On 112 S. First St. in Whitewater is a store that has officially reached its one-year anniversary. The store is on the corner and owned by UW-Whitewater 2023 graduate Holly Barnett. The name of this store was inspired by “Zenon: Girl of the Twenty-First Century,” which follows a girl who lives a double life: one life on Earth and the other in a spaceship. Zenon had a catchphrase, “That’s so stellar,” and thus Stellar Vintage was born.

“I wanted to go for a space theme. I found a lot of interest in the 50s-70s era, where fashion trends were inspired by a futuristic view of the world,” Barnett said. 

On the surface, Stellar Vintage may seem like just another vintage thrift store. However, there is meaning behind the clothes being sold.

“It is important in small towns to create a space where LGBTQ and other diverse groups can come and feel accepted. It is essential to have that in a small town,” Barnett said. 

Barnett and her partner, Lys Dobbs, recently got engaged and have UW-Whitewater’s women’s studies professor, Ashley Barnes Gilbert, to thank. Both Barnett and Dobbs were women and gender studies minors and had a race-ethical class together with Gilbert. While this could be considered their first place of meeting, they technically met during an IMPACT club meeting with the chandler where Dobbs sat next to Barnett. Not long after they started dating in 2022 as juniors at UW-W. Building a safe place for those that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups alike has always been a top priority for them. 

“Clothing is, and historically can be, a very political thing. We’ve seen in the past that a lot of LGBTQ people in the community have been victims of hate crimes because people see them at face value and can judge them by what they’re wearing,” Barnett said.

Barnett referenced a story regarding how historically masculine presenting women had to switch clothes with others at bars to avoid police bar raids.

“Something we do at Stellar is explain current clothing as masculine and feminine so no one feels discouraged by the gender of an article of clothing,” Barnett said.

Judgment is something many people in the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups alike face daily. Barnett opened up regarding her previous fears of judgment.

“When people come in and I can’t tell what they think of a current group of people, it’s almost like I hesitate to tell my story,” Barnett said.

However, over time she’s learned to not let others’ opinions hold weight over her identity anymore. 

“People will always judge. People will come to know you well, pass by you or know of you and people will make judgments on you regardless of what you do or don’t do,” Barnett said. “My advice would be not to be afraid of judgment.”

While judgment is often found in facial value, she said that clothing shouldn’t be at the heart of it.

“Clothing can be so expressive and should not be criminalized,” Barnett said. “Everyone should be free to wear what they want without having to fear being perceived a current way or being hated.”

Outward representation isn’t the only goal for Stellar Vintage, their space and what it can provide for others is another aspect. 

“Stellar Vintage is of course LGBTQ+ owned and operated by Holly and I,” Dobbs said, “but beyond just the outward representation, we strive to make Stellar an inclusive space and be involved in the queer community in Whitewater.”

Barnett highlighted some goals for Stellar Vintage looking forward. They are planning a Whitewater flea market at Second Salem in May, a potential clothing swap in the summer and fall months, they are hoping to collaborate with the UW-W sustainably organization and they are pondering new modeling opportunities for anyone interested.

“It’s such a safe place for me, my partner, and everyone who walks in – a place where people can let their individually fly,” Barnett said.

Barnett sold vintage clothing to make money on the side through Depop, an app designed to sell secondhand clothing, before Stellar Vintage was born. After graduation, she indulged in working in psychology, but her dream stayed prominent in her heart. She pondered for six months about buying Stellar Vintage, spoke with the landlord and signed the lease. 

“It’s my dream,” Barnett said. “It’s so many things to me, I’ve always wanted to own a clothing store. The fact I’ve been able to cultivate such a community in one year of time baffles me every day. Just having people walk through my door and getting to know them and helping them find an outfit is just the most incredible thing I could be doing with my life.”