Kit Geary/Summit Daily News
Nicole Shepard staked her claim on a company in Breckenridge that sells handmade original pieces. She’s taking things in a different direction with her new venture, bringing more of the past to this historic mountain town.
Her longtime love for jewelry making led her to open her first custom fine jewelry boutique, DonLo Mercantile, during the pandemic. A passion for hat making that I developed as an adult led me to partner with a friend to found Midsommar Hat Co. in October 2023.
Now she’s venturing into new territory: vintage clothing. Thanks to a friend from California, Shepherd fell in love with the art of curating vintage. She appreciated it so much that she started thinking about adding a small vintage section to DonLo Mercantile.
Just as she was starting to think more seriously about the idea, a store opened in front of Midsomer, next door to Don Roe. She opened her vintage clothing and jewelry store, House of Royce, in August.
Shepard said that thanks to friends who are into vintage, she is able to stock her shelves with authentic vintage items in near-authentic condition from luxury brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Fendi.
She said the boutique’s antique and heirloom jewelry is “like my great-grandmother’s pieces” made decades ago, setting it apart from anything you’d find in a modern boutique. .
House of Royce’s clothing racks currently house items such as 1960s Chanel coats, high-end men’s shirts, vintage Levi’s and Wrangler jeans, and Christian Dior blouses. Shepard also filled the shelves with accessories such as high-end vintage wallets, shoes and sunglasses.
She said that since she started learning more about vintage and the curation process behind it, she felt a boutique that offered just that could succeed in Breckenridge. She has noticed a resurgence in the popularity of thrifting and vintage shopping among younger generations as shoppers begin to move away from fast fashion. She said she thinks the unique experience vintage shopping offers continues to fascinate people.
“Vintage items can tell stories, bring back memories, and convey history in bits and pieces. You ask yourself, ‘Can you imagine someone wearing this?'” she said.
She added that some of the items in the store have names embroidered on them.
Shepard said she feels the quality of clothing materials has changed over the years and people are starting to realize that older clothing was often more carefully made.
“To have a coat from the 1940s or a dress from the 1950s or early ’60s in such good condition is priceless,” she said.
There is a thread that connects three of Shepard’s four businesses to her grandmother, Lois.
She said the “Lo” in DonLo stands for Lois. Additionally, the coffee shop she opened on November 7th, Barrett 1931, is named after the year her grandmother was born.
She credits her grandmother with giving her a love for all things fashion.
“She ran a ranch and took care of cattle, but even when she went into town, everyone knew her because she always wore a T-shirt,” she said. .
Shoppers can find keepsakes from Lois and Shepard’s great-grandmother scattered throughout the House of Lois, some of which are nearly 200 years old.
Shepherd said she loves hearing about what customers would like to see in the store and encourages people to continue making recommendations.
Haus of Lois is located at 302 S. Main St. in Breckenridge. Business hours are Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 11am to 7pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
For more information, please visit HausOfLois.com.
