Karen Elson saves Nashville vintage boutique

Karen Elson has talked of how she saved a vintage boutique from going under in Nashville, where she lives with her husband Jack White and their children.

Supermodel Elson admitted she mainly uses the Venus and Mars store on Belmont Boulevard in the Country music capital of the world, as an extended wardrobe for her massive collection of antiquated dresses.

The flame-haired singer ‘begged’ the store owner to go into business with her when she found out her favourite store was in danger of closing. Elson pleaded with the owner saying, “I have an attic full of clothes I don’t want any more, let’s join forces.”

But Karen is under no illusions that her business venture will be a money spinner in these tough times. She said: “I think it would be pretentious if I was selling things no one else could afford.

“We have a special room upstairs where it’s gorgeous big pouffy dresses, but we mainly try to keep things affordable because that is Nashville, you know?”

It seems this new enterprise is purely for the love of vintage clothing, as Elson says she collects dresses “as some people collect paintings. They hang on my walls sometimes.”

Karen Elson’s new album The Ghost Who Walks is available now online and in stores.