In an algorithmic sea of sameness, it’s lovely to discover an Instagram account every now and then that reminds you why you just don’t delete the app altogether and call it a day. Dainty Vintage is one of those accounts, not only because I love fashion, but because their energy is infectious. They’re approaching a difficult industry with authentic joy, good nature and humour.
Meet Kelly Pisani and Lexi Borg — two self-declared fashion girlies with a plan to shake up Malta’s thrifting scene.
Their captions alone tell you they’ve got their fingers on the pulse: “Book the flight, we’ll handle the outfit.” “Why buy fast fashion when all of this already exists?” “The cool girl 2000s items aren’t at Zara, they’re at Dainty Vintage.” They’re funny, they’re confident. It’s all clearly written by minds who understand both style and the algorithm.
One could say they’re stylists first, business owners second, though anyone who’s run a business knows how much goes on behind the scenes to make the grind look effortless.
Kelly and Lexi both found their way to fashion through the same realisation: that styling second-hand pieces brought them real satisfaction, and friends kept asking where they got their clothes from. Dainty Vintage emerged as a combination of their individual strengths and experiences – Kelly as a lifelong thrifter, with past businesses sourcing, altering and reselling vintage, and Lexi, learning what resonated with people through time spent working in charity shops.
What’s it like shopping at Dainty Vintage? In their own words,
“We want people to feel like they’re walking into one of our favourite 2000s romcom’s walk-in closet.”
This sums it up perfectly, because the dominant look sits between Y2K, 90s nostalgia and the soft feminine looks that were ubiquitous in the noughties. With their careful curation and styling assistance, you’ll find hand-picked pieces that can be adapted to any current trend, whether that’s cottagecore, whimsigoth, office siren or city girl – their slang, not mine :) They’ll help you wear the item, not let it wear you.
On social media, what made me smile was how none of the content felt like “marketing” but rather an extension of the brand, built on their mood. A ‘lifestyle’ pitch, rather than a hard sell.
Dainty Vintage’s boutique, located in Għargħur, is open for in-person browsing and even free alterations for a better fit. You can also shop the full collection anytime at daintyvintage.com.
They’ve since branched out with a second shop too, Thrifted Finds. This community-driven spot stocks its rails entirely from clothing donations, and thanks to them, supports a different charity every month, so your wardrobe clear-out ends up doing double duty.
Wherever you shop, go support them. I dare you not to fall for Kelly and Lexi as fast as I did.
