By Marty Dubecky, Print Managing Editor

Last Saturday, the Totally Rad Vintage Fest made a stop in Cincinnati, bringing timeless pieces of jewelry, dusty records from the ‘70’s and vintage graphic tees.

The festival took up shop in the Northern Kentucky Convention Center for its first ever stop in the Cincinnati area. 

The Totally Rad Vintage Festival travels all around the US with a host of independent vintage sellers looking to introduce each city to the world of retro clothes, media and decor. 

The event took place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For seven hours, casual bell bottom and graphic tee wearers listened to classic tunes coursing through the speakers while searching for their next perfect piece. 

The convention center held over 30 vendors. Looking to the left, right as you walk in, beheld all the jewelry, records and DVDs a collector could hope for. Clothing vendors took you back in time displaying floral ‘70s blouses, then brought you right back with Edward Cullen Twilight graphic tees.

Shop owners Belle Davis and Willis Woolson both had a lot to say about store running, vintage clothing and perfect piece searching. 

Davis, who runs G4r4ge S4le, started selling clothes when she met a friend with similar interests.

“I met a friend who did this for a living, and we started a business together. He taught me what to look for from stitching to tags to what brands to look for. We went our separate ways, and now I run G4r4ge S4le and he runs Slick’s Picks,” Davis said.

When looking for pieces of her own, Davis focuses on stitching and tags.  

“The printed-on tags are too modern for what we are looking for in this environment. Tags like All Sport, Screen Stars Velva Sheen (which is based out of Cincinnati)… those are chef’s kiss,” Davis said.

“If you’re talking something I would pick up 10 out of 10 times, you cannot go wrong with anything single stitch,” Davis added.

Woolson grew up in Bloomington, Ind.and always had a penchant for style. Although, he talked about how his style was not always appreciated.

“I’m originally from the Podunk, so if you don’t wear orange and camo, they look at you funny. I just dress different. You shouldn’t be judged on that. It’s 2024 now,” Woolson said.

He realized that he could make a living selling clothes after meeting his ex-wife.

“My ex-wife started selling stuff at the time, so I was like, ‘I’m gonna start doing that too.’ Fast forward in the future, I’m divorced, I do markets here, travel around the states. The quality and plethora of styles I find as a style curator and the uniqueness is what I like,” he said. 

Woolson recommends dressing for the occasion. He was wearing what he called his “Valentino fit for Valentine’s” at the festival to best fit this occasion. Woolson was quick to give advice regarding what to wear.

“You don’t wanna wear a sweater in 100 degrees. Even if you are looking big pimpin’ you ain’t gonna be feeling big pimpin’,” he said. 

“You got to dig through the junk to find the gold,” he said.

Next stop for the Totally Rad Vintage fest is in Cleveland, Ohio on March 9. Both Davis’ and Woolson’s shops can be found on Instagram @g4r4ges4le and @thriftyponds.