Melanie Jensen For the thrifting enthusiast seeking a sustainable shop with pre-loved clothing, a hidden gem in Old Town Fairfax has everything a treasure hunter could dream of. Lucy Loves in Suite 2 at 10414 Main Street features a collection of vintage clothing, jewelry, shoes, hats, and more. Sharon Buttram opened the boutique in 2023 to provide a year-round, brick-and-mortar space for vendors from her seasonal Fairfax Funky Flea Market. While the market operates only part of the year, the boutique brings local, curated goods to the community every day. The store is ideal for visitors looking to build a wardrobe of unique pieces with a focus on sustainability. Read on to learn about Lucy Loves vintage clothing, jewelry, and more.
The Shop
Tucked behind a Vietnamese restaurant on Main Street, down an alley, and through a glass front door, a set of cheetah-print stairs leads Fairfax shoppers into a cozy yet vibrant space. Inside, Lucy Loves is filled with vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, local art, vegan candles and soaps, and even a selection of old records.
When the store is open, it’s likely that owner Sharon Buttram will be sitting at the checkout counter, waiting to chat and guide customers through the boutique. What began as Sharon’s part-time passion for collecting vintage clothing and antiques evolved into the Fairfax Funky Flea Market in 2021. As she built relationships within the secondhand and reselling community, the idea of a permanent storefront took shape, leading to the opening of Lucy Loves in 2023.
“The business is kind of tucked away. I’m down a little alley, I’m above a restaurant, so I’m hidden. And then you walk in and the first thing you see is the cheetah-pattern carpet coming upstairs, and you’re like, ‘Well, maybe this is not what I expected.’ And then you come in and you’re just surrounded by the color and the abundance of really beautiful fabrics and design. And I think it’s beautiful,” Sharon said.
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Lucy Loves showcases pre-loved clothing and accessories for men and women from local vendors like Marchioness Vintage, Terry Cloths, Penn Polly Vintage, and Yellow Brick Rhodes Thrifts. Alongside vintage apparel, the boutique features products from other local artisans, including Elementals Soap Co.’s vegan soaps and candles, pottery, art, crocheted keychains and bags, handmade magnets, bookmarks, and stationery goods like greeting cards, stickers, and prints by You Are Not Fiction Designs.
About Sharon
Sharon’s strong ties to the Fairfax community are reflected in the carefully curated selection at Lucy Loves. Originally from Maryland, she moved to Virginia after marrying a Naval Academy graduate stationed in Norfolk. The couple eventually settled in Fairfax, where they have lived for nearly 30 years.
Sharon’s career didn’t start in vintage and antiques. She began in corporate finance as an internal auditor at Bank of America, but left to raise her children. Later, when her sons were older, she worked to develop after-school computer science and robotics programs until COVID shut schools down. The pandemic gave Sharon an opportunity for another career pivot, and she channeled her energy into launching the Fairfax Funky Flea Market with co-owner Kathy Hackshaw. The Fairfax Funky Flea is held on the third Saturday of every month.
“I started a flea market because I always loved collecting and treasure hunting. So this is an outgrowth of something that I enjoy doing as a hobby,” Sharon said. The market takes place downtown on the last Saturday of every month from April to September, with Sharon there to operate and occasionally sell her own goods.
After seeing an abundance of local vendors eager to sell their products at the market, Sharon welcomed the opportunity to open a storefront that would bring vendors together under one roof and offer the community year-round access. Honoring her grandmother, Sharon chose Lucy as the store’s namesake.
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As a member of the Board of Directors for the Old Town Fairfax Business Association, Sharon plays an active role in working towards shaping Fairfax into a destination in Northern Virginia. She said that both the local business community and the secondhand community have been welcoming and supportive.
“It’s just a really friendly group of people. Everybody works really hard. They’re doing pop-up markets. Sometimes they have other jobs, and they do this on the side and they’re just a really supportive, loving community. I just feel really special to be a part of that,” Sharon said.
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