The Cool Drop: Vintage That Makes A Lasting Impression
A curated list of female founders with timeless taste.
If you have been part of the C’est Cool community, you know our roots are grounded in entrepreneurship, art, and the pursuit of making the world more beautiful, more thoughtful, and more equal. Can one newsletter do all of that at once? We will try.
Vintage has always aligned with these values. Once dismissed as an unfashionable way styling and consuming, it is now a celebrated practice for investing in pieces with history. It is also a commitment to stepping away from the excess of the fashion, textile, and design industries.
I feel lucky to have stumbled upon so many incredible vintage curators, some familiar and some you may be excited to discover.
Whether the gift is for yourself or for someone you love, this drop is the opposite of unfashionable.
Lucia Zolea
Shopping Lucia Zolea feels like stepping into a virtual boutique where each piece tells a story and looks far more expensive than it actually is. It is the combination of our dreams. Bridal pieces, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and a 1920s balloon-sleeve velvet dress you did not know you needed. It is a shop to savor.
Villa Object
Focused on vintage home furnishings, Villa Object carries everything from small decor to full-sized furniture. Each piece would suit the home of anyone with an eye for thoughtful design. Founded in 2021 by Kelsey Heinze and Isaiah Abenchichan, the brand reflects their shared passion for craft and form, which is evident in the curation.
Grainne Morton
While not a traditional vintage shop, Grainne Morton’s eponymous label transforms antique and natural objects into handmade jewelry. Grainne comes from antique-loving roots and now runs a ten-person studio in her gardenside workspace in Edinburgh. Most pieces are made to order, and once you spend time on her site, it becomes clear why. Her work feels magical.
Merci, c’est vintage
You already know this incredible founder from our feature on Mariana Vergara and The Timeless Art of Taste. Fresh off her NYC Le Pop Up, she continues to source one-of-a-kind vintage from around the world while curating an impeccable selection of emerging designers. And that Cleopatra’s Bling piece we teased earlier is pictured below. She is perfect.
Borne Edit
I first followed Mariana Ertmann for her timeless, minimalist styling. Only later did I discover her brand which mirrors the same aesthetic and draws influence from Art Deco motifs. The shop mixes accessories with home decor and furnishings, and she also designs limited pieces in-house, including a hand-carved silk comb that can be engraved. As a crossover moment, I spotted her pieces at Merci’s Le Pop Up as well.
Casa Shop
Founded by Emi Moore in 2016, Casa Shop blends old and new. Vintage discoveries sit alongside collaborations with contemporary artists, resulting in a collection that speaks to someone who would never dream of looking like everyone else. Someone we love being.
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the discoveries that have shaped this community. While curating this week’s drop, I felt more and more in awe.
C’est Cool was never intended to be only for the girls, but the girls continue to show up with taste, intention, and inventiveness in their businesses.
This drop makes me grateful to be here, and I hope you feel that too.
Speak soon,
Kelly