Vintage Violet Blooms With Pretty, Kitschy Style
“Vintage Violet Boutique offers an eclectic mix of colorful, shabby chic home decor and furniture, new and old lovely feminine finds, such as 40s and 50s style lingerie, prom gowns, day dresses, heels, jewelry, housewares and treasured heirlooms,” said owner Stephanie Oelschlaeger. Jacki Frost Staff Photographer
Vintage Violet, a vintage home goods and clothing store, opened in November on North College Street and joined the already vibrant vintage community of Northwest Arkansas. Stephanie Oelschlaeger, owner, runs the store with the help of her two associates, Leea Ewing and Susan Perry.
Oelschlaeger and her Vintage Violet associates vary in their ages and style, but they all have one thing in common: they love vintage treasures. The three women met in Vintage Violet shortly after its opening.
“They found my store and we all became friends,” Oelschaeger explained. “They literally walked in off the street. We found that we all had very similar tastes.”
Ewing, in her early twenties, was referred to Oelschaeger for her collection of 50s dresses. She now works in the store and sells daywear pieces. Perry, in her 60s, sells kitchen accessories in part of the store.
“It is so cool to see both Leea and Susan living their dreams through my dream [of Vintage Violet],” Oelschaeger said.
While Ewing and Perry have specific areas of interest, they also help Oeschlaeger with decorating and arranging other areas of
the store.
Recently, when Oeschaleger found a vintage vanity, Perry stayed after hours to help her repaint it.
“We are really good at helping each other,” Oeschaleger said.
Since the opening of the store in November, Oeschaleger said that the store has done extremely well. Each month they have been able to meet and exceed their income goals.
“It is amazing to see how well Fayetteville has supported us,” Oeschleger said. “It is very neat to see Leea and Susan making so much money, too.”
The store is accessible to vintage fiends, with styles spanning the decades. In addition to vintage furniture they sell funky chairs, artwork made from old magazines, vintage prom gowns, clothing, shoes and jewelry.
“What makes it so special is there are kids who are 5 years old who love it and then people in their eighties who love it,” Oeschleger said.
Although Oeschlaeger is living her dream through her store, she hopes to someday be able to expand Vintage Violet.
“I want to go much bigger. I feel like we are busting at the seams,” she said. “I want to make it feel like you are walking through someone’s house snooping and you can buy whatever you want from the house. And I really want to have a little mini-bakery in the store.”
Vintage Violet is located at 704 N. College, in the same building as Maude Boutique. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
