Lady Luck Vintage
Audubon Park has snagged another shop to add to their roster of wonderfully curated local businesses. This one is Lady Luck, a vintage shop curated by owner and self-proclaimed rummager Ally Campbell. Originally from Delaware, Ally moved to Fort Lauderdale, went to UCF, and liked Orlando so much she stayed here and has now called Orlando home for the past ten years. Those years were filled with remote workdays as a UX designer, who was longing for creative freedom in a non-corporate environment, where she could be around more of the community. She hopes the local community will feel welcome to hang out in her new shop, which opens Saturday, August 9th.
Vintage vs Thrift
It's no secret that vintage and thrift often get confused and swapped to describe each other. As you scroll social feeds, you will see creators call out the best thrift shops in Orlando, while all along, they are curated vintage shops with starkly different price tags and atmospheres.
"Thrift is mostly donated goods", Ally explains, "a vintage store is a curated collection, and I curate the collection here. I like fun stuff, and I think style is a way of expressing oneself. Many people don't have a personal style or haven't developed one, so I'm looking forward to helping people develop theirs. There is also a distinction that, often, when you are shopping secondhand, it's either time or money. You go to the thrift store just looking with nothing in mind and waiting to see what calls out to you, and a lot of people don't have the time or patience for that, and I love that part. I love to rummage, it's such an adventure, and that process is a joy for me. So, either you go to the thrift store and spend your time slowly building your closet out of things you found, or you spend the money for a more curated selection, and you're able to find pieces more easily. I do that curation part for you."
Lady Luck Price Points
If the price points that come from shopping vintage versus thrift are a sore spot, Ally knows that's a pain point for many shoppers and has tried to create a selection where everyone can find something.
"Part of my philosophy is that there is something for everybody," Ally explains. "Some dresses can go up into the $200 range, like a vintage piece from the 70s, but I also have t-shirts for $15, as well as what we call the 'treasure trunk,' where I put discounted items as low $1. I try to do a variation of different styles, from cowboy hats, painted purses, to jeans and t-shirts. The accessories are sourced from local Artisans, and you'll see the tags that show they were handmade and from what city.”
While there are no plans to source inventory from customers who may be interested in selling their own goods at this time, Ally doesn't say never. "The whole store is a creative experiment, and as a business owner, it's so important to be open to change and learn what your customers want."
Currently Ally sources from wherever there are opportunities, whether it's browsing Facebook marketplace and asking to dig into people's collections, or on her travels, sourcing items that are harder to find in Orlando. The shop is full of clothing, including denim, graphic tees, shirts, hats, dresses, cowboy hats, shoes, scarves, and more accessories. A standout for me is the collection of fantastic vintage Coach purses that are all hand-painted by a friend of Ally's.
Among wearable goods, you will find homewares, art, glassware, stickers, and a variety of accessories, from pins, eyewear, bolo ties, hats, and more. You definitely will need to do a few laps to soak it all in and make sure you didn't miss anything.
Lady Luck Community Space
As a remote worker during much of her time as an Orlando resident, Ally found it challenging to connect with people and find her place, all the while working in an industry prone to burnout. She eventually found a connection at a local Yoga studio.
"The community I've been able to cultivate here has been with Warrior One Yoga. I've been going there for years, and I'm a teacher there now, so part of the feeling of community that I'm trying to establish here is similar to what they've been able to do there", Ally explained.
"I want an area where people feel welcome to come in and be themselves. We need more places where people can come in and hang out without feeling pressured to buy anything. If you want to come in with your laptop and work, you can; if you want to come in with friends and chat, that's great. We can host small classes or book clubs. The seating can accommodate small groups, so if anyone is interested, they can fill out the form on the website and we can see what can be accommodated. So many people are looking for spaces, so it is a big part of my vision. I'm happy to have an additional space for the community."
Is Audubon the new Vintage Hub in Orlando?
Audubon Park currently has a few shops for those who are vintage hunting, like Owl’s Attic, The Lovely Boutique Market, and Happy Go Lucky, so Lady Luck fits right in.
"When I travel, I like to shop vintage," explains Ally, "and when all the shops are near each other, it makes it so convenient, so I don't have to drive all over the city to visit them. Vintage and secondhand is one of a kind, so for people who like to shop vintage, it's great for them to visit us all here in Audubon Park and see our different offerings and aesthetics in a walkable area."
Lady Luck Grand Opening
The Grand Opening of the shop is Saturday, August 9th at 11 AM, but the celebration continues into Sunday as well.
The First 50 customers who spend $20+ get a free Lady Luck tote bag (it has goodies inside).
There will be live music from Jan Lavigne at 11 AM.
Cindy’s Fresh Floral Bouquets will be there starting at 2 PM, helping people design their blooms in a vintage vessel.
Sunday’s activities include Lucky Tattoo Flash and Polaroids.
You can enter to win one of the fantastic vintage Coach purses with original art on them (pre-selected by Ally).
Lady Luck is located in Audbon Park off Corrine Drive, just a few doors down from Park Ave CDs. For more updates about the shop and the Grand Opening, follow Lady Luck on Instagram.
