PUNKY POWER
Who is Punky, and what in the world is a Haberdash? And what does it have to do with our annual arts issue and parenting in Massachusetts?
BY carrie wattu brittany durgin photography
Amy Chase, "Punky," helped our models shop inside her Haberdash Vintage for the fabulous fashion finds they are wearing. Punky is surrounded by Silke Bernie Heine of Marshfield, MA; Meghan Lamontagne of Pelham, NH; Lisa Heine of Marshfield, MA; Cally Wickson of Salem, NH; Haley Glidden of Gloucester, MA, and Nicole Direnzo of North Andover. When Amy Chase was a little girl, her clothes never matched. "I was always wearing something odd or quirky," she says, a style which earned her the childhood nickname "Punky." To this day, most people do not even know her real name, but they do know that she's a shopaholic, vintage lover and fashion junkie.
Born and raised in Worcester, Punky says that the road to her heart is paved with "lame jokes, vintage trailers and Chex Mix." She does her part in preserving the environment, dreams of being a back-up dancer for Madonna, is a gracious big sister to her three younger siblings and surrounds herself with creative and independent thinkers.
Plus she's super-cool in a sweet and down-to-earth way.
How can you not love that?
The 28-year-old works two jobs as a credit manager and a bartender at Worcester's Lucky Dog Music Hall. She also works her creative muscles by thinking outside of the box (or should we say store)?
While Punky is not a parent, like so many of us entrepreneur-minded moms and dads, she wanted to find a way to turn her hobbies into a business. Sound familiar to all of you artsy parents out there who would like to get paid for doing what you love?
The high cost of opening up her own storefront was not going to deter her. She had to get innovative, so she purchased a Haberdash, 1954 Bellwood Aloha trailer, and renovated it with hardwood floors and display racks, turning it into a traveling vintage boutique. The total cost of her new business was about $5,000.
Punky creatively used her artistic spirit to fill the trailer with items that she loves. Many of them will take you on a trip to your childhood, teen and college years. Candies shoes, Bermuda bags, rainbow suspenders… There is an affordable mix of fun and nostalgic, serious and silly, all handpicked by Punky.
Her advice for busy parents who are trying to overcome obstacles to starting a business? "With Etsy and all the support Web sites out there for small businesses, it's very easy nowadays to create a start-up at your own pace. If you have a passion or a talent for something, everything will come very natural for you."
She encourages moms low on time and energy to grab an accessory such as a vintage scarf or a statement piece of jewelry. "Any one piece will transform your look effortlessly," she says.
If you are unsure how you are going to pull off an accessory that makes a statement, Punky is encouraging, "The items that I may be a little unsure of always get the most compliments."
Punky is now booking the Haberdash for private parties, festivals, special events and even free house calls. Just imagine this cute little store wheeling right into your driveway. It even comes with a personal stylist, so that your shopping experience will always be packed with plenty of punky power.
So the next time your child emerges with one of those outfits (you know, Scooby-Doo T-shirt, plaid skirt and rainbow-striped kneesocks) perhaps you should just smile.
It just might be the artistic foundation
your child needs to fill her heart and her future with what she truly loves. You can shop at the Haberdash at the Boston's South End Open Market: September 13th and October 4th. For details visit punkystyle.com.
• Models provided by
John Robert Powers, Boston
• Makeup by Ellen House of
Face First Boutique, Norwell
