Hello there!
My name is Nikoletta, and I’m the creator of Anthophile Vintage. The purpose of this journal is to share styling tips, interviews with interesting people, and our latest inspirations. But first things first—let me take you through the journey of Anthophile.
It all began on a day in September 2020, during the chaos of the Covid epidemic, when the idea of creating a vintage store first came to me. I have always been a vintage collector, but I had never thought of turning this passion into a profession. My primary goal was (and still is) to showcase the abundance of beautiful, high-quality vintage pieces that exist in the world, especially those adorned with floral patterns. I’ve been a flower lover since childhood, and all my friends joke that you’ll never find a monochrome piece in my wardrobe!
In October, I embarked on my first trip to the UK as a vintage buyer and discovered some amazing treasures in the most unexpected places. My favorite moment was meeting a 92-year-old woman named Agnes, who sold me three stunning dresses from her small vintage store in a quaint village. One of these dresses—a 1970s denim piece made in California with an incredible silhouette.
I loved England! Although it was my second visit, the thrill of vintage hunting allowed me to explore beautiful places I hadn’t seen before. With a small suitcase in hand, I spent my days searching from morning until evening—some days finding nothing at all. It was one of the best yet most exhausting periods of my life. I eventually returned home with two fully packed suitcases of vintage clothing and a huge smile on my face!
In December 2020, I started selling my finds on Instagram during the lockdown in Greece, when everything was closed. To my surprise, things sold quickly! That small success felt like a sign, encouraging me to create something truly special. That’s when the idea of launching Anthophile began to take shape.
To kick things off, I arranged a photoshoot in a magical forest setting with an incredible team. The photographer was Petros Dellatolas, assisted by Dimosthenis Papadopoulos, with styling by Philippos Missas and makeup/hair by Zefi Siatou. I was thrilled with the final results and deeply grateful to my mother, who helped with the organization and kept us all well-fed throughout the process.
Speaking of my mother, I have to mention her stunning handmade flowers, which we call the “Blossoms of Anthophile by Lara Mats”. She’s a true artist, and after seeing the flowers she created for my photoshoots, I knew they had to be a part of Anthophile. You’ll hear more about her talent in a future journal entry.
After the photoshoot, I began working on the website and logo. During this time, I dreamed of having a painted background for the e-shop. Luckily, I knew a talented painter in Athens with a rare gift for capturing nature on canvas. I shared my vision with her, and the result was beyond my expectations.
The truth is, I’ve faced many obstacles and moments of self-doubt along the way. But the most important lesson is that I didn’t give up! Anthophile Vintage now exists to show you that high-quality vintage pieces are out there, that romanticism and elegance live within us, and that flowers and colors bring endless beauty and positive energy to our lives.
Thank you for reading my very first article—there’s so much more to come!
With love,
Nikoletta
