Hello, hello, hello, my lovely fashionistas! Welcome back to the VIP blog on this wonderful day! In Alabama, the weather is sunny and 65 degrees-ahh….makes me ready for spring break…ooo! and spring fashion! But, I am not here to talk about how desperate I am for a full week of sunny, warm weather! So, let’s get started with what ensemble the VIP created this week by shopping in her own closet….
As I was rumbling through the boxes of clothes I have yet to unpack from the move, I stumbled upon a forgotten treasure…my vintage polka-dot skirt! This glorious moment spawned the idea of a “dot-on-dot ensemble”…but what accessories? Hot pink, of course! The VIP simply adores polka dots and hot pink!
Want fabulous vintage pieces? Check out Twisted Moss on Etsy! You will fall in love with everything for sale! The VIP absolutely ADORES Twisted Moss! http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwistedMoss
If you cannot get enough of the VIP, check out my articles in The Real Story! www.realstorypublishing.com “The Adventures of the VIP” in the LifeStyle section!
The Raspberry Beret (“She wore a raspberry beret, the kind you find in a second hand store. Raspberry beret, if it was warm she wouldn’t wear much more…Purple rain, purple rain, I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain…Cause I get delirious (delirious), delirious (delirious), delirious (delirious)…’cause they say two thousand zero zero party over, oops out of time. So tonight I’m gonna party like its 1999. I was dreaming when I wrote this…” Did I tell you guys that I did a 4th grade project on Minnesota…and Prince is from Minnesota!…) Anyway…back on topic. The Raspberry Beret is a marvelous consignment shop located in Louisville, Mississippi. Sara Chapman, the owner, has such fabulous style that I just had to share with y’all my interview with her because Sara is quite the fashionista.
Share with us a brief bio about yourself.
I graduated from Grace Christian in 2004 and attended Mississippi College for a year and Mississippi State University for a year and a half. I never had a career goal in college for myself so when a position became avaliable at Lake Forest Ranch in 2007, we took it. I stayed at Lake Forest Ranch until the beginning of 2010 when I decided to open up the Raspberry Beret (March 2010).
What made you want to open up a consignment shop?
I love shopping at thrift and consignment stores. I love the hunt, the deals, and giving things a second life. I saw a need for a well-organized more upscale version of a thrift store in Louisville, and I decided to take a risk, providing a place where people can get great deals as well as make a little extra cash.
Why did you name your store Raspberry Beret?
It’s funny, my husband actually came up with the name one day while sitting on the porch…about a year before I opened the store. We knew we had to come up with something catchy that people would remember, and he thought of The Raspberry Beret- which comes from the Prince song that goes- “She wore a raspberry beret, the kind you find at a second hand store.”
Painted by Faith Spann, who has artwork for sale in Sara's shop.
How would you describe your personal style?
My style has definitely evolved over the years, from trendy to hippie-to retro-to classic-to where I am now-kind of a mix of all of them.
Who inspires you?
I draw inspiration not from any particular person. I see things I like, and I store them away in my head…but I rarely see outfits or room decor set up as I like it. I like to mix things up, but I have a passion for all things old because they have a history.
The Raspberry Beret has a nice selection of clothes that appeals to every age.
What is the favorite part about your job?
Being the owner has perks, but it also carries huge responsibility. I would have to say that my favorite part is combing through the items people bring me and finding a real gem that I buy myself.
You can create a completely new look for yourself at The Raspberry Beret. Everything from clothes and shoes to belts and accessories!
What are your favorite hobbies?
I don’t have a lot of hobbies. I used to make jewelry- refashioning old pieces into new electic ones, but owning a business takes up most of my time now. Other than that, I like to relax with my husband and dogs.
Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
I love most thrift and consignment stores, but I do shop retail some. I love JCrew and Urban Outfitters.
You can find almost anything your heart desires at The Raspberry Beret...
Do you have any thrifty fashion tips?
Be daring. Most people don’t think they can pull something off, but 90% of it is confidence. I have learned over the years though that buying quality is better than quantity.
Check out The Raspberry Beret on facebook!
Sara and I picked out some timeless, trendy outfits to show all my readers that it’s easy create a new spring look for a reasonable price by being thrifty:) The pictures shown below are the outfits we put together.
I can imagine it with different accessories, colorful belts, and Jessica Simpson shoes...Look for solid dresses in white or black because they are easy to accesorize!White pants are classic. The possibilities are limitless!Coral is a hot color for spring. Love coral, white, turquoise. I'm feeling like a beach trip...This outfit that Sara put together is gorgeous! She loves mixing patterns together. This is a JCrew shirt with the tag still on it! I liked this outfit so much, I bought it for myself!Is there any better time than spring/summer for a cut-off pair of denim shorts...love it when they are frayed with holes!
It has been so much fun getting to know Sara Chapman! I wanted to share with you all a few things coming up in March: Beatles Poster DIY, Vintage Inspiration, and me revealing my new hair color! I don’t want to go into much detail and ruin all the suprises…so stay tuned to the Vintage Inspired Passionista blog:)
vintageinspiredpassionista.com 