Fashion has always been my escape

Welcome to Esc Key Vintage, a project born out of my lifelong love for clothing. Launched in collaboration with my biggest style influence and muse: my grandmother. This store aims to provide a curated experience and to inspire you to shop vintage first.

I distinctly remember the first time I felt emotionally moved by clothing - getting to tour the costume department of my local civic theater when I was about 10. The woman running the costume department had worked there for decades and I marveled as I watched her tiny hands take in the waist of a hoop skirt for a production of The King and I.

I founded this store for anyone who has ever derisively been told "life isn't a fashion show" (probably by some high school coach who thought fishing shirts were formalwear...) For me, an outfit is never "just clothes." Clothing is political, it's emotional, it's sentimental... it's how we tell the world who we are without saying a word.

Thank you for being here, even to just take in some beautiful clothing. If you never click "add to cart," you're still my kind of people.

With love,
Lauren