Ode to Snake Cake

Vintage shop closes with a 70% off sale

The email arrived in my inbox yesterday.

“It’s time for us to move on - we are closing our store,” an email from Snake Cake, Latvian vintage retailer, announced this week.

The news of Snake Cake’s closing, though far from the top of the register of losses this month, hits me as a loss nonetheless. The Riga-based shop has not only served as a source of bold and graphic vintage wares of the 80s, 90s, and aughts, but a wellspring of styling inspiration. The maximalist merchandising of the Snake Cake catalogue gestured at a Y2K sensibility, the particulars of the past pieced together for futuristic modes of dressing. On depop, Etsy, and ASOS Marketplace, owner and curator Jevgenija Dorosenko struck a harmonious chord with dramatic statement pieces styled casually for an endlessly wearable collection.

In the interest of brevity, and so you can catch the sale, I’ll end my tribute there. Here are some of my favorite Snake Cake ensembles and still-available vintage pieces (listed with sale prices):

90s Hawaiian floral robe ($12.60 on sale)

90s fuchsia crochet halter top ($48), 90s low rise floral midi skirt ($12.60)

80s suede leather Western bomber jacket ($29.70 on sale)

Y2K denim pencil skirt with front slit ($14.40 on sale)

90s Rucanor zip-up track jacket ($12.60 on sale)

80s mustard Chelsea collar blouse ($14.70 on sale)

90s leather biker jacket ($28.80 on sale), 90s high waisted a-line midi skirt ($19.50)

Y2K satin Cheongsam dress ($15.60 on sale)

90s khaki long padded puffer coat ($29.70 on sale)

90s purple quarter-zip ski jacket ($20.10 on sale)