As part of our new Meet Our Stockists series, we’re getting to know some of the wonderful independent boutiques around the world that share our passion for vintage style. First we’re heading to Aarau, Switzerland, to meet Eveline, owner of LUCKYMONKEY SHOP & CAFE. Combining a vintage fashion boutique with a welcoming café, LUCKYMONKEY has built a unique space centred around 1940s and 1950s style, great quality and a strong sense of community. We caught up with Eveline to hear how it all began, what her customers love most and what’s coming up as LUCKYMONKEY prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
What is the name of your store?
LUCKYMONKEY SHOP & CAFE
Where are you based?
Switzerland
How long have you been in business?
This December, it will be exactly 10 years.
Do you have a bricks-and-mortar shop, an online store, or both?
Both: Bricks-and-mortar shop in Aarau, Switzerland and online at www.luckymonkey.ch
What inspired you to start the business?
Actually, this whole story started with a car.
My partner and I bought a 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV together. Once we started taking our self-restored classic car to vintage festivals, I found myself wishing I had glamorous vintage dresses to wear — and eventually, I wanted to sell them, too.
That’s how I founded LUCKYMONKEY. At first, it was just an online shop, run out of a small storage area in our 3.5-room apartment.
By 2016, I had developed the concept enough to take the next step and rent a retail space in Aarau. I turned it into a vintage-style café combined with a clothing store, specializing in fashion inspired by the 1940s and 1950s.
And ever since, LUCKYMONKEY SHOP & CAFE has been a huge part of our lives. We live it, we love it, and we’re still enjoying every moment of the journey.
How would you describe your store in one or two sentences?
LUCKYMONKEY is a vintage boutique and café offering high-quality true vintage and
reproduction fashion inspired by the glamour and timeless style of the 1940s and 1950s. Our café serves beautifully crafted latte art and homemade cakes based on cherished family recipes — all in a warm, welcoming atmosphere built around friendship and a shared love of vintage.
What styles or eras do your customers love most?
Our customers love the timeless elegance and glamour of 1940s and 1950s fashion.
What are your most popular products or categories?
Our most popular products are women’s dresses inspired by 1940s and 1950s fashion, along with handbags and men’s suits.
What makes your store different or special?
What makes LUCKYMONKEY special is our carefully curated selection of high-quality brands that are exclusively available at our store in Switzerland. We are the only retailer in the country carrying these brands. We are also proud of our own clothing line, which is sold exclusively at LUCKYMONKEY, as well as our loyal community and personal, professional service; guests can enjoy homemade cake and coffee while shopping or even join us for one of the concerts we host in our unique space.
What do you enjoy most about running your store?
What I enjoy most is being a host: I love welcoming every customer personally and putting together a special outfit just for them. I also absolutely love buying new collections - it’s where I can truly let my inner shopaholic loose, and styling the store, where I can completely lose myself in visual merchandising. And, of course, I often want to keep all the beautiful outfits for myself and my husband… after all, we have to wear them to show them off and promote the shop! 😉
What is next for your business?
On December 5th, LUCKYMONKEY will celebrate its 10th anniversary! To mark this special occasion, we’re hosting a concert by a well-known rockabilly band right here at LUCKYMONKEY, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our loyal customers, friends and family. There will be shopping, dancing, music and plenty of celebrating!
At the same time, the Christmas season is getting into full swing, with lots of festive decorations - the kitschier, the better! And plenty of unique gift ideas in store. We’re looking forward to a fun and varied winter filled with seasonal fashion, special events, celebrations and lots more to come.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We’re absolutely delighted to have Revival Vintage as one of the brands we carry at
LUCKYMONKEY. Their authentic vintage look reflects the very same values we stand for - we love the attention to detail, the beautiful cuts and the high-quality materials they work with. Our customers also really appreciate the brand’s excellent quality-to-price ratio. Thank you, Revival, for working with us and for being part of the LUCKYMONKEY family!
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Eveline for taking part in this interview! It’s wonderful to hear how a love of vintage has grown from a classic car and a passion for dressing up into a thriving business and community. With its carefully curated collections, welcoming café and calendar of events, LUCKYMONKEY SHOP & CAFE offers a truly unique vintage experience in the heart of Switzerland. We’re delighted to be part of Eveline’s story and to have Revival Vintage stocked at LUCKYMONKEY, and we’d like to wish the whole team a very happy 10th anniversary. Here’s to many more years of vintage fashion, music, celebrations and plenty of fabulous outfits!
