A Vintage Glam Community

It must have been about 4 years ago that I met the lovely Robin Robinson. I was living in upper NW at the time right off of Kennedy Street and I remember one day noticing a new fabulous business that had opened - it lit up that side of the block! That business was and still is the Vintage Glam Tea Shop & Company, at 137 Kennedy Street NW. I made it a point to visit the store immediately and find out what was going on there. When I made it in, I fell in love immediately!

This store is the girly girl’s dream come true. From ceiling to floor, the space is adorned in beautiful vintage and affordable modern clothes, hats, jewelry, porcelain tea sets, vintage craft pieces, bridal gifts, shoes, and more! It’s a wonderland kaleidoscope of beautiful fabrics, rose-printed glass, and metal filigree everywhere the eye can see. And at the back of the shop, surrounded by vintage brooches and hand-made jewelry in her vintage glass counter top, is the radiant-sunshine-classy-queen Robin Robinson, ready to welcome you into her space…… AND show you the magical tea room event space on the second floor. It’s the absolute best small secret event space in DC!! Hands down. It’s beautiful.

Of course as soon as we met we instantly hit it off. I loved her store and was nothing but smiles and wide-eyes every-time I came in. And yes, I became a regular shopper there. It was in walking distance from my apartment! It was a locally owned business by a black woman! It was totally affordable and I totally loved her style! I would sometimes pop in there a couple times per week even if I only had $10....but I’d usually spend a whole lot more. It always felt great to spend my hard-earned money there because:

No one was being exploited in the transaction. All of her items are vintage and second hand. Nothing comes from a sweatshop and I feel good about recycling and extending the life of clothes and man-made materials;
I always left with something unique and affordable to beautify my wardrobe or home;
My money was going to help keep something and someone special and unique in my community. (Ms. Robin also lived in my neighborhood!)

Over the years we have become true friends. We talk about everything – from local politics to our relationships to our dreams of the future. She has even volunteered to be on the host committee for a major fundraiser I was doing a while back. Our relationship has grown to the point now we are doing events together and I consider her one of my most valued business mentors and friends.

Just this past March we hosted my quarterly event called Brunch! Boutique! Bazaar! at her shop. We had a very fashionable crowd come out for complimentary teas, cakes, fresh fruits and cheeses, while being able to shop both the Vintage Glam and TigerSwan Timeless collections. I also set up a pop-up photo studio to do on-the-spot #TigerSwanQueens portraits. It was a big success because everyone was nourished, affordably upgraded, loved, and shown respect. Everyone was treated like the royalty they are regardless of their race, class, age, gender, sexual identity. The portraits I took that day reflect the power and dignity inherent in each of their lives. I love taking portraits of women in particular, because it gives me the opportunity to make sure they really feel seen for who they are, in a world that oftentimes overlooks us as inferior, sexual objects, bitches, hos, nasty women....

I am extremely blessed to be a part of my community. I am blessed to have people like Ms. Robin take me under her wing and support my dreams. I am blessed to have repeat clients come out to events to support my vision and watch my business grow. I am blessed to be able to really see the beauty in humans and humbled that they let me capture their sacred images in the light. And because I am so blessed, I just wanted to write this piece to show a little gratitude. Huge respect to Ms. Robin of course, and all the people out there who are trying to make their communities a brighter, more creative, loving, safe spaces for all.

Please enjoy the beauty, uniqueness, diversity, power, and fabulosity of these #queenportraits I captured from our March event, starting off with Ms. Robin Robinson and DC student and model Jilly T.