Meet Keely

Hi there! My name is Keely and I have a passion for fashion, D.I.Y. projects, decorating, beauty, and all things thrifted, secondhand and vintage. I have been an avid thrifter since my early teenage years. I think my admiration of vintage and antiques was largely influenced by my maternal grandmother, who was an interior decorator for Lord and Taylor in her day. Her home was always impeccably decorated with beautiful and unique pieces and she never left the house without lipstick, a great outfit, and her hair perfectly coiffed. In college, I ended up working at a small boutique, where my interest in fashion, particularly vintage and sustainable clothing, became even more of a part of my life. I got to be a model in many of the shops ads and fashion shows and learned so much about styling, editing an outfit, and dressing for yourself. A few years after college, I ended up going to hair school and becoming a licensed cosmetologist. After working for several years in a commission salon, I went on to open a one room studio salon and became my own boss for the first time. I have been doing most of my shopping at thrift stores, estate and yard sales, and secondhand shops for well over a decade now. Eventually, I couldn’t stand to see the beautiful vintage pieces that were overlooked by the general public in thrift stores. I wanted them all to find the right home! So, I started selling vintage to local shops in 2010 and launched The Kept Kind in 2018 and officially started selling online. After meeting my fiancé, Steve, I took a big leap, closed up my studio salon, and made the move to the Chicago area where he and his boys live. While I still love doing hair and makeup, I’ve only fallen deeper and deeper in love with vintage and secondhand fashion and made that my full time job and focus. I can honestly say, I really love my job. When I’m not working, you’re likely to find me working on a DIY project, cooking, entertaining, or decorating my home. I feel so lucky to be able to share my obsessions with you here on my blog, on my youtube channel, in my stores, and on social media. I hope to encourage others to use what you have, keep what you love, wear what you want, and always be kind.