In Shop Girl, we spotlight stylish individuals working at beloved fashion boutiques in NYC, LA and beyond.
At Ending Soon—the designer vintage store on the Lower East Side that feels like stepping into someone’s well-curated home—stylist, writer, and shop girl Blythe Kirkland clocks in for her shift. At first, Blythe comes across as shy and soft spoken. She is both acutely aware of the world around her, and at the same time exists in one of her own. She is also an extremely well dressed 21-year-old, carefully selecting pieces and putting outfits together swiftly and confidently, as though she just knows what will work.
For our inaugural Shop Girl feature, I met Kirkland at Ending Soon to learn more about her and her world.
Can you tell me more about where you work?
Blythe Kirkland: “I work at Ending Soon in the Lower East Side. To put things simply, we sell vintage designer, although I think that that’s a bit of an understatement.”
What do you do when you’re not working at the store?
BK: “I work (I’m a stylist), I write (yes, I have a Substack), and I play.”
How long have you worked there?
BK: “I’ve been working at the shop for around six months now.”
How did you get the job?
BK: “I’m a friend of the store manager, Dara. We’ve known each other for a couple of years from the neighborhood. I used to only be a shopper but I wanted to be involved because I love the curation so much. Since then, I’ve gotten to know and love the owners as well, Houman and Senya.”
What do you like about Ending Soon?
BK: “The space itself is charming, Houman and Senya have an eye for interiors as well. The way they’ve designed the shop is reflective of their collections. Classic, timeless and understated. Every piece is something special.”
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
BK: “I really do just love being around the clothes. I work in fashion and really admire our particular selection. Being in the shop continuously inspires me for my other projects. There is something special about being a part of the experience when someone falls in love with the perfect dress or a pair of shoes. Plus, who doesn’t love playing dress up all day? We have fun.”
Tell me about your personal style.
BK: “Balance is everything to me when it comes to my personal style. I like blending masculine tailoring with feminine glam, elegant and rebellious at the same time, showing skin with intention. I have fun experimenting with different silhouettes. I love to accessorize with hats, eyewear and bags. When it comes to jewelry, less is more to me. It’s important to me to be intentional with what I buy, I want to build my closet as my own archive of pieces that I know I’ll still love 50 years from now.”
Who are your style icons?
BK: “Bianca Jagger, specifically in the ’70s. She did a great job of looking effortlessly cool and distinguished. When she married Mick Jagger in 1971, she wore a Yves Saint Laurent white skirt and blazer with a veiled sunhat. The photos are the ultimate fantasy. I always find myself referencing her looks from that time when I need inspiration for an outfit.
On the contrast, I love a fictional character like Carrie Bradshaw. Her looks are the perfect balance of sexy and playful.”
Tell me what your process is like getting ready in the morning.
BK: “I usually have a piece that I’m excited to wear. When I get dressed I often start with whatever that may be, even if it’s only an accessory, and style the rest accordingly. Because a lot of my work is freelance, I’m always dressing for different kinds of settings. I think the way people dress says a lot about themselves, their mood and what their day might look like. I almost feel like I’m creating a different character to play each day. Nonetheless, it’s a special little ritual that I look forward to.”
Has working where you do changed or influenced your style at all? Why/why not?
BK: “Ending Soon has definitely influenced the way I think about style, and clothing in general. Personally, I’ve become pretty unenthused with quintessential modern streetwear. People wearing clothes that don’t fit them and dressing overly ironic is something I see a lot being downtown so much. Because what we carry at the store isn’t very trend adjacent, when I shop there for my personal wardrobe it’s easy for me to build my closet for the chic old lady I want to be one day.”
Photographs by Ella O’Keeffe
