Meet Molly (left) and Morgan (right). This sweet shot was taken at our wedding right before the ceremony began. We had our guests come dressed in their vintage best, and these two won the unofficial 'Best Dressed' award from our wedding photographers!
Together they own the Etsy shop, Late Bloomers Vintage, and I'd like to share with you their story...
Describe your personal style:
Molly: My personal style is a thrifty mess of girly, cozy, and form-over-function goodies. In the fall I love to wear reds, golds, and olive tones to match the autumn glow. To get through the winter, I love white and pastels- my winter coat is a bold baby teal parka. Warmer weather is all dresses and bright colors. I love anything that is a complete outfit on its own- i.e. dresses or rompers. My footwear is always heeled- boots and wedges entirely. I have an aversion to flats and practical footwear in general. My wardrobe is almost entirely vintage and second hand- this makes it original and sustainable. My style is a solid attempt at showing the true image of my prancing pony heart.
Morgan: My personal style is very much a throwback to my childhood. Growing up, I was a serious tomboy who loved to shop for collared button downs in the boys department of Old Navy. I refused to wear any of the girls clothing. In elementary school I went through an Adidas sweatsuit phase, planning my outfits in preparation of recess. Even then, I hated the tight fit of girl’s clothing and I knew that more masculine clothing suited my style and body type better. Both of these elements- preppy classics and activewear- are still in my wardrobe to this day. I love having my basics. I’m currently a big fan of straight-leg chinos and button downs with a nice pair of oxfords, but I still have a love for high-tops and t-shirts - so I love to combine them both in unexpected ways.
What made you decide to open up shop and work together?
Late Bloomers was a complete whim.
Molly: After graduating college and working customer service for 2 years concurrently, my tolerance for limitations hit a wall. I just had to get into something that I was the boss of, and that would be fun and creative. My frustrations sparked the idea, which had long been an interest of mine. I couldn’t have done it without Morgan, who has the design and detail skills to balance out my big picture, social, and business oriented strengths.
Morgan: When Molly came home and said she wanted to quit her job and start in the vintage business, I was really excited about it. Even then, I just felt like it made sense. It combines our complementary skills perfectly, and would give me another outlet for my photography.
What advice would you give to others if they wanted to leave their 9-5 and work for themselves?
Molly: I would say that trying to start your own business is crazy, and also its one of the best ways to feel like you actually have some creative control over your life. I’d say save a little, but mostly just jump in. In my opinion, going all in (at least at the beginning) is the best way to get things off the ground.
After I put in a couple of months solidly on the business, I was able to take on some other paying work to help balance out start-up costs. One of the great things about starting your own business is that you get to decide how big or small you want it to be, and to determine the rate at which you have the time and energy to make it grow.
One of the best pieces of advice I could give is to only do the homework you must do. Before you open up a text book on business taxes, talk to people who have already done the research. I started out by asking everyone I know who is self-employed, creatively employed, has ever worked freelance, or even dreamed of starting a business- how to do it. The advice people in your own circle can give you will save you a lot of time- they will point you in the right direction and help you learn from their mistakes. When you are ready to pick up a book, start with The Anti 9-5 Guide by Michelle Goodman. It’s practical, fun to read, and chock-full of resources.
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Thanks, ladies! And a treat for you, my dear readers. Molly & Morgan are offering 15% off any Late Bloomers Vintage purchase. Just use the check-out code: HAPPINESS IS.
If you're in Seattle, you can catch them at ArtAche every first Sunday of the month (3pm-8pm) and a number of other pop-up markets around town. Watch them on Facebook to find out where they'll be.
{Image by One Love Photo}
