Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1516369
INSIDE VIEW: ROUND TOP SPONSORED PARTNER P ixie and the Moon Vintage has become a must-stop HQ for vintage western clothing, boots, and accessories in Round Top. Owner Marisela Flores carefully curates a vintage-western- wear-meets-rock 'n' roll aesthetic, with pieces from the 1940s through the 1980s and beyond. Flores thoughtfully considers each item she finds, and if she deems it one-of-a-kind — or simply badass — it makes its way into the dream closet collection. In the fall of 2022, Flores brought a vision to light when she created and choreographed the first Vintage Western Wear Fashion Show in Round Top. Considering her background, it all makes sense. She was born and raised in Houston, with a deep heritage in Monterrey, Mexico. In her early years, she was VJ of a Spanish music television show and interviewed influential artists such as Texas' "Como la Flor" legend, Selena. Eventually, her passion turned to fashion. She quickly rose in the designer world, serving as a ready-to-wear manager, personal stylist, and buyer for renowned brands Bottega Veneta and WESTERN ROCK N' ROLL Pixie and the Moon Vintage Brings Style to Round Top Prada. She also served as a music journalist, writing articles for Texas Inked magazine. The pandemic changed the course of her life, setting in motion Flores' journey to do what she loves most: sell vintage western wear. Her life changed immeasurably after she was chosen by country music singer Nikki Lane as one of six vendors to sell at the star's Summer Market, an event held at Lane's Nashville-based retail store High Class Hillbilly. "Everything took off after Nashville," Flores says. "I quickly became a one-girl show and traveling market." She discovered Round Top on a road trip and fell in love with the quaint town. After attending her first antiques show, she found a vendor space at The Marketplace Warrenton. Later, she landed her dream space at Zapp Hall, where she built notoriety for three seasons. Over the summer, while working with leather accessory maker Jodie "Betty" Douglass of Bombshell Betty Shop at The 303 venue, Flores caught the eye of The 303 masterminds Kevin and Brandi Harper, who also run the venue's anchor vintage and contemporary clothing store Worn & Weathered. The Harpers offered Flores a permanent casita at the venue to sell her collection. "I can't be more thrilled to be in the company of talented people and makers like Brandi and Betty," Flores says. "It's like a little retail village, with each house showcasing its own aesthetic. It's perfect." Don't miss Pixie and the Moon Vintage Presents: Bandits and Bandoliers Vintage Western Fashion Show, scheduled for Friday, March 22, 7:30 pm, at The 303 venue. Tickets available @pixieandthemoon_vintage (link in bio). Pixie and the Moon Vintage is open year-round at the retail casita located at the back of The 303, next door to Round Top State Bank. Pixie and the Moon Vintage, 303 N. Washington St., Round Top, @pixieandthemoon_vintage. ALTON JANELLE 4, @THECULINARYCRAFTSMAN Marisela Flores 52