Welcome To The Doot Doot Store!
The Doot Doot Store is a small online shop powered by Etsy that has been a favorite of mine for the past year. As a past consumer of The Doot Doot Store, I thought my first Style Hut interview would be best done with this familiar online shop. Not only is the owner a delightful conversationalist, but her extensive knowledge on vintage fashion makes this interview all the more lovelier.
The shop contains key vintage treasures that will make any woman’s closet flare with a charming embrace. With a wide variety of garments and affordable prices ranging from $11 - $50, stop purchasing overpriced vintage items and refuse rummaging through “popular” department stores for knock-offs and buy yourself a little bit of fashion history.
Q&A With The Doot Doot Store
-What is the origin of The Doot Doot Store’s name? Is it a one man charade or is there a whole army of Doot Doot’s?
The Doot Doot Store is named after a song called ‘The Doot Doot Plot’ by a band named The Hidden Cameras. The cheery whimsical character of the song and name really captured me and I took it as inspiration.
The shop is generally a one lady operation, but I do enlist some help from my lovely boyfriend, who assists with measuring clothes and will be playing an increased role in copywriting and general store administration soon as I will be working full-time next year and will have less time for the shop.
-Tell me a little about yourself, your shop, and your experiences in fashion.
I started The Doot Doot Store two and a half years ago during my first year of law school. It was totally ad hoc at first. I listed just a couple of vintage items in my closet that I no longer wore, and immediately sold a blazer by the next morning. Over the next few months I slowly listed a few more items, and began to shop for items with re-sale in mind. It was the perfect part time job to have in law school as it was totally according to my own schedule and exercised a different part of my brain than what I used in my legal training.
While I have no formal fashion background or training, I would consider myself a fashion and style enthusiast and enjoy reading a wide range of fashion magazines and blogs.
-Are you a fan of vintage and thrifted pieces, or do you just sell them?
I am most certainly a fan of vintage and thrifted pieces! However, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to incorporate into my wardrobe in a professional setting. I turn a lot to little splashes of vintage- bags, scarves, jewelry, and shoes- to accent my wardrobe. Vintage cocktail dresses and gowns are also wonderful, especially as I head into an age where summers are turning into quite the wedding season. I am so fortunate to have an extended wardrobe at the ready. I recently wore a vintage nightgown to my law school formal.
-Use one word to describe the array of items you sell?
Charming!
-Where do you purchase/find the items you sell?
Thrift shops, vintage warehouses, buy the pound outlets, and private vintage sellers.
-I see your online store originates in Toronto, Canada. What is the fashion scene like in your area?
Definitely lots of stylish ladies in Toronto. I don’t know if I could describe the fashion scene, as there are definitely different pockets of styles and no unifying theme. Overall, Toronto ladies seem fairly laid back about fashion and most people are never too ‘done’ or polished. There are some raw edges.
-Would you to have a career in the fashion industry or do you have other aspirations?
I just finished up law school and will be working as a lawyer at a corporate law firm, but I do think fashion, design, and vintage clothes will always have a place in my life.
-What is your personal style? Do you have a “look”?My look varies! In my professional life, I try to look as polished as possible, and enjoy a wide rotation of high-waisted pencil skirts and sheath dresses. I secretly hope I’m channeling a bit of Audrey Hepburn’s chic but not overly perfect silhouette.
In my personal life, I often look like I recently fell out of a tree. I’m generally put together, but something is always a little bit undone- hair uncombed, untucked shirt. I don’t like things to match too much, and do not wear many overt brands, logos, or recognizable fashion items (save my growing collection of Salvatore Ferragamo Vara ribbon flats)
-Who is your style icon? Who is your favorite designer? Why?I have not really thought about this too much, but I would say my style icons include Jane Birkin and Sofia Coppola. These ladies are always quite put together, but not necessarily too polished. They would probably feel just as comfortable hopping onto a bicycle as onto a limousine. I also love that neither feels/felt the need to wear high heels all the time.
-Do you stay up-to-date in the latest trends? Are there any fashion magazines that you read religiously?
I read heaps upon heaps of blogs as I like their personal and immediate nature. I enjoy fashion/style blogs but gravitate towards those that focus more on lifestyle, design, and art over ones that are just outfit posts. I like learning more about their personal lives and their outside influences that make an impact on their fashion choices.
My sister, who lives in Australia, got me hooked on Russh magazine. I adore their artful mix of art/fashion/design/music/fashion.
-What are your impressions on the fashion of today and the fashion of past decades?
People just have more stuff right now! The easy access to fast fashion has made varying wardrobes more accessible to more people, which is wonderful, but I do think there is a lot to be said about investing in key pieces and building a wardrobe around the basics. I find it hard to invest in good quality items with excellent fits and cuts because I get distracted and spend my dollars on cute but fleeting pieces. I think people put more consideration into their clothes in the past, and that’s what I really enjoy about resurrecting vintage pieces.
-What fashion trends interest you the most?
I enjoy trends that are away from ostentation and overt branding. I love seeing an It Bag as much as the next gal, but most appreciate trends that are linked to general looks and feels, rather than specific brands or items.
-How do you keep up-to-date with your store and the products you sell?
Much of my leisure time is spent reading fashion blogs, which allows me to see trends as they emerge on the internet/street. I will visit a vintage warehouse, thrift shop, or buy the pound outlet at least once every two weeks to keep stock moving.
I’ve been selling vintage for over two years now, and as a seller I get a firsthand view of the highs and dips in certain trends. For example, two years ago the shrunken little boy blazers that I would list in the store would be snapped up almost immediately. These items still sell quite well, but don’t attract the same amount of views and interest.
-What does fashion mean to you?It sounds trite to say, but fashion is a form of self-expression. It’s a way to show the world choices you’ve made about how you want to represent yourself in a visual way. It’s not a definitive marker of your personality, but it is a part of it.
I particularly love vintage fashion because it offers a much broader range of styles and items than what it just being offered in stores at the moment. I also love vintage because it does not subject buyers to the same economic constraints as buying new clothes. You can purchase gorgeous and high quality vintage silk and leather pieces that would otherwise be unaffordable. Finding random inexpensive pieces at thrift shops also encourages experimentation with pieces and allows individuals to explore the edges of their fashion tastes.
-Can potential buyers stay updated through any social networking site?
I’ve made some fits and starts with blogging but find it hard to find time to devote to creating posts that I am proud of. A blog is on the backburner at the moment, but I hope to get that started soon!Don’t forget to stop by The Doot Doot Store!
Happy Shopping
-M
05.21.2011
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