Vintage Clothing Three Graces

Lisa Zelonka is a free spirit with a love for vintage items, especially clothing.

S he decided to turn that passion into a business, and opened Three Graces Vintage, 2 River Rd. in Stafford Springs, Connecticut three years ago and found that her customers share her appreciation for high-quality pieces that can outlast their more modern counterparts.

“ Vintage and ‘thrifting’ has become very trendy over the last few years,” said Zelonka, “and a big portion of my clientele are high school and college age students looking to curate a more stylized wardrobe.”

For Zelonka, what she wears – whether it’s a ‘70s pantsuit, a ‘60s bohemian dress or a mix of an ‘80s classic designer skirt paired with a modern tank top – depends on her mood that day. As for her favorite clothing decade or style, “it really depends on the day and season.”

Zelonka curates what she sells from her own thrifting adventures and even sells some of her own collections.

“I have been passively buying vintage since I was a teenager, so some pieces in the shop are from my own closet, but as I became more serious and established, people have reached out to me about their own collections. As for the art along my walls and decorating my space, most of it has come from thrifting, my own work and yard sales.”

Some of Three Graces clientele are women looking for quality and one-of-a-kind items to wear for special occasions.

“ You never know what they’re coming in looking for,” said Zelonka, “could be anything from a simple ‘ugly sweater’ or evening gown to a vintage clown outfit.”

The name Three Graces Vintage pays homage to goddesses both of mythology and Zelonka’s real life.

“The shop is named for the Three Graces, mythological goddesses of beauty, wisdom and strength among other virtues, and those are values that I wanted to reflect in my business,” Zelonka said. “But on a more personal level, for me they represent my two daughters and I.”

Zelonka opened her first store in 2012 and then closed for a few years.

“I will be celebrating three years in my current location at the end of June,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to vintage because of the quality, and the ability to express yourself through what you wear, it’s fun, artist and develops self-confidence. It’s something I wanted to share with others, and what better way than to open a storefront with merchandise that allows that?”

Although Zelonka enjoys a great fashion find, she said her most treasured find is her cat Binx, which she found at Stafford Animal Control.

“I rescued him from the pound after he’d been abandoned and he’s been my shop cat for almost six months,” she said.

Binx can be found among the treasures at Three Graces Vintage.

THREE GRACES VINTAGE IS LOCATED AT 2 RIVER ROAD IN STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 11AM - 4PM AND SUNDAY 11AM - 2PM, AS WELL AS FOR SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS.