Northwestern Lehigh’s vintage fashion scene has gained a new representative after 2018 graduate Kelty Tarvin was recently contracted to become the first pinup girl for RCMoore Vintage and Millinery Shop, 1561 Main St., Hellertown.

A New Tripoli resident, Tarvin spoke with The Press July 11 about her new position and interest in vintage clothing.

She is a rising junior at Elizabethtown University studying education and history, with the aspirations to become a middle school history teacher.

“I love history, and I want to share my love of history to the new generation,” Tarvin said.

Tarvin has been interested in the arts and fashion for many years, being involved in performing arts at Northwestern Lehigh and now serving as the lead hair and makeup artist, and costume assistant, for Elizabethtown’s theater department.

“I really do like dressing up in decades clothing,” she said.

Tarvin said she stopped by RCMoore Vintage when she was 13 looking for a dress for her birthday party.

“We just kind of stopped at the store, and when we came in, it was like an amazing treasure trove of vintage clothing,” she said. “They take vintage clothes … and they restore them to their natural excellence.

“They really try to preserve the story that went along with each piece and give it a new life.”

In her junior or senior year of high school Tarvin did some modeling work for the store’s Allentown location.

“So they do know that I’m into that kind of stuff,” she explained.

Tarvin said it was around May when she received a direct message from the store about becoming its official pinup girl.

“They wanted to extend their brand on some more social media platforms and show off what they have in store,” Tarvin explained. “They chose me since I do have an Instagram blog about all my vintage fashion. They wanted to show the world what they got.”

Tarvin has been operating an Instagram fashion blog for approximately four years and the pinup girl position has been her first big opportunity to showcase her love for vintage fashion.

“My love for vintage fashion stemmed from RCMoore, which is why it’s so cool. It’s kind of done a full 360 and now they’re really helping me improve it,” she said.

“Since I had so many vintage outfits, and it’s a pretty big vintage scene on Instagram where I am located, I wanted to really show what I got - all the unique, fun pieces I have in my personal collection.

“They really helped me do that.”

Tarvin, who receives boxes of clothing from RCMoore, has been modeling and posting pictures and unboxing videos on her Instagram and recently-created YouTube channel which she started for the pinup position.

“They’re sending me boxes for six months full of outfits … and once that six months is up, I think they’re going to have me do some modeling and enter me into some pinup girl competitions to represent their store,” she said.

Tarvin said RCMoore Vintage has been selling its products online during the COVID-19 quarantine, but now restrictions have begun to lift, she has been able to see the shop owners - Rose Ellen and Clayton Moore - more often, and hopes to do more in-person modeling of garments.

Tarvin said one of her personal favorites has been receiving the outfit boxes.

“All of the things they send me are really luxurious and true vintage pieces that I probably would never have owned if it wasn’t for them,” she said. “They try to tell me the stories of everything they give me, and they’re really expanding my wardrobe in a way to promote their business, so it’s a win-win for both of us.”

Tarvin also noted that while she likes 1940s fashion, she appreciates the variety of clothing styles available at RCMoore Vintage.

“Their store sells things from the 1890s to the 1980s,” Tarvin said. “They have an insane range.”

Rose Ellen Moore told The Press via email her business has been operating for 11 years, first starting as an online only operation making derby hats in 2009.

The store then moved to two different locations in Allentown in 2012 and 2014 before settling in South Bethlehem in 2016.

They opened their warehouse in Hellertown and the current location two years ago.

“We hope to stay there,” Moore wrote.

“We have grown considerably since we first opened.”

Moore said her business’ pieces are “carefully curated” from private sales, auctions and estate sales, and stories about the clothing are also gathered to accompany the pieces.

The store also creates one-of-a-kind pieces from salvaged vintage materials.

Moore has known, Tarvin, and her mother Tina, from the shop’s Allentown location.

“Kelty and I started following each other on Instagram,” Moore said. “My husband, Clayton, and I loved her photos and she has a wonderful ‘vintage’ look. We already know her beautiful heart.”

Moore’s son, Matthew, who recently became the marketing manager, suggested collaborating with Tarvin.

“We are growing every year,” Moore said.

“We were always on the lookout for individuals who fit with our mission statement of acceptance, love, inclusion and nonexploitation of human beings.

Kelty fit the bill in every way,” Moore explained. “She is all class, all the time and has a beautiful soul.”

The business reached out to Tarvin because of the history and familiarity with her fashion blog.

She has watched Tarvin grow over time.

“We enjoy looking her photos,” Moore said. “When she first came to our shop and we had some discussions, she expressed her desire for a vintage wardrobe.

“I styled a few things on her so she could learn different styling techniques. Kelty blossomed after that.”

Moore said although the pinup position is a new venture and the business is learning as it goes, she has made plans to grow Tarvin’s role with her business.

“Since we have never had a pinup girl before, we have a plan in the making to make Kelty our ‘Brand Ambassador’ of RCMoore Vintage,” Moore said. “She has all the qualities we love inside and out.”

Tarvin said she would enjoy representing RCMoore Vintage for the months and years to come and would “definitely” want to continue when she returns to college.

“I would adore if this happened for a pretty long time because I love vintage fashion, and I love the opportunity RCMoore is giving me to really spread that love.”

Tarvin’s unboxings and other videos are on YouTube on her new channel - MissdottyJane - and her Instagram blog is @missdottyjane.

RCMoore Vintage is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon-4:30 p.m. Saturdays; and Mondays by appointment only.

More information is available at rcmoorevintage.com, Instagram and Facebook pages, or by calling 570-854-0691.