Local Spotlight: Lola & Lolo
This week for our Local Spotlight we are chatting with Kristina Juliano, the founder of Lola & Lolo. Kristina has an excellent eye for all things vintage & second hand. From clothes, to home decor, to keepsakes anyone can find something to bring more joy into their space. You can shop Lola & Lolo on their site or shop irl at their booth located on the second floor of Memory Den Vintage Mall
Meet Kristina! Owner of Lola & Lolo
Q: How did you get started?
Lola and Lolo started at the end of 2018 when I started going thrifting regularly; it became a cheaper form of therapy for me. Naturally, I started to accumulate a lot of stuff but I also had a lot of pieces of clothing and accessories that I had through the years and was ready to give them a new home. I think the big push though was when my fiancé and I decided to move from Southern California to Sacramento. During that move, I didn’t find a job right away. I had worked as a registered nurse for a number of years and just felt so burnt out by healthcare. I decided to start an Etsy shop for all my finds. When we moved to Sacramento I also started to really get into estate sales. I loved the estate sale vibe out there, I was able to score so many good pieces and just got really into that scene.
Ultimately our move did not last very long. We ended up moving back to Southern California after a few months, but I continued to sell vintage on the side while working. When you’re working as an RN at the bedside, it’s always about protocol, procedures, and just high stress situations in general, and Lola and Lolo gave me the creative outlet I needed at the time. Lola and Lolo actually translates to “Grandma” and “Grandpa” in Tagalog, (one of the most common languages used in the Philippines). My friends used to tease me for having “grandma” like preferences. I like gin, flea markets, knitting, old sh*t lol. So I thought the name was fitting. I got into selling at markets and that was so fun for me. My first market was the Melrose Flea Market in Los Angeles, that was such a challenge to get into but gave me the confidence to do the whole market scene and also try other markets as well. The market life is no joke, it’s a lot of work, and you’re out there in the elements. Pretty sure I got heat stroke after doing the Rose Bowl Flea, but it’s so much fun to interact with people and see what they’re into and get their feedback. It’s beautiful to see people interested in things you’ve picked out. Sometimes I think I’m crazy or what the heck was I thinking when I source something, and those are usually the items that other people end up buying right away. Love when that happens!
Currently, I mainly sell through my little space located at Memory Den off of Second St and Stark. It’s an amazing vintage mall with over a hundred vendors! Since having this space I’ve been able to take a step back from selling online and in person which has been nice since I’ve had my hands full with toddler life lately. I also have a small rack of vintage and modern clothing for my sister shop that I started last year called, Into Flow. This space is so special and located inside, The Program Shop off of Division, another rad vintage store that I highly recommend checking out.
Q: What catches your eye when shopping?
I wish I had a specific niche or theme to my finds. I love when a shop is able to do that and stick to one theme or style I think it just looks aesthetically pleasing, but I just love all kinds of eras and styles that it’s hard for me to stick with just one. I think when Lola and Lolo first started, it was way more Boho. Wicker, rattan, Boho style in general had a huge resurgence around the time that I started and I think being an Island girl myself I’ve always gravitated towards that.
“Now, I literally source just whatever speaks to me, if it looks interesting, has character to it, or seems out there I’m into it.”
Like I literally sourced a life size paper maché Dalmatian thinking no one would get it, but she was definitely a hit! Someone recently told me that my shop has Palm Springs disco vibes and I was so flattered that’s literally the best complement I could ever receive! I am obsessed with Palm Springs and I’m pretty sure I was dancing away in my past life at Studio 54 back in the day.
Q: What tips do you have for navigating sourcing, thrift stores, and estate sales?
As far as thrift stores go, I definitely check which days they have certain sales. Usually they will have some color of the week that’s 50% off or a certain percentage off your purchase. Or some places even do 50% one weekend day out of the month, best thing is to just ask! I haven’t done it much here, but the spots I used to frequent back home would give me deals on items that were there for awhile, or after a certain amount of time. If you start going somewhere frequently you get to know the workers and who you can ask. I say it never hurts to ask. Do you have an elderly buddy or family member? Find out when senior days are happening at the store and make it a fun trip or bribe them with lunch or a coffee for the day. One major tip is just to always, always, check your items before you purchase. Too many times I’ve ended up purchasing clothes with holes or tears that I didn’t notice when I was too busy grabbing everything and putting it in the cart. Mending takes time, and I know for myself it just tends to sit there for awhile before I get to it. Check soles of shoes to make sure they are secure, and glassware for any chips or cracks. One thing I do that really helps to check for holes and tears is run my hand inside of the garment, you can spot way more defects that way instead of just holding the garment up and quickly scanning. Also, always scan the end caps of aisles and really look in every section, so many things end up in random spots.
As much as I love estate sales, I haven’t frequented too many here in Portland, I’ve noticed there are way more people interested in estates sales out here, which is wonderful but usually means long lines and craziness overall. It is a lot of fun if you have the bandwidth for it! I usually just find sales through estatesales.net. They will list any sales that are happening in your area, and you can check and see which ones you’re interested in going to. Make sure to read the listing for the sale. Each estate sale has different rules or expectations depending on the company running it. Some have sign up sheets that you can write your name down if you get there early which essentially saves your spot in line, but some require you to get in line. In those cases bring a chair, snacks, go to bathroom before unless you have a buddy in line to hold your spot and prepare to wait. Whenever I go to estate sales, I always like to remember I’m stepping into someones home, many times we’re rummaging through someones stuff that most likely passed recently, or an elderly person who’s downsizing, so many different situations, I just like to be respectful of that when I’m going through their belongings and in their space. Sometimes I really wish I could know more about these people and hear their stories, like how they acquired that cool piece of art in their house, or that funky piece of furniture. I think if you’ve never been to an estate sale it is worth going at least once to experience it. Also, you’re most likely going to get the best deal on the last day of the sale, of course most things are picked over but you can still find many gems on the last day. One estate sale I went to ended up giving anything left over on the last day for free!
Q: Why is shopping second hand important to you?
I mentioned before that thrifting & vintage shopping, is therapy for me. I could literally do that all day and not eat and be fine. Time seems to melt away and disappear when I’m thrifting.
“I just love the hunt and that little hit of dopamine that you get when you find something cool, is addicting. I love nostalgia and ephemera and I just appreciate old things. Sourcing vintage and secondhand has allowed me to express myself creatively.”
I definitely cannot draw or paint, or do any conventional artistic things and so I grew up thinking I wasn’t creative, but through thrifting and sourcing I came to realize that I am creative in my own way and that I do have an eye for picking and sourcing cool sh*t. I especially love sourcing items that no one really saw potential in and showing people that thing is cool by maybe using it in a different way or grouping it with other items. Of course, keeping things out of our landfills and reusing things that still have a life to them is also another reason.
Q: What’s special about the PDX reselling community?
I think the local reseller community in PDX is special because it’s literally a lifestyle here. People here are so resourceful and creative with reusing and up cycling, you feel it and see it throughout Portland. Every person I’ve met since moving here, has been through Lola and Lolo and I appreciate that so much. It’s exciting and fun to be around so many people that love vintage and thrifting. I also love the entrepreneurial spirit that I’ve seen so much of since moving here. I feel like the barrier to entry if you wanted to start something is not as arduous compared to other places and I feel like starting your own thing is encouraged around here.
Q: What’s your favorite thrift find?
Top 3 favorite finds in no particular order:
1. 5 piece wicker chair and table set that I got for 20 something dollars! (Shoutout to my mom who literally faced timed me when she found it at Goodwill)
2. Bronze candle holder that I ended up shipping to the buyer who’s address ending up being a castle in Ireland
3. Elsa Peretti for Halston Ceramic Bean Dish
4. Because I can’t just pick 3, Vintage Henri Matisse Goldfish framed print
Q: What’s a second hand store in PDX you love?
I really like the Value Village in Tigard, mainly because it’s so close to me but because I always score something when I go there. I also recommend going to small thrift stores, by small I mean anything but Goodwill. Their prices have definitely gotten out of control! I recently saw that they were trying to resell a Target console table for MORE than what Target was selling it for, that should be illegal. Any smaller or charity thrift stores are always going to have better deals and finds IMO.