Hop on the Lovemobile and find some good clothes

Last summer, if you happened to see a flash of hot pink around town, chances were pretty good it was the Lovemobile, a mobile clothing boutique and the brainchild of Jenny Nelson.

In February, she temporarily retired the van and opened a boutique on Coming Street called Love Me Again where she sells vintage and "gently loved clothing."

Recently, I met up with Nelson at her boutique to chat about the shop and her love of vintage. Wearing a white dress with Mexican embroidery and with her adorable yorkie, Trigger, nearby, she talked about her background.

A native of Illinois, Nelson moved to Chicago after college and discovered the city's many thrift stores. Inspired, she and a partner started Edie's Vintage in 2001 which was open for two years.

Nelson arrived in Charleston in the fall of 2005 and worked in real estate. But, she says, "I was surprised to see there weren't any vintage boutiques like in big cities."

So after attending yard sales and collecting clothes, Love Me Again was born.

She likes the location on Coming Street, saying it's off the beaten path but a good spot for students who frequently stop by on their way to class.

The interior is eye-catching. The front room is painted in the signature Love Me Again hot pink, and there's a small sitting area next to Nelson's desk. Shelves lining one wall display an assortment of vintage jewelry collected by her friend, Hollie Wood (yes, that's really her name) who has found pieces in flea markets all over the world.

What really makes the shop so stunning is the aluminum foil-covered walls that Nelson says were inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory. Asked how long it took her to complete the project, Nelson first says 30 hours but then laughingly admits it was probably only eight to 10.

The clothes Nelson's collected are well-organized and completely wearable. Most people should be able to find an item they won't want to leave without.

Asked to name the greatest piece of clothing she's ever found thrifting, the question stumps her for a moment, but Nelson soon describes two totally covetable pieces: a dress with a peacock hand painted on silk and an original 1980's Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress.

In her spare time, Nelson enjoys yoga, Community Thrift, spending time with Trigger, collecting things for her house and planning for a baby with her fiance.