Roll Out: Capsool
Part art, part shopping, new friends, all good.
Part art, part shopping, new friends, all good.
In Miami I live right near the Design District. I love the visual feast in the shops and shoppers all day long. And it’s 7 minutes by foot from my door to Miu Miu. 5 with a light jog. Just saying.
Maybe Bal Harbor is your jam. For me that’s kind of lifeless and antiseptic. High end store after high end store. They’re fabulous. But you know, it’s a mall.
I used to go to C.Madelines in North Miami for vintage from every decade. A shoppable museum. Loaded with discovery and treasure and insight and wonder. Then they lost their lease and disappeared.
And so far in Miami I haven’t met many curated, personal, off-the-beaten path shopping experiences, the kind with a little heft and a little magic. Until Capsool’s founder Victoria Cooper (@vivtoriacooper.us) slipped into my DMs.
And invited me to experience her creation, Capsool. Now I’m inviting you.
The big idea: Victoria is an Italian former model, a stylist, and a photographer with a deep love of vintage cool and an even deeper commitment to sustainability. Having done everything from editorial clothing rentals, photography, creative direction and more, she found a huge need for a highly curated and easily and delightfully shoppable vintage experience in Miami.
The merch: First of all, it’s more than merch. It’s soulful. Artful. And it’s an experience. Find vintage selections curated with an editorial eye plus smartly reimagined pieces that feel so of the moment and undeniably cool. Everything from their hit reworked men’s blazers in lots of fabrications (wide and cropped like current Miu Miu but better) to sunglasses and jewelry across multiple surfaces to some more recent designer treasures and beyond.
How you get in: Try your luck stopping by on a Saturday afternoon (2700 N. Miami Ave Suite 605) or be smart and book an appointment by DMing @capsool.
The vibe: You enter an unassuming but kinda cool office building (think: one of those secret NYC Koreatown karaoke spots). And head on up. I found Victoria there with Jose, her right hand, helping a few young women try on cool leather jackets. The room is at once stunning and sustainable. Every surface reflects the use of recycled materials with an AD-but-edgier vibe. (Victoria decked out the space herself with help from her architect dad.) Most notably, Victoria and Jose are two of the warmest people I’ve ever met. They deeply believe in what they do and genuinely love helping their customers. At the same time, they let you explore, and appear at just the right times to advise and assist.
On the DL: Victoria will arrange private shopping events that include pasta (she’s a Napoli-hailing expert) and vino.
The neighborhood: Just on the edge of Wynwood. Make it a day of fun. Get a shiso martini and crispy rice at Kyu afterwards. Or caffeinate at Panther coffee. Take pics in your new duds in front of the spectacular graffiti walls (look for undiscovered ones on the side streets). Check out the sunglasses at Illesteva. If you’re still around for dinner try Doya or Uchi.
The takeaway: Beyond the beautiful pieces I scooped up (see above), it was a different way to spend a Saturday; my husband also had fun; he felt he was learning things about tailoring and history — and pasta. I’d love doing this as a tourist too, to feel you found something under the radar and so Miamian. Capsool was a break from anonymous “been there” shopping. And I felt I made new friends.