Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Real.
Chelsea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Bold, unapologetic and wildly stylish – that’s my grandma, Big Red. The name isn’t just a nod to her tall stature, red hair and well-endowed chest – it’s her fierce presence that made it stick.
Growing up with a fashionable grandma made me want to create a style of my own. Style that goes beyond trend to stand out from others. That’s where my love of vintage comes in. Vintage and thrifted finds have fueled my love of fashion and shopping by being able to take great pieces and give them new life. Whether its pairing vintage polyester pants with a concert tee or a vintage tea dress with my favorite Rolling Stones leather jacket, I love finding new ways to create unique looks.
Big Red Boutique started in 2014 as a passion project and has grown to become my source of creativity. At Big Red Boutique, I want to help create new styles and new stories that leave a lasting impression. If there’s something you’re looking for and can’t quite find it anywhere, let us know and we’ll go on the hunt for it!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve been lucky to have a relatively smooth road, although I think the biggest challenge is time. I have a full-time job at a global advertising agency that demands a lot of my time. I used to get upset or frustrated about splitting my time, but over the years, I’ve made Big Red a priority with my free time and try to find ways to focus on the shop at least 2-3 days a week.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Big Red Boutique is vintage clothing and accessories store, primarily sold on Etsy. I specialize mostly in clothing from the 60s-90s. As a company.
I’m most proud when I do pop up events and have repeat customers. I love seeing the same people excited to come back to find more treasures.
I think what sets Big Red apart is that I look at vintage pieces with a modern eye. My personal style almost always consists of 3-4 vintage pieces (jacket, pants, jewelry) with at least 1-2 modern pieces (top, shoes), so I love being able to style the looks for my shop in ways that allow people to see how it can work within current trending styles.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a talker. As with any of my family or friends and they will tell you, I can talk to literally anyone about anything. I’m highly inquisitive, so being in the retail space has always been an attraction for me. I worked in a boutique in high school and I think I was the most excited person going to work every day to talk to new customers.
I’ve had the creative bug for years, but I didn’t focus on fashion until college (I went to Catholic schools, so uniforms were my life). Once I started paying attention to what I was wearing, I felt more and more confident, which helped me step outside the box and take risks.
Pricing:
- Almost everything I sell is under $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigRedBoutique
- Email: bigredvintageboutique@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigredvintageboutique/
Image Credit:
Big Red Boutique
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