In a tiny Vermont village where hiking boots, flannel and practical layers tend to make perfect sense, Rita Ioannidis would like to make a case for sequins.
And color. And heels.
And that fabulous dress sitting in your closet that you’ve been saving for an occasion that never seems to arrive. Her advice? Wear it.
Rita is the artist and personality behind Art in the Village in Warren, Vermont, a small gallery tucked into the heart of Warren Village beside the Warren Store and across from the Pitcher Inn. But step inside and you’ll discover something you probably aren’t expecting to find in this tiny Mad River Valley town.
Sparkles. Faux fur. Statement coats. Evening dresses. Boots. Heels. Sequins.
Lots of sequins. Meet Viva La Rita of Art in the Village Local favorite: Art in the Village, Rita’s evolving women’s fashion destination and one of the most unexpected shopping experiences I’ve found in Vermont.
First, Meet Rita
It’s nearly impossible to explain this shop without first explaining Rita.
Rita Ioannidis opened Art in the Village in Warren in 2018 as a place to display her own artwork alongside work from other artists. The gallery is easy to spot once you know where to look, with pops of yellow adding color to its exterior along Main Street in Warren Village.
Walk through the door and the color continues. So does the personality.
Rita has one of those personalities that makes it feel like you’ve known her considerably longer than the few minutes you’ve actually been standing inside her gallery. She’s an artist, fashion enthusiast and enthusiastic believer that women should have more fun getting dressed.
Yes, even in Vermont. Especially in Vermont, perhaps.
From Art in the Village to Viva La Rita
The front of the space remains an art gallery, where you’ll find Rita’s work alongside pieces from artist friends.
But keep walking. The back of the gallery has evolved into something entirely different.
Rita has been selling pieces from her own extensive wardrobe, transforming part of the gallery into an eclectic collection of gently used clothing and accessories unlike anything I’d expect to stumble across in Warren.
This isn’t a rack of practical secondhand sweaters. Think sequined dresses, faux-fur coats, colorful shirts, dramatic eveningwear, statement pieces, heels and boots.
Some pieces sparkle. Some are glamorous. Some make you immediately wonder where on earth you would wear them.
Rita would probably tell you that’s the wrong question. Find somewhere to wear them.
Shopping Rita’s Closet
Calling this simply a thrift-shopping experience doesn’t quite capture it.
You’re essentially shopping the closet of a woman who really, really likes clothes. And that changes the experience.
Instead of walking into a large secondhand store and sorting through hundreds of unrelated pieces, you’re browsing a wardrobe shaped by one person’s sense of style. Rita likes color, texture, sparkle and clothing that actually makes a statement, and that personality is reflected throughout the collection.
There are dresses you’d wear to a party, coats that could become the entire outfit and shoes that aren’t trying particularly hard to be sensible.
It’s wonderfully unexpected in Warren.
And because these are pieces coming from Rita’s own collection, what you find depends entirely on what’s available when you visit. I wouldn’t arrive looking for one specific size, color or style.
This is treasure-hunt shopping. See what you find.
The Idea Behind Viva La Rita
Selling pieces from her closet isn’t the end goal.
Rita’s larger vision is Viva La Rita, a women’s clothing destination upstairs from the gallery built around the same philosophy she brings to getting dressed herself.
More color. More personality. More clothing that makes women feel fabulous rather than invisible.
She’s been using the sale of pieces from her personal wardrobe to help fund that next chapter, which makes shopping here feel a little different from a conventional vintage or consignment store. You’re getting access to Rita’s closet while watching her work toward creating something new in Warren.
And if the clothes are any indication, subtle probably isn’t going to be the theme.
A Different Kind of Vermont Shopping Experience
When people think about shopping in Vermont, there’s a predictable list of things that comes to mind.
Flannel. Wool. Outdoor gear. Practical boots. Handmade pottery. Maple syrup. I love all of those things. But I also love finding the places that complicate the picture a little.
A tiny village in the Mad River Valley can have a historic country store and a luxury inn while also having an artist in her 70s selling sequined evening dresses and encouraging women to stop being afraid of color.
That’s considerably more interesting. Vermont has always had an independent streak, and you see that in its small businesses. The best ones often feel deeply connected to the personality of the person behind the counter.
Art in the Village and Viva La Rita are very much Rita.
Don’t Forget the Art
It’s easy for the clothes to steal your attention, particularly when there are sequins involved, but remember that you have walked into an art gallery.
Rita is an artist herself, and Art in the Village was created as a space to display her work and art from friends and fellow artists.
Take time to look around before heading straight toward the clothing.
The combination of gallery and fashion is actually what makes the space feel cohesive rather than random. Rita’s interest in color and self-expression doesn’t stop with a canvas or a wardrobe.
They’re simply different ways of doing the same thing.
Why You Should Stop at Art in the Village
I love places where meeting the owner becomes as memorable as whatever you bought.
Art in the Village is one of those places.
You might walk in because the colorful exterior catches your attention. Then you meet Rita, start talking about art or clothes and suddenly you’re in the back of the gallery looking through sequins and evening dresses while being reminded that there is absolutely no rule saying Vermont women have to spend their lives dressed exclusively in neutrals.
You might leave with a piece of art. You might leave with a faux-fur coat. You might leave with a sparkly dress you had absolutely no intention of buying when you woke up that morning.
Or you might simply leave wanting to wear more color. I’d consider any of those outcomes a successful visit.
What to Know Before You Go
Art in the Village is located in Warren Village in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, beside the Warren Store and across from the Pitcher Inn.
Because Viva La Rita is an evolving project and the clothing selection comes in part from Rita’s personal collection, don’t expect the inventory to remain the same from visit to visit. That’s part of what makes it fun.
I’d also check current gallery hours before making a dedicated drive, particularly outside the Mad River Valley’s busiest seasons. Independent Vermont businesses often adjust their schedules throughout the year.
Most importantly, don’t go expecting a traditional clothing store.
Go meet Rita. Look at the art. Sift through the clothes. Try on something considerably more colorful than what you normally wear. You might surprise yourself.
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