Meet Christie Capo Pace | Founder, Vintage October

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christie Capo Pace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I took my very first risk at the age of 30, only 3 short years ago. That risk was the decision to quit what was intended to be my lifelong career in fashion merchandising. After finally achieving my most coveted role as an associate buyer for Macy’s corporate offices, I made a relatively impulsive decision to leave it all behind. If you come from a small town like me, risk taking is highly discouraged let alone not typically an option. I was noticing that the joy and true passion I had for the industry was quickly diminishing along with what felt like my entire being. I dreamed of being that person who made the big move, who could just wake up one day and make a life changing decision and never look back. And that’s exactly what I did. I had no plans for what was next, nothing at all but the one thing I did know for sure was that I was meant for more. Fast forward just over a year later, I took another major risk. I moved out to the most amazing city, Los Angeles where the sun always shines and inspiration is abundant. This move actually happened in April 2020, yup the beginning of the pandemic, add that to the risk list. 3 short months later I launched my online fashion brand, Vintage October. If you asked me ‘what would you do if you could do anything?’ This is it. Risk is what got me to this point. It led to more risks, that enhanced my life in ways I could never possibly know if I didn’t take the first one. Risk could singlehandedly be the most important factor in my life & career and it just might be for yours too.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Vintage October is more than just a shopping destination. My love for self expression through styling is a predominant figure behind the brand. Taking inspiration from all things Nostalgic, the creative collective behind Vintage October aims to evoke the simple joy of exploring a world and time very different from our own through personal style. Featuring distinctive looks that stand the test of time and break new ground. VO is your place for fearless fashion, and bold statement pieces that make you feel like your best self. I am most proud to deliver that feeling to my customers. I am also super proud to offer exclusive designs like our ‘Don’t Follow Me’ streetwear collection which started out as a passion project and became the heart of the brand thanks to all of the support from our local LA markets.

Going back to my take on risk and my trajectory to get here, simply put it’s been far from easy. This path has been full of ups and downs, sometimes more downs than ups. But celebrating the small wins is an absolute must to move forward and forge ahead. As a small business owner, it’s all about the small wins. Don’t take them for granted and don’t underestimate their power.

I wish for Vintage October to grant you that same confidence that it grants me, through self expression and fashion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the tour with some people watching and sightseeing at Venice Beach. Scoot around the boardwalk and make a pit stop at the Venice Whaler to catch some unbelievable sunset views along with some margs and fish tacos. The next morning, we would grab some breakfast at Millie’s and then head to Runyon Canyon for a hike and some more breathtaking views. Time for a cocktail! We would go straight to HOME in Los Feliz for a super chill outdoor culinary experience. Next up the West Hollywood experience. Dinner at Conservatory followed by some dancing and cocktails at The Abbey. Last but not least, definitely a trip to Silverlake Flea for a one of a kind shopping experience followed by some street tacos in Echo Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my mother and my husband. All you really need is the support of 1 person to build you up. In my case, I’m lucky to have 2. My husband also started his own business about a year before myself. A lot of his efforts opened my eyes to my ultimate decision to leave my job. He completely and fully unlocked my fullest potential by simply believing in me, most of the time more than I believed in myself. Being an only child, my Mom is my go-to. She was on board with the risky decisions I made including moving across the entire country to pursue my dreams. She helped to finance my brand launch truly making it possible to bring Vintage October to life.

Website: www.shopvintageoctober.com

Instagram: @shopvintageoctober

Other: Tiktok: @shopvintageoctober Pinterest: Vintage October