Wendy: Hi, everyone. Welcome to Here We Are: Brattleboro’s community talk show. I’m Wendy O’Connell, and this week my guest is Jen Karpin, owner of Morning Glorious Vintage, a dazzling shop on Elliot Street that celebrates color, craft, and creative expression.
Wendy: Jen, thanks for being here.
Jen: Thank you, Wendy—I’m delighted!
From her earliest days growing up in a magical 1820s farmhouse in Grafton, Jen Karpin’s life has revolved around beauty, art, and history. Her father, a WWII pilot and decorated war hero, instilled determination and adventure, while her mother—a poet and illustrator—filled their home with antiques, textiles, and treasure-hunt weekends at country auctions.
“We’d pack folding chairs, baloney sandwiches, and drive to auctions,” Jen recalled. “That’s where I learned to see beauty in old things.”
Those early lessons became the foundation for Morning Glorious Vintage, now one of downtown Brattleboro’s most beloved destinations.
From Porcelain Dolls to Punk Rock
Jen’s creative path wasn’t a straight line. In high school, she began wearing her mother’s 1940s dresses—floral rayon, with shoulder pads and peplums—and found herself standing out in the flannel-clad Vermont classrooms. She later explored photography at the Art Institute of Boston, jewelry-making with found materials, and even a punk-rock fashion phase before discovering her true calling in vintage clothing.
“I’ve been every version of myself—preppy, punk, polished—but I always come back to color and craftsmanship.”
Her early handmade jewelry line, Heartifacts, and a gallery director role at the Vermont Center for Photography taught her the business and artistry of presentation. Then came the leap: opening her first Morning Glorious Vintage store in Putney.
That Putney shop—later named one of USA Today’s “10 Best Small Vintage Shops in America”—led to collaborations with Mad Men and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, providing costumes and accessories to Hollywood productions.
The Joyful Wardrobe & Dopamine Dressing
Today, inside her bright new space at 62 Elliot Street, Jen curates racks of sequined gowns, denim workwear, and designer gems by Betsey Johnson, Cavalli, Versace, Courrèges, and Armani. But for her, it’s more than fashion—it’s therapy.
After attending a creative business retreat in Texas called Pink Creatives, Jen realized her niche wasn’t simply selling clothes; it was helping people rediscover joy through what they wore.
“I was coming out of a rough time—anxious, depressed—and giving myself permission to wear color again changed my mood. I wanted to share that with others.”
This idea became “The Joyful Wardrobe.” Jen now hosts mini-classes on mending, hemming, and stain removal, inviting locals to reconnect with the skill and sustainability behind their clothes.
Fashion, Community, and Sustainability
Morning Glorious Vintage is more than a shop—it’s a gathering place. Jen collaborates with seamstresses and artists, welcomes guest instructors from The Bikini Project, and offers sewing circles where people learn to mend or repurpose cherished garments.
Her approach reflects the new wave of conscious fashion: repair, reuse, respect.
“There’s huge textile waste in the world. Teaching people to care for what they own keeps clothes out of landfills—and it feels empowering.”
She reminds everyone not to overlook the unexpected treasures in family attics: old workwear, lingerie, and denim can be worth far more—and mean far more—to the person who finds them than a fur coat.
Vintage Goes Runway — Jen Karpin
Jen’s flair for presentation shines each fall at the Brattleboro Literary Festival’s “Books to Looks” fashion show, produced with Kate Trzasko. Models bring book covers to life in wearable form—vintage meets literature in a runway of imagination.
“It’s such a joy seeing our community express themselves through clothes and stories,” Jen said.
This year, Morning Glorious Vintage returns as a featured partner, transforming literary art into fabric and form.
A Living Legacy
As a board member of the Vintage Fashion Guild, Jen helps establish standards for authenticity and preservation, curates educational resources such as the online Label Resource, and advocates for younger voices in the field.
She’s also known locally for her generous spirit—posting parking tips for nervous shoppers on her website, participating in Brattleboro in Miniature holiday window displays, and ensuring that her shop remains inclusive and affordable.
“You might find a 1930s lace gown or a WWII pilot’s jacket,” she laughs, “but most people leave with a $24 treasure and a smile.”
Wendy: Jen, thank you so much for joining us today—and for bringing so much joy and color into Brattleboro.
Jen: Thank you, Wendy—it’s been such fun!
Wendy: And thanks to all of you for tuning in to Here We Are. Stop by Morning Glorious Vintage on Elliot Street, say hello to Jen, and maybe discover a piece that changes your day. See you next week for another conversation celebrating our creative community.
Visit Morning Glorious Vintage
🛍 Morning Glorious Vintage on BrattBeat
📍 62 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT
🕓 Wed & Thu 11 – 7 | Fri 12 – 8 | Sat 12 – 6 | Sun 11 – 4
✨ Vintage clothing for all bodies and genders XXS – XXXL
💬 Follow @MorningGloriousVintage on Instagram | Etsy Shop
