Pretty Genius

In 2002, Erin Weinger and Renee Shaab met in the hallway of their Indiana University dormitory and bonded over their shared love of vintage Chanel bags and their mother’s 1980s silk shirts and shoes that were probably too nice to be wearing in Southern Indiana sports bars. Little did they know that seven years later they would both find themselves living in Los Angeles — Weinger a style journalist and publisher of StyleSectionLA.com, Shaab a luxury hotel account manager — and equally as obsessed with unexpected fashion hunting as they were that first day of freshman year. After a series of road trips throughout California produced more vintage heritage blazers, silk accordion skirts, metallic mini dresses and oversized clutches than their closets could handle, the pair decided to invite some friends to Weinger’s Los Feliz apartment for a mimosa-fueled shopping day. And their friends wanted more. So the duo held another sale. And then another. And then the Los Angeles Times took notice. And the rest, as they say, is the stuff of fashion legend.

Today, Shaab and Weinger’s pet project has morphed into Pretty Genius, a series of private pop-up vintage sales that features hand-curated, timeless clothing and accessories from the 1950s and beyond. Through Pretty Genius, Shaab and Weinger aim to help their clients choose items that let their individuality shine and makes them feel confident in their clothes without breaking the bank. Because after all, isn’t that what style is all about?

In addition to their debut showing at A Current Affair, Pretty Genius is set to host an upcoming Gilt City vintage fashion luncheon and pop-up shop and is in the midst of launching an e-commerce website. As for Shaab and Weinger, they still love vintage Chanel, their mother’s old blouses and desperately miss the days when their shoes were indeed better then the places they wore them to.