January 26, 2022
Editor: Carolyn Berryman
Artist: Emily Veguilla
If you are driving down Harlem Avenue in between the Jiffy Lube and a gyro restaurant, you will see it: Juju’s Vintage. The window display is decorated with glitter, jewels, and gems that catch your eye. The big red lips on the sign that whisper for you to come in. You ring the doorbell and the chimes echo through the store. Jules comes to the door to greet you with a big smile.
Jules, the store owner, along with the other employees, love helping to find pieces that push our fashion limits yet stay true to our personal style. Now that I am a frequent customer, the staff has started holding onto pieces they think I’ll enjoy. Every time I visit, I leave with a new piece that makes me feel like I walked into Juju’s for the very first time.
The first time I ever did walk into Juju’s, I had this sensational tingly feeling of excitement that I had just stumbled upon some new found treasure. What I had imagined to be a tiny storefront, was endless articles and accessories that could convey any sense of style. You start taking a deeper dive through drawers and cabinets to find rings made of every stone known to man, necklaces of any length, bracelets of gold, silver, and copper. You name it, Juju’s has it. You walk back a little further past the jewelry to find racks of vintage clothes: blazers from the 90’s, sequined tops from the 60's, wrap skirts from the 70’s...
What I love most about Juju’s is that nothing is off the table. You are given full creative liberty. Fascinators can be worn at the Kentucky Derby or to dinner. Mink fur coats can be spotted around campus instead of parkas in the colder months. Evening gloves that can be worn while grocery shopping. This exploration leads to expression. Juju’s is a safe place where I am encouraged to create the craziest combinations imaginable and express myself through my outfits in a way that I have never done before.
Every item I’ve gotten from Juju’s is incredibly special to me. The Elton John inspired sunglasses got to see Miley Cyrus and Day Glow at Lollapalooza with me. The floral skirt that got damp with salt water from the beach at Key Biscayne. The silver, hand-beaded dress will get to glisten on the dance floor of my cousin’s wedding in May. The memories I’ve made while wearing her pieces are truly unforgettable. That's the reason why I love thrifting. Every magnificent item you take home has an equally magnificent yet unknown story. What have those pink, cateye sunglasses seen? How many times has someone danced in these heels? How many hours did someone spend looking in this hand mirror? All of Juju’s products have lived a life already, and I have the opportunity to revive them, and carry their memories with me.
Juju’s isn’t just a store: it’s a world of its own. You come into it with uncertainty: What will it look like inside? What new things will I find? Will Jitterbug, the magnificent poodle, be in the store today? You come home with so many new things: a new piece, a new experience, and newfound confidence in yourself. While I have always been into fashion and cared about clothes, Juju's has helped me understand how our style is an extension of ourselves. I encourage you to seek out your very own Juju’s: your outfit is the first thing that a person will notice when you meet them, so you should make sure it personally reflects who you are.