By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf
Stroll down the quiet, tree-lined Lakeside Street in the Bay Creek neighborhood and you’ll happen upon Silver Rose Vintage, a newly-opened secondhand and vintage shop. Owner and curator Elissa Blaeser was able to combine her love of local retail with vintage treasure hunting.
“I love to picture the life items lived before, and the life they’ll live after. And it’s true what they say — they don’t make things like they used to!” says Blaeser.
The quaint space has secondhand home décor and clothing. Clothing is arranged thematically — one rack of clothing has military items (Navy seafarer jeans, Vietnam-era jackets), another has preppy togs (letterman jackets, pleated skirts) and a third has frilly, feminine pieces (silk robes, dresses). The entire space has a homey feel, almost as if you’d stepped into the living room of a very cool friend.
Blaeser’s vintage curation experience comes from owning an antique booth space at Antiques Mall of Madison with her mom and aunt for seven years.
“Throughout that time, I found my personal style, and I was happiest when I got to interact with the customers,” she says.
She only carries what she loves in the shop, and her fashionable eye is obvious.
“I feel really lucky to source and provide cool items to people. What’s amazing about vintage is it’s inherently unique — the chances of someone else having the exact same item is slim,” says Blaeser.
330 W. Lakeside St., instagram.com/silverrosevtg
