This is Peggy Sue Vintage - or why I love vintage fashion
Hello! I would like to tell you a bit of my personal story, because "Peggy Sue Vintage" is more than just another vintage fashion shop - it reflects my lifelong passion for all things vintage. I'm Angi Henn, owner of the retro fashion boutique Peggy Sue Vintage since 2011 and a self-confessed vintage fashion nerd.
How did it all start? I've always had a soft spot for vintage fashion – I just didn't know it was called that. Together with my grandmother, I used to watch Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day and other 1950s film stars on television, and I especially loved rummaging through suitcases and boxes of old clothes in the attic. (Neither my grandmother nor I ever figured out why someone in the United States thought that a bright purple swimsuit with foam padding would be a good thing to include in a CARE package for post-war Germany, but it was a fascinating item.)
Later, as a teenager, I didn't want to be like everyone else. I loved flea markets and, to my parents' horror, I kept putting together unusual outfits that caused a stir in small-town Germany.
I wanted to express my creative side by studying graphic design, but in the long run, something was missing in my life. I always dreamed of introducing others to the vintage fashion that I love so much – and when a colleague at work always said "Peggy Sue is coming to the office" whenever I came to work, I thought that would be a great name for my business.
In 2011, I started opened a small shop on Frankfurt's Sandweg, called "Peggy Sue Frankfurt" at the time. Soon, my first shop became too small, so in 2014 I opened my current boutique on Wallstraße in Frankfurt's Brückenviertel district and was also able to launch my online shop there.
From the very beginning, it was clear to me: vintage fashion is so much fun, and I want to make it accessible to everyone and share that joy with others. Over the years, I've noticed that I've developed an "invisible tape measure" and can quickly tell by sight whether an outfit will suit my customer – and the best moment is when she comes out of the changing room beaming with joy: "This looks so great on me, and I feel so comfortable!" I am especially happy when I manage to convince a customer that vintage fashion is just the style for her ... and she proudly shows me items she bought years ago that she still loves and wears. You see, vintage is timeless and never goes out of fashion!
How do I select the clothes for my shop to make sure you will love them? I take great care curating my stock so I know all the details. It is important to me to offer different styles and eras. My fashion isn't "fancy dress", it's well-made, wearable and feminine. Whether you're a beginner or a vintage pro, at Peggy Sue Vintage you'll always find new favourite pieces from international retro brands in the style of the 1920s to 1960s. My personal favourite era is still the 1950s, but over time I've gradually discovered the simpler fashion of the late 1940s for myself.
To provide you the best service both in the shop and at vintage events, I have my wonderful team to support me. We all share a love of vintage fashion... no wonder, since my team members used to be my customers.
My greatest weakness is historical fashion trivia because fashion tells us so much about people's lives, dreams and desires. Did you know why Marlene Dietrich was arrested in Paris in the 1930s or where Capri trousers got their name? Come to the shop and I'll tell you. And since I'm also an amateur DJ who loves the music of past decades, the shop always has the perfect soundtrack to go with it.
And now, you're invited to browse - here in our webshop or when visiting our boutique in Frankfurt!
The lovely photo of me is by Mark Hallstein for his "Menschen im Brückenviertel" photo project, documenting our local independent shops and their owners.
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