“I remember seeing Madonna’s wedding dress designer on television. He was sketching her dress and I remember asking my mother to buy me colored pencils.”

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By Sydney M. Scott  |  Send to Friend

Stacey Appel is a PA native who moved to Brooklyn and decided to come back to the city that never left her heart, Philly. The well-dressed woman behind 28 Crash! who’s spent time working London and New York Fashion week, perusing the stalls at Camden Market, and worked with the likes of Mos Def, Ben Stiller and Rosario Dawson talks about coming back, thrift stores, and her successful online boutique.

two.one.five: How was it transitioning from Brooklyn to Philly?
SA: I grew up here. I felt like it was time to move back. I gave it a year before making a decision. I love Brooklyn, it reminded me of Philly, but I don’t miss New York at all.

two.one.five: What’s the difference between the creative community here and in Brooklyn?
SA: I lived in Williamsburg, which I felt was more of an art school, college town. There’s a lot of support here and more incentive for artists and anyone creative. I feel like there are more people here and a large supportive community.

two.one.five: When did you get interested in fashion?
SA: I’ve been interested in fashion since I was about 6 or 7. I remember seeing Madonna’s wedding dress designer on television. He was sketching her dress and I remember asking my mother to buy me colored pencils.

two.one.five: What made you want to start an online boutique? Where’d the name 28 Crash come from?
SA: There’s a song I like called “48 Crash” and my birthday is on October 28th. I love the 70’s and used to sell a bunch of items on Ebay. I decided I wanted to expand, plus I don’t like Ebay’s new policies, so I started my own boutique.

two.one.five: Why did you choose to sell vintage as opposed to more modern clothing?
SA: Like I said, I love the 70’s. I’m obsessed with that decade. I went to London and was doing a lot of theatre costuming gigs. I would go to Camden Market and soon I fell in love with the vintage items I would find.

two.one.five: Favorite place to shop for vintage clothing?
SA: I love to shop at Circle Thrift, Salvation Army, and Village Thrift. I like to go out to the suburbs because the thrift store out there are barely touched. People aren’t willing to travel as far. The ones in the city are always picked through and people have beaten you to the good stuff.

two.one.five: You’re a triple threat. You have a webzine, you’re a stylist, and a boutique owner, do you have one you like more than the other?
SA: Styling. I like styling. Coming up with ideas and things. I still get to go to thrift stores and find clothes for styling the models I use for the boutique.

two.one.five: What do you have planned next?
SA: I want to continue to grow and expand. I don’t want to lose the desire for what I’m doing. I’d love to do more styling. Actually I’d love to do more of both, expanding 28 Crash and styling.