By: Megan Stamper
“With Lavender and Lace” is a small vintage clothing store owned by local Norfolk resident Kelsie McNair.
McNair is a young musician, photographer and style enthusiast, who has overcome financial barriers to open her own vintage shop in Norfolk. Her curly blonde hair and optimistic attitude mirrors her store.
McNair started her vintage collection when she was a photographer in Boston. She would look for hip, vintage clothes for her models. Eventually she started her own online store on Etsy.com and started collecting to sell.
“I was hoarding vintage clothes [and] spending every paycheck I got on clothes.” Her online store was doing well after a year and a half, and she decided to move back home and open her own shop.
“I had the photography skills, the design skills, the people skills, and the style skills,” said McNair.
She purchases clothes for a variety of people. For men, McNair buys clothes which are aimed at a younger crowd, from high school kids to men in their late twenties.
For women, McNair includes a wider range of clothes. She sells clothes for younger girls and clothes that would “rock an old ladies world.” She includes any style from funky to preppy, to hippie, to day-attire that anybody can wear.
McNair’s style is heavy on prints, floral, polka dots, textures and anything that gives a woman a silhouette. She has styles from all over the spectrum. Other than clothes, McNair’s personal handmade hairpieces and journals are also sold in her store. She also sells shoes, jewelry, and other knickknacks.
McNair’s inspiration to open the store came from the owners of a vintage shop in Springfield, Missouri called “Red Velvet.” The owners started to sell clothes on a website and now own one of the largest vintages stores in the country, along with their own fashion label.
For the women who love vintage clothes but have trouble finding unique pieces for themselves, McNair says to be patient, scope out the vintage shops early, do not go looking for anything specific, keep an open mind, and have a budget to limit yourself. Sometimes vintage style is not about reliving the style as much as it is reinventing. Use old fashion to inspire and recreate new style.
“With Lavender and Lace” had a grand opening last week. The store is located on 21Street and Hampton behind the Taphouse restaurant. The hours are Thursday from 12 to 7 p.m., Friday from 12 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 to 4 p.m. You can also visit McNair’s blog at www.withlavenderandlace.blogspot.com or search “With Lavender and Lace Vintage” on Facebook.
Photo By Megan Stamper
