Stephanie Spear Everyone knows her: that friend whose closet has a little bit of everything vintage, from retro t-shirts to elegant cocktail dresses, with everything in between. Falls Church’s newest vintage shop, Coco Cameo, is that friend’s closet brought to life. The shop, located at 417 W. Broad Street, Suite 101, is designed to feel like walking into a home, with vintage elements at each turn, including a 1967 Grundig record player, vintage light fixtures, and even a conversational living room set up. We got a tour of the space with shop owner Jessica Stanis, who told us about the inspiration behind the store and who Coco Cameo really is. Read on for more about Coco Cameo in Falls Church.
The Founder
Jessica Stanis grew up in Oakton, VA, working at her parents’ furniture store, Stanis Furniture. “I really credit them with inspiring me to go toward entrepreneurship,” she said. She then went on to have a 16-year career at Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Washington, DC. “Carine Krawiec, the owner, is a fierce and inspirational businesswoman.. So between my parents and working with Carine, I was always surrounded by these really inspiring business owners,” Jessica said.
Jessica and her family live in Falls Church, and after the birth of her first child seven years ago, Jessica started collecting records as a way to have a hobby just for herself. “I kinda just fell into it. And then that quickly turned into quite an obsession. I just love that connection with old things and old stories and kind of connecting people through the past, to the present that I got from the records,” she said. “I would find little notes or receipts or interesting little mementos. And I loved that. Not to mention discovering a bunch of new music.”
Her newfound record-collecting hobby drew Jessica into vintage fashion and connecting with others. “During COVID I founded the Little City Record Club, and we met over Zoom,” Jessica said. “We had such a great time and formed such great connections and are still active today.”
Jessica realized that she wanted to have her own business that combined her love of vintage music and things and gathering people. “I could create a space that would allow people to have a really fun boutique experience, secondhand shopping, where it doesn’t feel like your secondhand shopping. It feels much more elevated,” she said. “We have a little bit of everything, homewares, glasswares, pre-loved, vintage, men’s, women’s, many different eras.”
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The whole focus is on curating an aesthetic over an era, trend, or age. “I want people to feel inspired to wear whatever they want,” Jessica said. “We have all different price points, sizes, and styles, catering to a 16-year-old shopping after school to someone in their 40s or 50s going to a gala.” Jessica’s familiarity with bridal fashion means she’s well-versed in the world of alterations and has a seamstress on the team for fittings. The items are sourced from any and everywhere. “I will buy from literally anywhere. If I like it, and it speaks to me for either design, craftsmanship, quirkiness, novelty, or fun. I will buy it,” Jessica said. This includes estate sales, flea markets, antique shows, people who approach Jessica, and shopping online.
What to Expect
Jessica found a space on W. Broad Street in Falls Church that is now the home of Coco Cameo, which celebrated its grand opening on December 12th. She worked with Shannon Claire Interiors to create the vintage vibe in the shop. Even though it’s filled with everything vintage, the store feels fresh and curated. “We designed it to feel like a home,” Jessica said. Those homey touches are clear from the entryway, which has a vintage coatrack and a gallery wall (with vintage frames) of Jessica’s VIPs, including her family, her parents, and her former boss Carine. Jessica’s friend Nicole owns Glass Fox Vintage and sources all of the glasswork and small items.
Racks of clothing and accessories line the walls, while vintage artwork and knick-knacks are sprinkled throughout the space. Our eye was immediately drawn to the living room-esque setup, composed of a vintage furniture set, lamps, and a fully working 1967 Grundig record player/bar. Jessica said that this is really the point. “This whole store is screen-free, we don’t have TVs, and I want people to interact with each other,” she said. While the Little City Record Club was in mind when she set up the space, Jessica looks forward to hosting other local groups, such as other vintage fashion lovers or anyone else looking for a laid-back, screen-free spot to gather. “This is really the heart of the space,” Jessica said. There’s even a vintage-inspired light green Smeg refrigerator filled with drinks (including retro classics like YooHoo) to complete that cool-kid hangout vibe.
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Toward the back of the space is the record wall and the listening station, where patrons can test out a record before purchasing. The selection is all over the place, in a good way. There’s everything from TV + movie soundtracks to rare old jazz to modern picks like Billie Eilish. The selection fits the ‘no rules’ vibe that Jessica wants to create, where people can pick what they want and are drawn to rather than searching through specific categories.
And who is Coco? Coco is the persona who is the embodiment of the shop. The shop is ‘her’ house. She has a great eye for collecting, loves to curate a vibe, and always has a record spinning. A peek at the bathroom is the most personal look we’ll get at her: it’s bubblegum pink and stocked with vintage cosmetics, linens, and even a few ‘naughty’ items, if you know where to look.
Coco Cameo is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday from 10AM to 5PM and on Fridays from 12PM to 7PM. The shop is closed Sundays and Mondays.
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