Cat Slater: Film Accountant to Palm Springs Vintage Clothing Maven

Cat Slater is a Baby Boomer and owner of Iconic Atomic, a unique vintage clothing store in Palm Springs. Her store stocks clothing from the mid-1940s through the early 1980s and has a wide range of women’s and men’s sizes including plus size.

I wanted to come out to visit her store but the temperature in Palm Springs was around 124 degrees, so I’ll wait until it is cooler. Instead, I interviewed her on Zoom and it was delightful.

Watch our interview

Disclaimer: I spaced out and almost missed our meeting, so I did this with zero makeup on and a few little tech issues that were not optimal. My bad. But the interview is fun, so I hope you watch it.

Cat’s background

Cat got involved with accounting for the film industry 38 years ago when her sister asked her to join her. She is now the head of her department. Her idea at first was to meet someone in the wardrobe department but soon realized that accounting required fewer hours, didn’t require her to be out in the rain or heat or work in the middle of the night, and the pay was much better.

(I spent a few years as a wardrobe assistant on Hill Street Blues and the White Shadow, so I know what she means.)

We told stories about our experiences working in the film industry. You’ll have to watch the video to see that.

Iconic Atomic Vintage Clothing

Cat’s interest in collecting vintage clothing started when she was thirteen. While working as an accountant, she occasionally sold vintage Hawaiian clothing at the big Tiki events. About 9 years ago, a friend called her and asked her to be her partner in a Vintage Clothing Store in Palm Springs.

At first, Cat emphatically said no, because she already had a thriving career. Her friend told her not to worry because she would be the managing partner. That convinced her to say yes. Ironically, her friend is no longer her partner and Cat is the sole owner and manager.

The store is large (1600 Square feet) and is three rooms deep. Inventory includes clothing, jewelry, Tiki art from a Disney artist, small appliances, and furnishings. The items span from vintage 1947, at the beginning of the Dior New Look, to the early 1990s.

If you remember, 1980s fashion was punk, New Wave, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, heavy metal, the preppy movement (Golf-style pink Lacoste shirts with the little green alligator logos with pink, green, and white trousers) giant shoulder pads, women’s power suits, and evening attire with huge shoulder pads, ruching and half backless. Later during the early 1990s was grunge.

Cat’s stand is that everybody should be able to try something on. Women’s sizes go from 00 to 62” bust.

Most vintage clothing stores have tiny sizes which makes Iconic Atomic unique.

When fitting the bust, Cat takes measurements. She says, “If the girls don’t go in the dress nothing else matters. You can’t squish the girls, or something may explode.”

The store also has the largest collection for men almost anywhere. Men’s sizes go up to a 65” chest. That includes suits, sports coats, shirts, and ugly polyester pants.

During summer the store is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Cat lives in a 1906 Craftsman home in the West Adams district of Los Angeles and commutes where she also has a place. She often does vintage clothing pop-ups in L.A.

In 2022, her accounting job sent her to Morocco and she brought back vintage caftans. She also travels often to Atlanta and sometimes New Orleans for work. Vintage clothing in the South is much different than in Southern California so you will see well-balanced clothing styles in the store.

Iconic Atomic is located in uptown Palm Springs at 1103 N. Palm Canyon Dr. It is next to a coffeehouse and Bootlegger Tiki Bar.