The Gabor’s, the Brontes, the Kardashians. Sisters who come in threes have a way of grabbing our attention. The same holds true for the enchanting trio behind the new vintage clothing eBay boutique, Sisters of the Black Moon. Sara Larocca-Ramm, Alecia Marcum and Rachel Hunt aren't technically sisters, but they say they might as well be, so closely are they bonded by soul and spirit. “We’re sisters from another mother,” Hunt says with a laugh. “It’s more a sisterhood of longtime friends with a common interest and a common way of living.”
They first connected over a love of vintage clothes, a passion for rock-n-roll and a belief in a certain kind of, well, harmonic happenstance—they regularly quote their own horoscopes and use terms like “kindred spirits” and“magical” without a trace of irony.
The idea for the eBay shop came to them six months ago during a road trip. They were listening to Stevie Nicks sing “Sisters of the Moon,” and naturally conversation turned to launching an online vintage shop, which they opened in February 2010. “EBay is great for growth,” Hunt says. “It allows us to reach the world with our store.”
As is the case with most proud mamas, the women are deeply involved in every aspect of their “moon child”'s existence. “From hunting down epic vintage pieces, to modeling, then shipping off the garments with love, we do it all!” Hunt says. She and Marcum live in Austin, while Larocca-Ramm is based in Houston. They all thrift shop both cities for vintage goods and still head out on the occasional road trip.
The trifecta's hippie chic aesthetic is ever present in their evolving collection, from flowy, bell-sleeved tunics and feminine frocks fit for a free-loving nymph, to sequined tops and tailored bell bottoms more appropriate for a disco queen or rock goddess. In fact, music lovers are often fans of the merch, and the Sisters have found success selling their vintage threads at the both the Norman Music Festival in Oklahoma and Psych Fest in Austin, TX, launched by Hunt’s husband and his band, The Black Angels. “I think all our hearts hang on the hangers of clothes from the 60s and 70s,” Hunt says.
Photographer Alexandra Valenti helps them bring the clothes to life. She shoots the Sisters in their wares for images that accompany the auctions on eBay, a tactic that gives the store a compelling, cohesive feel. Referring to Valenti as “an amazing woman, artist, and beyond”, Hunt praises their collaboration. “We are creating our ‘environment’ our ‘world’,” Hunt says. “The four of us put the ideas that float in our heads into a big pot, stir them up, and with her photography they explode into something beyond our dreams.”
The Sisters add new merch to their eBay store every Friday. The auctions are up for ten days and pricing always starts at $9.99. The message they hope their line conveys to the world is one of both individualism and solidarity. “It is never too late to find yourself, to feel free and confident,” Hunt says. “We hope that our clothes will do that for the people that shop with us.”
Here is a selection of items currently up for bids:
THE LONG STORY: Long flowy ultra-feminine dresses
From left to right: Vintage 70's Black floral tiered semi-sheer boho dress on Sara Larocca-Ramm (starting bid, $9.99); Christian Dior white gauze maxi dress on Rachel Hunt (current bid, $9.99)
MAYHEM IN A MINI: Sexy short vintage frocks
From left to right: Vintage bell-sleeved tunic on Hunt (current bid, $21.60); Embroidered peacock mini on Larocca-Ramm (current bid, $9.99)
GLAM BAM THANK YOU MA’AM: Rocker chic persona
Clockwise from top left: White ostrich feather coat on Larocca-Ramm (current bid, $42); Vintage reversible halter swimsuit on Larocca-Ramm (starting bid, $9.99); 70s Metallic Crop Butterfly Sequin Top on Marcum (current bid, $9.99); Leather vest with biker fringe on Larocca-Ramm (starting bid, $9.99)
** All images are from eBay. **
Amy Gabriel is a freelance journalist who began her writing career in Dallas over ten years ago. She currently splits her time between Austin and New Orleans as the Editor-In-Chief for online publication GoTidbits.com, a style and features writer for the Austin American-Statesman, and a contributing writer for Glossy magazine.
