Mike McMillon : Vintage seller and creative powerhouse.

Any daily practices or rituals?

Most mornings I am up & moving around 6:30. I fumble my way through making cup a of coffee. Hot coffee in hand I like to write out my to-do list & goals for the day. The morning sun hits the office best between 7-10AM so I try to get some product photos done around early. Gotta get while the gettin' is good. 

Daily uniform?

Favorite song or album on repeat?

 

This year I started digging back into the bands that defined my adolescence: Cursive, The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, etc. It's been a lot of fun. 

The cool answer is probably Colter Wall or something. I mostly listen to Podcasts & the Cardinals Baseball broadcasts. 

Are you reading or watching anything interesting?

 

Blood & Thunder by Hampton Sides and A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.  I wouldn't say I am watching anything particularly interesting. 

How/when were you first introduced to vintage?

 

My grandparents were pretty scrappy, woodsy people. They were born and raised in Northern Arkansas & both came up needing to be pretty resourceful. I spent a lot of time with them in Missouri's Bootheel growing up.  My Grandpa was about a big a man as they come. He wore jeans, boots and cheap kmart western snap shirts and when I tell you those buttons worked overtime, boy. A huge tattoo on his forearm with a woman's name that had been blacked out. It wasn't my grandmother's.  My Grandma and I were very close. She grew Russian Giant Sunflowers in the backyard & liked to fish crappie. They didn't introduce me to vintage necessarily but they definitely carried themselves with character & a style that left a lasting impression. I blame them for my eventual draw to vintage. 

Hobbies? Things you want to do? 

 

I started shooting film more in my everyday life. I'm not any good really but I think in a time of instant gratification and an over-abundance of media & consumables, it is a good practice, a reminder to slow down and pay the little things some mind. 

What’s exciting you right now?

 

I am working on a writing project that has me buzzing some. Nothing I care to get too into right now but I am excited about it. It's a nice feeling. 

Favorite piece of vintage you own? 

 

In the store? I have a pair of 1940's Hercules Work Trousers. All patched & repaired from the original owner. It has really nice color. Maybe a 1960's Wrangler Denim Motorcycle Club Vest? 

Something personal that I will keep forever? One of my Grandfather's bolo ties from the 1970's. It's not my personal style but it is probably the single drippiest thing sitting in my shop right now. Maybe someday I will find the guts to wear it.