About

Welcome I’m Carmen

Hi there I’m Carmen Stratton, and I’m delighted you’ve landed here at Holly Vogue Vintage Reviews. It feels a little surreal to take the reins of a site whose name echoes decades of style, but I’ve always believed that every chapter even a new one can build on what came before.

A Little Backstory: From Vintage Boutique to Product Reviews

You may wonder how a blog called Holly Vogue Vintage ends up doing Amazon affiliate reviews. Before 2025, the site was quietly known in small vintage‑fashion circles: it curated and sold mid‑century accessories and repro pieces (think silk scarves, cameo brooches, retro handbag finds). I won’t claim the history was seamless I acquired the domain from a collector turning over old inventory but I felt a special affinity for its aesthetic legacy.

Dress forms, old sewing machines, and the soft patina of well-loved fabrics used to fill the old site’s imagery. When I took over, I promised to honor that warm, tactile sensibility but adapt it to a fresh mission.

Carmen Stratton

My Path: Education, Early Career, and a Love of Tangible Things

My journey to this blog has been winding and organic. I grew up in a small town on the coast of Oregon, where thrift shops and estate sales were weekend adventures. From there I went to art school earning a B.A. in Visual & Material Culture with a focus on textiles and material history. After graduation, I landed a job as a vintage merchandiser for a boutique chain, where I traveled to estate auctions, authenticated garments, and coordinated curated pop-up exhibits.

That role taught me not just about style, but about how things are made the tolerances of zippers, the grain of quality leather, the way small hardware choices influence longevity. Over time, I branched into writing short features for fashion magazines about sustainable and vintage-forward style. But while I appreciated polished editorial writing, I longed for a more grounded, “in‑the-weeds” kind of content.

A Fresh Start in 2025

So, in early 2025, I decided to repurpose the site. I retooled Holly Vogue Vintage Reviews to serve you with honest, hands-on product reviews, comparisons, and buying advice. I keep the tone unpolished (in the best sense meaning human), because I know you want to know what actually happens when you run a garment steamer for 30 minutes, test a cordless vacuum on hardwood, or try that new kitchen gadget.

My goal is simple: if I spotlight something, it’s because I’ve tested it myself or am in the process of doing so. I don’t want “top ten fluff”; I want practical clarity. My vintage sensibility still colors what I care about craftsmanship, materials, durability but now those values reach beyond fashion into home, gadgets, and daily-use tools.

Where I Live, What I Do Now

These days I live in a charming older house on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, where I can sometimes hear seagulls from the coast on foggy mornings. I share the space with two cats Millie and Jasper and a modest workshop corner full of fabric samples, camera gear, and the occasional soldering iron. Mornings often begin with a hot mug of coffee, while afternoons are when I “go into the field” to test products vacuum cleaners, roasting pans, smart plugs, you name it.

Evenings tend to be quiet: reading, tinkering, photographing new review candidates, or chatting with readers like you via email or comments. I try never to lose the feeling that this blog is as much yours as it is mine.

Why “Holly Vogue Vintage Reviews”?

I chose to keep the “Holly Vogue Vintage” name because it carries character a whisper of the past, a promise of taste. But “Reviews” is explicit: my mission is to bring you clarity, not mystery. I want you to feel confident clicking “buy” (or passing) based on what you read here.

Thank you for being here. Whether you’re browsing for a new blender, a vintage-style lamp, or the best luggage set, I hope this site becomes a place you trust. If you ever have questions about gear, materials, or what test approach I used, drop me a line. I’m as curious as you are.

Author Profile

Avatar
Carmen Stratton
Carmen Stratton is a writer, researcher, and lifelong admirer of well-crafted things. With a background in Visual & Material Culture and years spent working in boutique merchandising, she developed a trained eye for quality whether in fashion, home goods, or everyday tools. Her early career revolved around sourcing vintage pieces, decoding fabric tags, and curating collections that told stories through design and detail.

Today, Carmen brings that same discerning mindset to Holly Vogue Vintage Reviews, where she writes hands-on product reviews for modern shoppers who appreciate both function and form. Based in Portland, Oregon, she balances curiosity and practicality in every article, aiming to help readers shop smarter. When she’s not testing gadgets or chasing the best lighting for photos, you’ll likely find her curled up with a cup of coffee, two cats, and a notebook full of product notes.
Latest entries