A long overdue Blogpost on a long overdue topic: The Perks and Punishment of Good Taste. 

I only curate pieces, that I would actually wear myself. And I can say for certain that I have immaculate taste - but that sometimes comes at a cost. Because the curse of being a treasure hunter and fashion fanatic is that you sometimes detect a trend/designer/influencer long before it reaches the masses. 

And then, one day, you come across a TikTok of someone “predicting” the trend cycle you’ve already moved through. 

So you're left with two options:
a) You're either the annoying pick me that cannot stress enough how they "knew it before it was cool" (which automatically makes you uncool), or
b) You just shut up about it and live with the unnoticed credit

Both is unsatisfying af.



Truth is, there is a very thin line between keeping your personal integrity and going absolutely mental while building a brand. Because in order to make money, you have to (kind of) play by the rules and buy what people ask for. Supply and demand. 
But in order to make an impression, you have to be your authentic self and stand out. So I found myself balancing between wanting to buy trend-oriented pieces and sticking to my personal preferences. 

So I asked myself, what is more important to me: Money or Integrity?

Maybe my brain isn’t wired for business in the traditional sense, but for me it will always be Integrity. I genuinely can't think of a better reason to pursue a passion. I mean, what else are you doing it for?

I think the core of a good seller is a real connection to the product, which naturally translates into a stronger connection to the costumer, right? If you're only selling a product for money, it's lacking soul. 

Yeah, I could buy hundred of kilos of Y2K vintage cami tops and call it a day, but I'm not a reseller/drop-shipper, I'm a curator. This shop is a gallery of my taste, not a gallery for trends. That's the whole point. 

At the same time, I have to admit the fact that being niche doesn't make big numbers (until it does). And while curating, researching and styling a specific garment is the fun part of owning a vintage store, no one talks about the not so fun part: self doubt, comparing to larger companies, periods of stagnation, taxes, seller fees, and the pressure of staying relevant through constant content creation etc.

Being a one-woman business often means being your only source of validation for a while. It means trusting your own eye. But I've come to the realization, that thats also a real skill and the biggest perk. 

Because when you stop chasing validation, your own opinion becomes clear. Your taste becomes sharper. More independent, and ultimately more yours. I know, that I can alway count on my taste.

And I want my customers to feel like they can rely on that too. 

PS: If you’re someone who doesn’t just want to follow trends, but wants to develop a sense of taste and style that feels intentional, you can use my CURATED service, where I put together pieces specifically for you. 

Love y'all <3 xx