Finding Myself Through Vintage

I’ve always loved clothes. Not just in a “shopping is fun” kind of way, but in a way where being around clothing makes me genuinely happy. Ever since I was little, I’d put together wild outfits, dig through thrift stores and estate sales, and try on anything that made me feel something. I didn’t care if it matched or if anyone else liked it. If it felt like me, I wore it.

When I got older, I started realizing how powerful that feeling was. The way certain pieces made me feel confident or creative or just more myself. I didn’t want to blend in with what everyone else was wearing. I wanted to stand out in the way that felt true to who I was. That’s when I really fell in love with vintage.

Vintage gave me permission to explore. It taught me that I didn’t have to stick to one “look” or follow endless trends. I could pull a 90s tee, 70s big bell jeans, and 1920s watch and somehow it would all still make sense because it made sense for me. That’s when I started to understand how personal style isn’t just about how you look — it’s about how you feel in what you’re wearing.

I was in college when everything started shifting. I’d be in class thinking about my dream pieces of clothing, how I could start a store, or what pieces I could bring to life. It got to the point where I knew my heart wasn’t in school anymore, it was in this dream. So I made the scariest and most exciting decision of my life: I dropped out to go all-in on Trippn Vintage.

My sister Lauren and I built this together with a vision to create something more than just a vintage store. We wanted a space where people could come and not feel pressured to dress a certain way. A place where style could be personal, expressive, and FUN. We wanted to style people, hype them up, and help them find pieces that actually feel like them.

Being in this space every day,  surrounded by clothing from every era, helping people discover new sides of themselves — makes me feel complete. It’s what I’m meant to be doing. And honestly, I believe that when you wear something that really speaks to you, it changes how you carry yourself. It’s not about having the most expensive outfit or following the trendiest look. It’s about wearing what makes you feel good, bold, soft, loud, powerful, cool, whatever you want to feel.

That’s the heart of Trippn and that’s the heart of why I do this.

Personal style matters. It’s one of the most underrated forms of self-expression, and I hope Trippn can be the place that helps people discover it for themselves — just like I did.

— Julia 💘