New vintage clothing store on Kit Carson Road combines classic, fun styles | Business

Smith’s curated collection is a mixture she describes as both “classic” and “fun,” where white cotton dresses and leather goods co-mingle with Western-style fringe jackets, retro suitcases and Taos-themed graphic tees. Some items are consigned, while she personally selects others during her travels, be it in New Mexico, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, or Scotland.

At the heart of Smith’s shop sits her table full of vintage cowboy boots in shades of tawny, chestnut, black and burgundy leather. Some are tall and sturdy, like a pull-strapped pair with stitching snaking up the shafts. Others boast fashion-forward fringe, sharper toe boxes and caiman tail vamps. These, as well as other Western pieces, are among her favorite styles to collect.

“I love the Western style,” Smith said. “My grandpa grew up out here, and I remember him giving me a bolo tie as a gift. He brought my mom and sisters stuff back to New York. He always had a little bit of that Western style, which I always thought was kind of cool … It reminds me of my grandparents and how much they love the West.”

She added, “It’s part of the Taos style, you know? I want a little bit of everything to attract people who are looking for classic pieces and fun stuff, whether it’s a dress for a wedding, something fun for a party or a good jacket.”

Smith moved to Taos five years ago from the Bay Area, but grew up in the Catskills in New York. Some of her earliest memories of secondhand clothes shopping involved trips to the Salvation Army with her mother. Smith admitted she “didn’t love it then,” but that over time it became her idea of fun. 

“I love the smell of Salvation Army, you know?” she joked. “It grew on me. Put most positively, it’s like cigarettes and a little stuffy, but now that means there’s treasures.”

When Smith learned to drive, she started taking her car out to the country to hunt for items at various estate sales. Like her love for Western-style clothing, her grandfather inspired her desire to travel near and far.

“He always was telling me stories and asked if I’ve been to this canyon or this lake, this region or this little town,” Smith said, “so that inspired me to travel around to small towns around New Mexico … When you’re traveling around road-tripping, you stop in spots with little knick knacks and fun stuff.”

Smith opened her Depop and Etsy stores in 2022 and 2023, respectively, both under the name, “SolSobreTaosVintage.” Any inventory that goes unsold she donates to Re-Threads and Reneux Consignment Boutique.

“It needs to go back out into the world and find a new purpose,” Smith said. “I believe in that wholeheartedly with everything. I don’t like sitting on stuff in my home or here. I just think that it’s holding space.”

Exact figures are unknown, but according to data compiled by TheRoundup, the fashion industry produces up to 100 billion garments per year globally — with as much as 92 million tons of that clothing finding its way into landfills.

“We overproduce everything,” said Smith, who’s also building a sustainable home in Tres Piedras. 

Since she entered the world of vintage clothing and consignment, the greatest change she has taken in her business approach is being choosier.

“I used to be a lot less discerning about what I was taking in,” Smith said. “I’d see something for cheap and go, ‘Oh, I’m just going to grab that.’ I’m very careful about the condition. I do repairs and of course clean and take care of all my stuff.” 

Smith said Sol Sobre Taos Vintage shop doesn’t have regular hours yet, but those interested can check her Instagram page, @solsobretaosvintage, for stories posted with upcoming opening times.

“It’s creating space for new and beautiful things to come into your life, you know?” Smith said of vintage and secondhand clothing. “Instead of holding onto the energy of something you don’t truly have use for or want.”