Social worker turned designer, Elise Vaughn, has a whole lotta bold moves, gorgeous baubles, and restyled wearables

Model, Lindsey Anderson wearing the Elise Vaughn Metal Collar Necklace, $36

Elise Vaughn’s well-loved boutique, Brass Razoo, was on my list of must-visits during a trip back to Idaho this past summer. That was when I heard the news: Brass Razoo was moving, online! With a growing collection of clothing and jewelry made from vintage and reworked materials, and a stockpile of style, I wanted to get the latest scoop from Elise on how her storefront (and career) had evolved since before and after the boutique’s inception in 2007.

Before relocated to Idaho with her husband in 2006, Elise spent six years as a social worker in California, while designing and selling vintage and repurposed pieces on the side. “I pursued both passions full-time for as long as I could and then had to choose,” she told me. A year later she stepped away from case management and into a design career by starting a clothing boutique called Brass Razoo, a place in downtown Nampa (near Boise), where she was able to mix her new and reinvented aesthetic with a bold mashup of eclectic finds.

The name of the shop was influenced by Elise’s Australian born roots, from which the phrase Brass Razoo originates, referring to “a non-existent coin of trivial value.” It has represented her focus well: to restore beauty and worth, whereby Elise reclaims disregarded materials and transforms them into new wearables. With a mission to convey that, “Fashion is a way to express who you are, not simply a means to blend in with the world,” it was a place where Elise encouraged others to discover what they personally liked versus what pieces they saw others wearing.

“Fashion is a way to express who you are, not simply a means to blend in with the world.”

But after a solid four-year stretch of selling her one-of-a-kind pieces, and with the dip in economy and high overhead expenses, Elise felt it was a good time to redesign her business, too. She’s now building an online presence and looking to connect with other shops to outsource her designs instead of running a storefront herself (and maintaining a 90 hour work week!). This summer, Elise handed over the keys and said hello to a new schedule filled with freedom to create.

Brass Razoo in 2009

“The highlight of the four years that I ran the boutique was in August of 2009 when Lucky Magazine recognized my store as one of their top ten favorite new boutiques in the nation. For me, that was the moment that I realized that I had the ability to reach more people beyond our small community.”

Both a talented and ambitious craftswoman, Elise started designing and sewing her fall inventory in August, and by her Labor Day launch date, she had personally designed and sewn over 200 pieces herself. Here are a few delights from her jewelry collection that would be stunners for both casual and dressy occasions.

1) Black, Orange, Green and Gold Modern Long Necklace, $34 | 2) Glazed Clay and Brass Rod Necklace, $28 | 3) Red Leather Mosaic Bib Necklace on Rope, $52 | 4) Faceted Agate, Vintage Golden Long Necklace, $34 | 5) Ice Cube Cluster Gold Necklace, $36

There are many more colorful candies and shimmering lights to see in Elise’s Etsy Shop at great handmade prices, as well as lovely apparel and new winter coats you won’t want to miss! Elise Vaughn’s Fall lines are currently being sold at The White Pine boutique in Nampa as well as online. To see the full clothing and jewelry collection visit www.brassrazooboutique.com.

Photo Credit: Elise Vaughn

Brass Razoo, Elise Vaughn, Idaho, Nampa, vintage Designers + Artists, DIY + Thrifting, Fashion, Shop Talk, USA Made