About us

"Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves."

-W.H. Auden

Public Dove was founded in 2013 and offers carefully curated vintage clothing and accessories from the early through the mid-twentieth century. Our focus is the height of Edwardian, Art Deco and Mid-Century styles in fashion.

Public Dove was named from an excerpt of a 1938 poem by W.H. Auden entitled "Funeral Blues". The line makes reference to the Victorian and Edwardian practice of mourning, in which doves would be released at funeral processions, and women would dress in black crêpe material to signal they were in a state of grieving. Although the poem is specific to the practice of mourning, it recalls the symbolic and cultural role fashion plays in daily life.

Woman-Owned

Founder, Carly Moran, has been wearing vintage for over 20 years. With a degree in Fine Art, French language, and Culinary Arts, her background in Art History has fueled her passion for vintage fashion design. Carly is also passionate about sustainability and ethics in the fashion sector, as well as small business and entrepreneurship, and works a day job managing a European-style chocolate shop.

Learn about our shop ethics here