Meet Leah Ziegler | Owner & Personal Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Ziegler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
When I opened petals & jackets, I wanted to ensure working with the community and local artists was weaved into the brand. I have a background in corporate advertising, and a lot of the projects that lit me up the most was the storytelling about an artist’s process and showcasing them doing what they love.

There’s nothing more rewarding than collaborating with people doing what lights them up the most and then inviting our neighbors to see the process come to life through an event held at the store. In just 8 months of being open, I’ve already had the opportunity to work with some amazing female artists, even had their work on display around my vintage & modern collections. Fashion, art, and interior design are so closely tied together by creative individuals, why not curate an aesthetically pleasing moment with all of it intertwined?

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
petals and jackets began as a quarantine escape. Like most, I had a desire to click into a hobby. Rummaging through my wardrobe, perusing ebay, putting together looks with vintage and everyday staples and posting about it was mine. Over time my closet became an eclectic trove of sentimental treasures.

Cut to spring of 2022, on a cold but sunny walk, I ran into a pop-up store in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood that showcased local artists and makers. The owner was looking for someone who wanted to resell vintage. I was like, pick me!

By the fall of 2022, the same storefront’s lease became available, and what was once this initial hobby had molded itself into something bigger. I’d always dreamed about having a space to share my joy of fashion and thrifting, but I never navigated the logistics. I was over a decade deep in the funk of corporate advertising and I knew if I didn’t try something new now, I probably never would. I wanted to help others create stylized looks that made them feel like the most badass, authentic version of themselves.

I knew planning and patience would be the harder part of getting started. It certainly wasn’t easy, but as I reflect, the more helpful piece of advice I took was creating an exist strategy from my current corporate “situationship”. I saved for months, carving out a “f*ck you” fund so that as soon as I left the cushy gig, I’d have money in the bank to get me through the months leading up to our opening.

In addition, I outsourced what I knew was above and beyond my expertise. We quickly hired a CPA who helped us get our appropriate business licenses and set up our books. These types of skillsets are worth investing in rather than trying to do it yourself because not only did it put the important paperwork in the right hands, it allowed me the creative space to focus on my expertise. Sometimes the biggest challenges in starting a business is identifying the blocks and then navigating which blocks are above your capacity and then hiring outside help for them.

And sometimes the biggest challenges are intangible, like having the patience to do the work in the right order. With this in mind, I stayed in the toxic work relationship a little longer knowing I was saving up for the right time to exit. Another smart move I made, and may work well for others, was lowering my 401k contribution to the minimum in that final stretch in the corporate world. It was my money that I recognized I needed sooner than later during this transition period. It helped a lot.

By April of 2023 we opened the brick and mortar and launched our website a couple weeks later. It was the most rewarding few months of the hardest work I’ve ever done.

The store’s ethos focuses on curated vintage clothing and home things mixed with items sourced from mindful makers and women owned businesses here in Chicago, and around the world. My goal is to create a one-stop space for others to enhance their lives including clothing, jewelry, art, beauty and home goods.

I’m passionate about helping others design a wardrobe and space that evokes pure joy, tells a story, and creates interesting conversation. It’s my belief that there is always something new to learn about a person, place, or thing. And there is always a reason to be creative.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For starters, I’d say come to Chicago in June or October – in my opinion the best weather to be galavanting around the city 🙂

We’d grab coffee, a Do-Rite donut, and play all the 90’s video games at Standing Passengers, a West Town cafe that has some of the best lattes in town and old leather couches sitting in front of even older big screen TVs where you can play a game of Mario Kart or Donkey Kong while a DJ plays throwback records. They also have the best sub sandwiches with locally sourced ingredients- like their meatball sub collab with Flourpower, a tiny laid-back pasta spot just a few blocks West.

Then we’d take our coffee to-go and make our way shopping through the neighborhood along Chicago & Milwaukee Avenue stopping at the best vintage and thrift stores for little treasures. Dovetail Chicago for a 1960’s silk scarf, Seek Vintage for an old record or used book, Goodbye Tony’s for a pair of 1970’s sunglasses, and then over to RR#1 Chicago gift shop for a beautifully wrapped souvenir or gift for a loved one.

By this time, I’m thinking we’d be ready for an early lunch, and since it’s warm outside I’d pick up the best Puerto Rican in the city from Cafe Central, and make our way across the street to Eckhart park for a picnic, people watching, and hope that an off-leash dog comes over to say hello.

I’d then suggest heading back to the hotel I recommend you stay at and have an afternoon pick-me-up espresso at the Robey hotel Cabana Club to take in some afternoon views just as golden hour sets in.

We’d freshen up and head over Nattare, a beautifully designed new West Town restaurant that pulls inspiration from Italian and Mediterranean food but sources local producers from the Great Lakes region. We’d start with cocktails at their chef’s counter which invites you to a front row of the cooks doing their thing, and then grab a seat for a coursed out family style dinner.

It’s a Friday evening by the way, so we’d then hit up all of the local art galleries for a First Friday gallery night the West Town neighborhood has to offer at the first Friday of the month. A curation of painters, sculptors, muralists, and musicians will be showcasing their latest works all along the design district, and all walking distance from one another. Not to mention, all within reach of some of the best hole-in-the-wall bars, like the Chipp Inn; a well-worn cash-only bar dating back to 1897! If there’s still wind in our sails, we’d obviously end the night at Beauty Bar for new wave 80s night and dance into Saturday.

Brunch and a strong spicy bloody mary at Dove’s Luncheonette will be the first thing we b-line it to in the morning. A mexican-inspired comfort food diner with the most interesting and delicious masa pancakes! Paird with a mole-spiced maple syrup and a whipped agave butter, your taste buds will be wondering where this has been all along.

There isn’t a weekend in Chicago without a lake day. We’d drive North to Montrose beach for a quieter scene, pack a lunch and a book, and decompress along the shoreline as sailboats boats we can’t afford go out into the distance.

We’ll head to Andersonville neighborhood for an afternoon stroll and hit up the Brown Elephant, an abandoned Theater turned to a trove of a thrift store. There’d be plenty of spots for an early dinner, but I’d suggest Hopleaf, an old school gastropub with a huge rotating selection of domestic and imported brews that also serves the best mussels and frites cooked in a white wine and cream broth that’s to die for. I’d opt to share a few things, and add their grilled cheese made up of sourdough bread, house-made cashew butter, fig jam, and a gooey raclette cheese. We’ll walk off the meal up and down the streets of Andersonville weaving through the side streets of beautiful old homes and architecture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh wow, the shoutout section for me is a big circle of family, friends, and community. When I first decided to leave my cushioned corporate life and told those close to me what I was thinking of doing, there were a few logistics questions, but an overall sense of encouragement. Many said, “this is your time to try and take the risk. I only wish I would have done something so courageous when I was your age.”

Hearing that sentiment of, quite frankly their regreat, it became a huge motivator for me to go for it. My parents are both entrepreneurs, as is my fiance, so I had strong support right off the bat to move into a role of being my own boss.

Before we opened, I also joined our local Chamber of Commerce and it was the best investment I made for the business to ensure the community aspect was held together by a strong, women-led team here in West Town. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help promoting and supporting the store through their own community. If you are a small business owner, my best piece of advise is to look locally at the people and places doing similar things and then introducing yourself! There is so much room for collaboration and supporting others’ dreams and success. The Chamber of Commerce, in my experience, has opened doors for me I would have not gone through if it wasn’t for joining.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petalsandjackets/

Website: petalsandjackets.com

Email: hello@petalsandjackets.com

Image Credits
Brie Hines