Have you ever walked into a place and knew immediately you were where you’re supposed to be? That is exactly how it feels to be at Newell Vintage. Simply stepping into the shop makes you feel like you are in an atelier found in Le Marais, Paris or a store dotting the streets of Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles. I got the privilege to sit down with Madalyn Newell King, the owner and curator of Newell Vintage, to talk a bit about the shop. 

 

I: Introduce yourself!

 

MN: My name is Madalyn Newell King, I own Newell Vintage and we just opened about three weeks ago. I’m 27 years old, from Oregon and I moved to Phoenix five years ago.

 

I: Were you living in Portland?

 

MN: Yeah, I’m from a small town outside of Portland called Boring. It’s right next to Happy Valley, that’s where I grew up! I went to Boring Middle School.

 

I: No way! 

 

MN: Yeah I did, isn’t that funny?

 

I: I absolutely love that so much. I wanted to ask what piece would you find and geek out over?

 

MN: Probably if I could find an archival designer piece. You can find designer pieces if you’re really digging in your thrift store, it’s easy to find that. But an archival designer piece? That piece is a grail.

 

I: Is there a designer that you’d like to find?

 

MN: There was a girl on TikTok and she found this silk–did you see this? She found a silk Christian Dior archival dress that she wore for her wedding dress I think, or her bachelor party. I think a Christian Dior piece, I do love Christian Dior. Or a vintage Saint Laurent piece, I would die. Obviously if you could find a Chanel, that would be really good too. 

 

I: Where is the best city to go vintage shopping/what city are you aching to thrift in?

 

MN: I would say the best city, honestly, is probably Phoenix. We have so many gems and treasures, and I just love it so much. You really can drive to any town in Arizona, and go find something amazing. I think because we have so many transplants from much older cities like LA and New York. I think we have the best designer or the best picks. I’m dying to go to the flea markets in Paris. I know the prices would probably be very similar to here, but I don’t care. That’s on my bucket list within the next year. I want to take Newell Vintage to Paris, and get as many pieces as I can for the girls.  

 

I: Who do you think, celebrity-wise, would be a Newell Vintage regular?

 

MN: Oh good question, Camille Charriere. Do you know who I’m talking about? Gorgeous model, blonde. She has this really cool style where she’s effortlessly cool, and hot and everything about her. I feel like she would like this place.

 

I: I see that for sure. She is French cool girl but also with a L.A. vibe.

 

MN: That’s kind of what the pieces represent, we have our good basics but there’s always going to be something to make it pop! Bringing that L.A., New York feeling to Phoenix was so important to me. I feel like she would dig it.

 

I: Let’s get her out here!

 

MN: Yeah!

 

I: Do you offer styling sessions? When someone comes in and you can tell they’re looking at a piece, do you have an instinct of what they’d look good in?

 

MN: Funny enough, before any of this–probably six or seven years ago–I worked at Anthropologie. When you work in retail–especially at Anthro–in the fitting rooms it is your job to be the fitting room stylist, because of that training it’s very natural for me. I get drawn to a piece when a girl walks in, it’s kind of like my gut will tell me: pull this piece for her. I do like to pull pieces for clients and I think it’s also an energy thing. Thrifting, in general, is a very big energy exchange. A lot of the clothes I do source for Newell Vintage, there was a good vibe from the very get and that’s why it was brought to the shop. 

 

I: I love that. What decade of clothing excites you the most?

 

MN: Lately, it’s been the 30s and the 40s. Finding those pieces is really cool, but those are for special occasions. I would never get that for day wear, except maybe a slip dress. As for day-to-day, I would say the 90s. The quality is still really fabulous, the 90s is my favorite era to buy from at the moment. 

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I: What do you want people to know about Newell Vintage?

 

MN: I want them to know that if you’re looking to come to a place that feels special, I would say, come in! I really poured so much heart into it, and the clothes have so much love and they’re all looking for a new home to go to and someone to style them. If you’re into good basics, good prices, you like designer, but also the lower end, I would say come in!

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Mark your calendar because on the 28th of June from 7 pm to 9pm, Newell Vintage will be hosting their very own market at their store named The Newell Vintage Night Market. It will be a night to remember that will not only live in your memories, but your closet too!