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Marilyn Monroe is the ultimate pin-up style inspiration and Jones has captured Monroe’s classic, flirty vibe in her styling and shop decor. (Photo by Megan Parry)
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Jones wants Pinup-ish to feel like a place you can come shop— or simply visit for a cup of tea and a stylish read. (Photo by Megan Parry)
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There’s a mix of modern brands like H&M, Talbots and J.Crew sprinkled throughout the racks of vintage. No matter what decade the piece is from, however, it’s got that signature pin-up look. (Photo by Megan Parry)
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Vibrant, feminine prints fill the springtime racks at Pinup-ish; the perfect spot to snag a sundress for the upcoming wedding season. (Photo by Megan Parry)
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A rescue kitten with a incredible fashion sense all his own, Micah keeps himself - and Pinup-ish visitors - entertained all afternoon. (Photo by Megan Parry)
Pinup-ish is a vintage shop with a cat who wears a cape as a mascot. Alternatively: Pinup-ish is my dream store. And owner Jammie Jones is a dream herself. Warm, welcoming, stylish and enthusiastic, she’s positively made for owning a small business.
Jones opened Pinup-ish in July 2015; the business and marketing graduate had been working on a business plan for months when she passed by a “for lease” sign in a small Shockoe Bottom storefront on her way to lunch. She’d always loved the vibrancy and excitement of the Shockoe Bottom area and was excited to be a retail pioneer in the restaurant and bar-heavy neighborhood. One phone call and a signature later and Jones set to work building walls, paintings and organizing her vintage archives for opening day.
As the name of her store suggests, Jones is most enamored with the style of the 1950s. She remembers spending afternoons with her father as a little girl, pouring over his albums from the 50s and 60s with photos men and women smartly dressed for every occasion— even picnicking in Jefferson Park. She says “people just looked so fabulous!” and fell in love with the “femininity and elegance” of the era.
It’s that exact reason that made Jones want to open a vintage shop. She says her goal is to create a modern community around dressing up— while she understands that “life is so busy” now, she wants to slow things down and remember the grace and fun that can come from dressing up. Additionally, sustainability and environmental awareness is of particular importance to Jones; she is thrilled she gets to combine two of her passions into one enterprise.
Speaking of enterprises, Jones actually got her start as an entrepreneur in junior high school when she was a teacher’s aide in the counselor’s office. A messy set of bookshelves drove her to organize the chaos on her own volition over the course of a couple afternoons. Once the counselor took notice of Jones’ handiwork, she hired her on the spot to organize her own home. Many referrals later and a tiny CEO was born. Pinup-ish Organize and Clean is still going strong as Jones’ second Richmond-based business.
Growing up with seven siblings made second-hand clothing a natural part of her style; she says “I just never felt like I needed new clothes” and hopes that her carefully curated selection of vintage and modern second-hand pieces at Pinup-ish will inspire others to give second-hand a try. If you’re new to vintage, she suggests coming in and “just trying it on!” when you’re drawn to something. Alterations and tailoring are easy fixes that can help you customize most vintage pieces to fit your body.
Pinup-ish is located at 10 N. 18th St, and open Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m. - 7 p.m; Sun., 1-7 p.m.; or by appointment. For more information, call 601-8050 or visit their Facebook page.
