Anatomy offers vintage fans a place to shop, win

Behind the glass-paned French doors of Anatomy Vintage, blouses in bright colors blend together on the racks like a painting by Matisse. Shoes — from pumps to flats to cowboy boots — cover shelves like a mosaic of leather, canvas and shoelaces.
Even Anatomy’s owner, Amber Zaragoza, looks like a work of art, dressed smartly in a floral frock and ladies’ velvet hat, as she welcomes customers to her brand-new boutique.
Although the shop is new, Zaragoza is no stranger to the business. Having run a series of online Etsy vintage retailers, Zaragoza was familiar with the vintage clothing market, but she had never considered opening a store.
“The idea of taking on a commercial lease and more utility accounts made me feel weak in the knees,” Zaragoza said.
But when the tiny building on Grant Street behind Bloomington staples Soma Coffeehouse and Laughing Planet became available, Zaragoza and boyfriend Matt Lawrence quickly sprung into action.
“Only six days passed from first dreaming about a store to having a lease in my hand,” Zaragoza said with a laugh.
What followed was what Zaragoza called “a flurry of paint, sawdust and plumbing shards” as the couple prepared for the shop’s July 15 soft opening, only a month and a half after signing the lease.
“I’ve always had the spirit of an entrepreneur and enjoy creating things,” Zaragoza said. “The process of building the brand and preparing the store felt much like creating a grand painting that constantly changes.”
Zaragoza cites her emphasis on the creative and artistic process of business as a byproduct of her years as a studio art student at IU, where she earned her BFA in painting and BA in art history.
“I look through second-hand stores, choosing pieces whose design, composition, color and quality excite my artistic sensibilities,” Zaragoza said. “As a student of the arts, I’ve developed a keen eye for beauty and intrigue, and I consider myself as a curator of vintage clothing.”
Vanessa Babcock, a local resident and instructor at Ivy Tech, said she appreciated Zaragoza’s artistic utilization of taste and restraint.
“It’s really well edited. There’s not a ton of pieces, but she is so selective. It’s like she went and found all the good things that I like and put them in one place for me to look at,” Babcock said.
Bethany Carlson, a graduate student, said she likes the store. “It’s hard to please the vintage-loving crowd,” Carlson said. “Vintage clothing is so varied, and there’s so much that’s just over the top, but Amber seems to know how to sort through it pretty well. She has a flair for it.”
A month into the business, Zaragoza said she is already making new plans for Anatomy. While she said her first priority is graduating from what she calls “real-life business school,” she also spoke of beginning a film series in the attic of the store, searching for a 1960s camper trailer for a mobile store and building a presence that gives back to the city and people who have supported her.
As a part of that, Anatomy Vintage will give away three gift certificates during Labor Day weekend for customers who come to the store dressed in their best vintage attire.
“After finishing my undergraduate studies, I really thought I was going to move to a far-away and exotic land,” Zaragoza said. “I’ve chosen to stay in Bloomington because there’s no substitute for the quality of life that one can enjoy here. It’s a true privilege to be contributing to the vibrant Bloomington community.”