SM: What is the experience you look to offer each of your customers?

RV: I want everyone to feel like they have walked into a warm, friendly, creative environment. I like our customers to know that we are here for them if they need us, but they have the freedom to shop without being bothered. We seek to offer something special for each individual no matter how you enjoy presenting yourself to the world.

SM: How do you choose what you're going to carry in your shop?

RV: I do follow trends and that is an element factored into my choosing of pieces. However, I also pay attention to what people are wearing everywhere I look. I find inspiration wherever I go and I log that into the back of my head so when I am shopping or seeking out or reviewing designer's creations, I remember what it is that people are looking for. I also value local, independent, eco-friendly designers.

SM: Can you describe some of the unexpected obstacles you’ve faced since you opened your boutique?

SM: How did you settle on your location on Butler Street in Lawrenceville?

RV: Dana and I pretty much knew Butler Street was the best location for our concept. We have both lived in Pittsburgh for almost a decade, and prior to that, not far outside the city, so we were very familiar with the neighborhoods. The strong small-business community in Lawrenceville, along with the beautiful building available and the true home owner community in the neighborhood was a sure sell. We both had been watching the growth of Lawrenceville evolve, particularly in the past handful of years, and also know it has room to continue to grow. Finally, the independent, eco-friendly spirit of the neighborhood was a deal breaker.

SM: What made you decide to move back to Pittsburgh?

RV: I only lived in Los Angeles for a year-and-a-half.  At the time, I was there to learn the film industry. I hit a wall where in order to take more advanced acting classes, I needed more money than I was making as a stand-in. I also needed to work on some independent films to build a reel, so I moved back with the thoughts that I could embrace a cheaper cost of living and grow my experience with Pittsburgh film makers.

SM: How did you and Dana Bannon meet? What’s Dana’s role in the business?

RV: Dana and I met through her roommate back in, I think, 2004. We became friends and started collaborating on photo shoots and fashion shows for my old store, Kharisma. She became my personal hair stylist and I was a walking billboard for her, passing out her card wherever I went. We had been tossing around the idea of opening a salon-boutique together for years before the opportunity presented itself. Now, Dana owns the salon and I own the boutique, and we exist under the name Pageboy Salon & Boutique in the same space.

SM: What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?

RV: I pretty much have four jobs. I run Pageboy from behind the scenes, buy all the vintage clothes for Buttercup Blues and redesign vintage clothes for Buttercup Blues upcycled. I am a freelance commercial wardrobe stylist, and a personal stylist helping my clients with closet consultations, shopping and styling. And I sometimes still act. I honestly don't know what I like best. I can tell you elements of each job that are my favorite, but I do not enjoy one job above another; I feel like I need all of them to feel the most fulfilled. The thing I like least is paperwork and being in front of the computer, but even that is not awful, as long as I do it in sporadic doses.

SM: What made you decide to start the Buttercup Blues collection?

SM: Can you tell me a little about your experience teaching costume design to children in Amman Jordan for the Zany Umbrella Circus outreach program?

RV: I had known Ben Sota, the owner of Zany, for some time. One day, as we were both on our mats ready to start a yoga class, he threw out the idea of me coming with them to Amman. I will admit, I never saw myself working with children, but there was no way I could pass on the opportunity. There were six of us that traveled there together and we taught at the Children’s Museum of Jordan during the day and the circus performed during many of the evenings while I videotaped.  I was friends or friendly acquaintances with most of the members of the circus, so it was wonderful traveling with such good people. The children were amazing. I have the dearest photos of them wearing their finished costumes. At the end of the camp, they performed for their family wearing the costumes we made in class together. It was a pretty open class. I brought a small collection of vintage fabric from my studio as well as other fun art supplies and I let them create their looks and just helped them see their visions through.

SM: Describe your personal style.

RV: I am all about comfort, so you will never see me in a heel unless it is attached to a cowboy or motorcycle boot. I also am pretty committed to dressing for the weather, so in the summer it is pretty much dresses and boots, and every other season layers or lots of layers!  I am wild about huge earrings, the bigger the better, and, most recently, huge feathers on chains in one ear and some mismatched earring in the other. I love color, so even when I’m wearing black, there is usually a pop of color somewhere, whether it be in a scarf, boot, or earring. I also love to support local and independent designers, so if I splurge and it is not for the sake of a necessary “warming” layer for winter, it will be on a locally designed piece or in a local boutique.

SM: What’s “the look” for late summer/fall?

RV: Hmm, I have been a bit more liberal with the prints that I have been bringing into the Buttercup Blues collection for the upcoming seasons. Wild safari type or Aztec prints or interesting color blocks. I also started bringing in overalls with midriff shirts under them—a 90s throwback, gotta love it.

SM: What fashion “crimes” do you see being committed (by guys and girls) and wish would go away?

RV: It drives me batty when I see somebody wearing heels when they cannot walk in them. If you can strut your stuff in those things, more power to you, but if you can’t, there is no point in struggling through your walking experience. I also can’t stand to see that cheap matchy-matchy jewelry with the bright “metals”. I feel like antiques are so much more versatile and have endless life. Mostly I enjoy people’s creativity when dressing themselves, so I don’t like to make too many general judgments...what one person can pull off another one should avoid completely.

Pageboy Salon & Boutique can be found at 3613 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Visit them on the web at www.pageboypgh.com

Photo by Sarah Saxon

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds will perform June 24

Swerve Magazine: Who or what got you interested in fashion?

Rachel Vallozzi: I grew up hunting fantastic surprises at thrift stores, garage sales, and Gabriel Brothers. For me, dressing myself from my treasure hunt findings was a creative process. This is what got me into fashion. Most of what I put together was instinctive and I pulled together looks based on what I saw around me and what I decided I was into on any given moment.

SM: How did you get your start in the business?

RV: When I was 20 years old, I acted in a commercial (for a Spanish Burger King) that was on the air for a year and a half. As I received checks, I put them into a savings account and still worked my other job. After I had enough money, I decided to invest it into opening my first vintage clothing store. Another business owner turned me on to the government assisted business counseling at St. Vincent College. There, they helped me through all of the initial paperwork necessary to make everything legal and answered any questions I had. From that point on, it was trial and error. Finally, (I am now the) present day co-owner of Pageboy Salon & Boutique in Lawrenceville.

SM: Who’s your primary clientele?

RV: Our clientele ranges from (ages) 12-80, but it’s mostly 15-45.  I don't know, actually, we seem to have something for everybody!