Oh my goodness, this past week has been a whirlwind! In a good way though! Oh, I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but two weeks ago I dislocated my ribs. Super fun! And then I got a cold on top of that.
So this week has not only been very productive, it has also been a week of healing. Staying put and still to allow my body to heal has been difficult. My ribs still are not healed all the way, it takes a full 6 weeks I suppose, but I’m just over 2 weeks and I’m already off my heavy painkillers, so to me, that’s great progress!
Anyhow, let me get back on topic! I’m sure you don’t want to hear me moan about my aches and pains!
Ch-ch-ch-CHAPTER!
This photo above is a photo I took two days before our soft opening. Hmm…where do I even begin about CHAPTER and the inspiration behind it?
Firstly I wouldn’t describe CHAPTER as a vintage shop. In fact on the A-frame we have to put outside the store, I purposely didn’t put “VINTAGE” as one of the shop descriptors. I think the word vintage has been too misused now.
In Portland VINTAGE means two things.
1.] A shop that sells old/thrifted clothes mostly from the 90s, price points between $25-$50.
2.] A shop that sells authentic vintage clothing that carries eras from the 1900s to the 1980s, usually bright colorful with lots to look at.
These are two big generalizations of course, but for the most part, those two genres is what a Vintage Shop in Portland is.
And Chapter is neither. While I do have vintage in the shop, I wanted the vintage in the shop to both accent and also fit in harmoniously into everything else. And because I adore neutral colors so much, all the vintage in the shop fits into that color palette.
I was so tickled yesterday when a few girls were surprised that my mannequins were wearing vintage and antique pieces. They thought they were all new clothes! (I mixed vintage and modern together.) When I get this reaction I know I’ve hit the nail on the head. The Adored Vintage/Chapter woman is someone who appreciates vintage clothing and recognizes the significance of these storied garments, but she also is someone that reinvents the story of the garment. She wears the garment, it doesn’t wear her.
I’m going to take actual camera photos soon, but for now, here are some snaps I took with my phone. It’s a bit more filled out now as we have lots more plants!
Originally I wanted to be a vintage shop meets a general store meets a florist, but I think that last part is going to be meets a plant shop. Most, if not all, of the flowers I’m going to sell will be dried ones (I just prefer them…hehe…as YOU KNOW if you’ve been following my shop for awhile). Also I thought with the addition of live flowers, the shop just became way too girly-girl and I wanted to make sure I didn’t get too cutesy in the shop.
I am really looking forward to how the shop will take place in the future. For years now I have been asked if I would ever open up an Adored Vintage brick & mortar store and I always said, “no, probably not…” because opening a vintage shop just isn’t where my heart is at and while I adore vintage (hence my shop’s name!) I am also passionate about interiors, home decorating, and plants/flowers.
CHAPTER is more in line with who I am at my core. Eventually I’ll be adding more modern clothes with a slightly more masculine feel. I love the tailoring of men’s clothing. However, all in due time 🙂
Stay tuned for more Chapter pop-up shop updates and news!
