Take Two

After years in business, KELSEY GIBBS and KARYN OETTING faced similar roadblocks that seemed to spell the end of their respective vintage clothing ventures.

In 2020, Gibbs closed The Wonder Shop after nine successful years downtown. The landlord sold the building, the city was shutting down due to the pandemic, and she was in the midst of opening Sealevel City Vegan Diner on South Kerr Avenue. Gibbs packed up racks of inventory and safely stored it, keeping her options open for a future revival of her vintage clothing operation. Oetting, owner of Second Skin Vintage, faced a similar situation on Castle Street. Her lease ended in June when the landlord rented the space for another use. She sold a majority of her inventory, but like Gibbs, she wasn’t ready to give up on owning another vintage shop. So, she reached out to Gibbs. “Kelsey and I have been vintage friends for 10 years,” Oetting says. “She was an inspiration to me when she owned The Wonder Shop. We had more in common than competition.”

Gibbs had the inventory, but not the time. Oetting had the time, but not the inventory. Plus, Gibbs and Oetting share core values in life, business, and aesthetics, making them well-suited as business parnters. “Where we deviate on things, the other one fills in the gaps,” Oetting says. Gibbs agrees, adding that “Karyn has great processes set up to help the flow. My style is a little looser. I fly by the seat of my pants.” Together, the duo decided to join forces, launching Second Wonder Vintage in Gibbs’ rented storefront two doors down from Sealevel on Kerr Avenue.

Oetting got the ball rolling this summer by emptying the retail space and readying it for its new use. August was spent building walls, racks, and fitting rooms. In September, inventory was processed, cleaned, tagged, and repaired – along with “800 other small things that needed to be done,” Oetting notes. By late September, Second Wonder Vintage was ready to quietly open its doors.

Gibbs and Oetting both emphasize that Second Wonder, like the individual ventures that preceded it, is not a thrift store. “There’s a notion that we pick up things at a thrift store and jack up the price,” Gibbs says. Instead, Second Wonder offers a carefully curated selection of vintage pieces. “There’s a lot of education, knowledge, and care that goes into a piece and pricing,” Oetting adds. Another common misconception that Gibbs and Oetting hope to dispel is that vintage clothing is only for people who wear smaller sizes. While vintage sizing is different from modern sizing, Oetting explains vintage clothing was based on pattern measurements. “So, it’s useful to know your bust, hip, and waist measurements as vintage clothing actually fits better. Be sure to try it on and if needed, make minor alterations.”

In recent years, vintage fashion has become increasingly popular as an alternative to fast fashion. Not only are vintage clothes unique, they are often better quality and more sustainable – especially those stocked at Second Wonder. “I don’t want vintage to be a cult thing that’s for the weird girl,” Gibbs says. “It can be for everybody and we can help you figure out your needs and what will be useful in a wardrobe. We want people to build a wardrobe that can last decades and not contribute to the environmental and labor issues.”

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com

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