Herewith, our interview with Shrimpton Couture founder, Cherie Federau.

How long have you been buying vintage?
I started when I was 15, but I have been seriously buying from a collector/dealer point of view for about 10 years or so.

Can you share your top tip when buying vintage?

I like to compare vintage to art – and the number one rule of art is to buy what you love. You can look for all the obvious things – condition, quality, cut, workmanship, the "wow" factor, but the truth be told, if you don't love it, it will end up languishing in your closet just like any other piece of clothing.

What is the most treasured item in your wardrobe?

Whew, you are asking a girl with a lot of treasures! I tend to go through little mini affairs with my treasures. I think the pieces that I treasure the most are the ones with memories attached. I have a little 1960s dress that I wore on my first real date with My Guy and every time I put it on, or even see it, I think of that night.

If you could choose a designer, dead or alive to make a dress for you who would it be?

I have so many favorites. I have to say that it would be Madame Grés. She was one of the first designers to cut fabric on the bias and she often used one single piece of fabric and draped and stitched it into place. Her dresses and gowns were drop dead sexy and are still as wearable now as they were then. She was also one of the last Haute Couture houses to produce a ready to wear line. She said RTW was akin to "prostitution" – how can you not love a woman like that?

I know Rachel Zoe and Courtney love have bought from you. Who else would you love to see in one of your frocks?

Cate Blanchet is one of my favorites, and Julian Moore - they would be easy. There are a few vintage loving celebrities that I would love to meet up with and dress – Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, they both can fit into the teeny pieces! Penelope Cruise is a big vintage fan and I have heard that Claudia Schiffer is a massive collector. It would be fun not just to dress her but to go play in her supposed warehouse of treasures! I would love to dress up some of the edgier girls too – Rihana, Lady Gaga – can you imagine dressing her? All celebrities are fun to dress, but I still like my "real," fabulous girls the best.