by Holly Ostler, owner Elizabeth O. Vintage
I have a passion for hunting for vintage in the Okanagan. Do you love hunting for that special piece? Then girl, we are one in the same.
I’m Holly, Founder of online shop and fashion truck, Elizabeth O. Vintage, and I live in Penticton, BC. I’m a lover of all things vintage, thrifted and one of a kind. Which perfectly describes what we sell, a curated collection of vintage and thrifted women’s clothing, accessories, home decor, and handmade goods for your home.
WHAT IS VINTAGE?
Depending on your tastes, Vintage can mean different things. Vintage, as a category of goods, is technically something that is at least 20 years old. But as time moves on, the eras become further and further into the past. Findings items out there that are from the early 1900s has become quite rare, and now items from the 1970s to 1990s have become more available and therefore more popular. Luckily for fashion and design, everything comes back around. What we try to carry in our shop is a mixture of on-trend and timeless styles that will fit with items you already have in your closet. That way, none of your clothing goes to waste.
SEARCHING FOR VINTAGE IN THE OKANAGAN
I’m fairly new to the Okanagan, my boyfriend and I moved here last fall and have managed to make it through our first Okanagan winter. Now that spring is here, we’ve come out of hibernation and have been busy exploring our new town and surrounding area, which for me means treasure hunting in second-hand shops. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that vintage and thrift shopping is becoming more and more abundant in the Okanagan. Whether you are a collector, building your wardrobe, or upcycling furniture, the perfect find is out there for you. There are plenty of thrift stores in each city within the Okanagan. Penticton has a huge Value Village, which is my personal fave, two Salvation Army locations, and multiple shops that support various local charities.
There are markets and events specific to the vintage scene as well. For example, the Okanagan Vintage Fair, is held in 3 locations, Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna in the spring and fall every year. It draws quite the crowd with line ups for opening at each location. We were vendors at this years spring shows, and it was so fun! Lots of different types of booths to see and nostalgia just fills the room. Vintage sellers are becoming more of a demand to be vendors at local markets and craft fairs. So if you’re not into or have the time to do the hours of digging yourself, these small shops have done it for you. And each one has a different aesthetic or genre or era that is their niche.
OKANAGAN VINTAGE BRANDS
A few of my favourite curated vintage stores and brands that I’ve followed for a long time send out a ton of inspiration via their social media and websites. Definitely worth checking out their Instagram accounts! Gypsy Soul Designs has been a major shop crush for me for years, and their storefront has the coolest vibe with a touch of the tropics. Raglette, who sells via Instagram and Etsy, have nailed the 90’s vibe. And Georgie Girl is the coolest mixture of new lines mixed with retro style.
ELIZABETH O. VINTAGE
I often get asked where we find the items that we sell, and how we choose them. I always say, at my local thrift stores, and anytime I’m travelling or daytripping, I stop into as many secondhand shops as I can. And how we choose, well, sometimes it’s based on sales, as in we’ve really been moving graphic t-shirts, so replenishing those would be smart, sometimes it’s according to upcoming fashion trends or classic styles that are having a current moment, and sometimes it’s based on a feeling, you just know when a piece is special.
We have literally just expanded our business to include our fashion truck, which launched on May 4th, same days as Her Okanagan! So, this connection was meant to be. You can find the truck every Saturday at the Farmer’s Market in Penticton. And we will be popping up both with the truck and without at different places around the Okanagan. You can also book Shopping Parties with us! Email us for details at hello@elizabethovintage.com.
We’re so excited to learn more about the Okanagan and to be a part of this welcoming community!
Holly
Elizabeth O. Vintage
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