Within the diverse landscape of Germany, a crafty designer is reviving vintage pieces of clothing and restoring their novel charm. Jenny is the founder and owner of theplaincircle vintage, an online shop specializing in vintage fashion that exudes dark elegance. Her small business is not only preserving fragments of history but also contributing to sustainable fashion.
Jenny is very hands on and goes out to search for previously loved and owned garments that embody a particular aesthetic. In her shop, you’ll find clothing that dates between the 1920s to the 1990s and possesses a macabre essence. There are treasures that evoke the Victorian era, the spirit of 80s gothic rock and ethereal sophistication. The store’s collection features tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets and accessories. There are also designer items from Burberry, Hermès, Saint Laurent and several others. Jenny takes special care with the restoration process to ensure every garment is as immaculate as it can be.
theplaincircle vintage is redefining gothic and dark alternative fashion with an approach that encourages individuality and sustainability. In a world where mass production dominates, Jenny is proving there’s a more fulfilling way to shop for clothing and create a precious wardrobe that is timeless.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Jenny of theplaincircle vintage. She gives a closer look inside the machinations of her business and its significance to her.
Q: On your website, you mention that you’ve been drawn to vintage style since you were young. How were you first exposed to this type of fashion?
A: I think I’ve always had an eye for things that felt different—pieces with soul, texture, and history. I never related to trends. Instead, I found myself wandering flea markets, digging through closets, searching for garments that sparked something deeper. Vintage felt like a quiet rebellion—a way to express myself in a world that wanted sameness. Even as a teenager, I knew: I’d rather wear something old and meaningful than something new and meaningless.
Q: What made you want to turn your passion for vintage fashion into a business?
A: After years in the design industry, I realized I was constantly creating for other people. There was no space left for my own style, my pace, or my voice. theplaincircle vintage became my way of reclaiming that space. But it also came from a deep frustration with how much waste the fashion world creates. We are drowning in clothes—most of them barely worn, cheaply made, and quickly thrown away. The truth is, we already have enough clothing on this planet to dress us for a lifetime. We just need to look closer, slow down, and choose more intentionally. That’s what I wanted to offer.
Q: Your shop possesses a dark aesthetic. What do you appreciate about a macabre sense of style?
A: Darkness has always felt like home. For me, black is not about hiding—it’s about grounding. It’s a quiet power. There’s something liberating in not dressing to please others, but to reflect your inner world. I love how the dark aesthetic can hold contrasts: softness and edge, romance and rebellion, decay and elegance. With theplaincircle vintage, I wanted to create a visual space where that kind of duality feels welcome.
Q: You’re based in Germany, a country that has a notable goth scene and is home to Wave-Gotik-Treffen. Does that influence or inspire your dark fashion aesthetic in any way?
A: Absolutely. Germany has a long tradition of subculture, especially within the goth and metal scenes. Festivals like Wave-Gotik-Treffen, M’era Luna—and for me personally, Wacken—are so much more than just events. They’re community, energy, belonging. I’ve been a metalhead since my early teens, and that spirit of resistance, intensity, and identity runs through everything I do—even if my shop isn’t loud, it carries that same depth. My aesthetic is definitely shaped by that world.
Q: What have been some of your biggest learning lessons or favorite moments since launching your business?
A: Biggest lesson? Trust your taste, even when it’s not trending. And: growth doesn’t have to be fast to be real. Favorite moments? Anytime someone tells me they felt seen through one of my pieces. That they wore a dress to a show or a coat to a job interview and felt powerful. That’s what drives me. Not numbers, but resonance.
Q: What are your hopes for the future of theplaincircle vintage? Anything else you would like readers to know?
A: I hope to keep growing—slowly, soulfully. Maybe offer more curated services in the future, like styling or visual consulting. But no matter how it evolves, theplaincircle vintage will always be about slowing down, dressing with intention, and celebrating individuality. I want it to be a space for people who feel too weird, too dark, too different for mainstream fashion. If you’ve ever felt that way: you’re exactly who I do this for.
Where to Stalk
theplaincircle vintage official website
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
Excellent looking clothes.
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I think so too!
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Another amazing interview. I am impressed by how successful you are with finding interesting interviewees and conducting your interviews.
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Thank you! The founder actually reached out to me and I’m so grateful she did.
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Oh she reached out to you. So you’ve made a big name for yourself. Congratulations!
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I don’t know about that, but thanks for saying so! 😄
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