q : Why designer?

A : In the days prior to the early 80s, fashion was more of an art form. From the signature hook and eyelets on a Claire McCardell dress to the way the house of Lesage embroidered a lapel, the people who crafted the clothing you see here were inspired in ways we don't see much in modern fashion. A designer label alone doesn't cut it, so you can count on my exhaustive knowledge of fashion history to give me a solid backbone in selecting pieces that are quintessential representations of each designer enokiworld offers in its collection. Feel free to have a dictionary of fashion designers close by when you shop enokiworld because I try to carry something from all designers - well-known and obscure. While I, of course, wear modern clothing as well (I have a sweet spot for Ricks Owens), it is the vintage in my closet that adds the twist to my basics and are the things most treasured for their form and beauty. To me, good fashion design is an art form and gifted fashion designers are the like sculptors and painters in that medium. I am duly admirous of creative genius in everything from Van Gogh's "Starry Night" to a really talented pastry chef's ability to spin sugar. While we may have different taste, our philosophy of wanting to create a unique look by mixing pieces from every era makes us the same. I can completely relate to your not wanting to look like every other woman out there. . 
 
 

Q : Where can I find your Who's Who list of famous people that shop at enokiworld?

A : I used to read those same magazines every month too but I find it really demeaning to put emphasis on famous customers only - it makes it seem like the girl who temps for a real estate agency in Idaho isn't important or that if you aren't in the movies that you just don't have a clue what style is. I adopted a strict privacy policy early on and don't believe in turning our website into a gossip column or using well-known customers' names as free advertising - it always struck me as really sleazy. Each and every customer is important to us and we believe that your choices should be based upon your feelings about the clothing and not the big-name clientele we have - and we have 'em, believe us. enokiworld doesn't need to brag, the stuff alone is good enough.
 

Q : What is your privacy policy?

A : I do everything by hand, by choice, and enokiworld doesn't share, archive, store or sell info to anyone and never has. And the one thing I REALLY don't do is put you on some irritating email list just because you placed one order. I hate when it's done to me - I will not do it to you. Fair?
 

Q : Do you have a lot of repeat customers?

A : Tons! Some of the best enokiworld girls have been with me from the very beginning in 1998. You'll find that after you've bought a few things from the site, I'll have a better understanding of what you like and what sizes worked for you. This enables me to say, down the road, "That dress would be huge on you! Try this instead." and if you ask one of old-timers, she'll tell you I'm usually right. If you want to know if your size 8 body is going to squeeze into a Pucci 4, I won't lie. I want you to trust me and misguiding you won't do a darn thing to help earn it. I'm not looking for one shot orders, I want to build a relationship with you.
 

Q : Do you put things "on hold" for people?

A : Nope, if you think you want it, make the commitment and buy it because I don't "hold" things while people think about it.
 
 

Q : What is an enoki?

A : Enoki (eh-NOH-kee) is a Japanese mushroom and it's a really long story.