I couldn't help but wonder... can you fall in love with fashion in the "wrong" stores?
Let me take you back. Picture this: a little girl standing in Strawbridge's, watching her friends disappear into the cool, dimly-lit urban boutiques with the pulsing music and the "no refunds" signs. Meanwhile, I was sentenced to fluorescent-lit department stores with my mother, who had one unbreakable rule: "We don't shop where they don't give our money back."
At the time, I thought it was a tragedy. My friends were buying the latest trends from stores my mom dismissively called "gag stores." I begged. I pleaded. I may have even thrown a pre-teen tantrum or two.
Plot twist? She never returned a single thing. Ever.
The Turning Point
One day, somewhere between the junior's section and the shoe department, I had an epiphany. If I couldn't beat them, I'd join them—on my own terms. I started studying the trends my friends wore and reverse-engineering them with pieces from Strawbridge's, Macy's, and Bloomingdale's.
And here's what I discovered: quality doesn't have to sacrifice style. Those department store finds? They lasted. They fit better. They made me feel good. I was mixing patterns before it was cool, finding designer pieces on clearance, and eventually, hunting vintage gems in secondhand stores like I was on a treasure hunt.
I didn't just learn to dress well. I learned to love fashion—the real kind, not just the hype.
From Grief to Growth
Fast forward through years of dreaming about opening my own store. Life happened. Loss happened. I lost my dad, my brother, and my father-in-law within a short time. Grief became my unwelcome companion, and I knew I needed something to pull me forward.
So I asked myself: What would bring me joy? What would honor the people I've lost by truly living?
The answer was clear. It was time to stop dreaming and start doing.
Welcome to My World
This store isn't just a business—it's my love letter to fashion, quality, and the belief that style should make you feel like the best version of yourself. Every item I choose is something I'd wear, something I'd gift, something that tells a story.
So here's my question for you: What makes you feel fabulous? Is it the perfect vintage find? The thrill of a sale? The confidence of wearing something that just works?
I want to hear from you. Subscribe, follow along, and let's talk fashion, life, and everything in between. Because style isn't just what you wear—it's how you show up in the world.
And I, for one, plan to show up.
xo,
Founder, RightOn68