In 2011, Katie Brown launched her own fashion blog called Trendy and Tipsy.
On her blog, she shared her personal style inspiration and posted about up-and-coming trends, while also participating in fashion collaborations on other platforms. It was here that she first started showcasing her love for “old vintage styles mixed with new trends.”
After graduating with a master’s degree in international business management, Brown had a clear vision of taking her brand to the next level. “I did my whole [Trendy and Tipsy] business plan for my thesis at Dominican University in the Bay Area,” she said. 
Merging her passion for vintage clothing, she worked on tailoring down her idea to a smaller scale. She moved back home to San Diego with her parents and started small by designing her own vintage pieces. 
“I started going to flea markets and vintage stores to shop,” she said. Brown began to repurpose the pieces she found to make them her own. 
“In 2013, I launched my e-commerce website and brand. I also started going out to the farmers markets and selling my repurposed vintage pieces,” Brown said. 
While in college, Brown also earned a minor in photography, which helped her with being a one-woman-show at the beginning. “I didn’t have to pay for photographers to get photos of my pieces at the beginning. It really helped me kickstart it on my own,” Brown said.
Brown’s one-of-a-kind vintage is what makes Trendy and Tipsy stand out amongst other fashion brands. 
“It’s handmade. We go to different markets in North Park, LA, and all around California, change up all the vintage, and use recycled fabrics and materials,” she said. 
Brown’s repurposed vintage is even its own wholesale account now. They have about 60 stores that carry her unique pieces. 
A little over two years ago, Brown opened her first storefront, located on Mission Boulevard. The store now also carries other fashion brands, while of course still keeping her vintage style, the brand’s bread and butter. 
“When I go on buying trips, I try and choose more unique pieces. For instance, I will bring in some international brands instead of typical brands,” she says. 
Her store also carries handmade, as Brown has had the opportunity to meet so many other local vendors at farmers markets. “Some bigger brands we carry that people will recognize are Show Me Your Mumu, Reverse, Motel Rocks, and Mink Pink,” Brown said.
When asked what she sees in store for the future of Trendy and Tipsy, Brown explains she wants to “continue to increase the online presence of the brand. Hopefully eventually, we will get a bigger location in San Diego. It would also be so cool to get a good spot in San Francisco, because when we go up there for markets, we kill it.” Locals can shop the storefront in PB or catch Trendy and Tipsy at local farmers markets and street fairs. Trendy and Tipsy Where: 4150 Mission Blvd., Suite 115
Summer hours: Mondays to Fridays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Info: trendyandtipsy.com