S9 Ep25 MANZANITA: Dorit Avganim, stylist and curator - on personal styling, and a belief in urban storefront corridors and community spaces.

Aug 25, 2025

On today’s show, we’re chatting with Dorit, founder of Manzanita, a vintage boutique in University City in West Philly. Dorit is a stylist, and in fact she was recently named Philadelphia Magazine’s Best Philly Stylist!

We talk about her special styling talents and her unique approach to curation – she feels she can call in the exact right person for each piece she pulls, and I think vintage-lovers you can probably relate! The piece finds you!

Plus, her belief in urban storefront corridors and why she became inspired to open a physical community space, making vintage accessible and available to all. 

I think you’re gonna love it, so  –  let’s dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [3:10] Thrifting a three-piece suit as a pre-teen sparked a love of secondhand
• [8:04] When she pulls a piece off the rack, she’s calling in its perfect customer.
• [11:31] Dorit believes in urban corridor storefronts as the backbone of community.
• [19:02] The personal styling work that has become a core component of her business.
• [36:01] Dorit has a great collection of antique white cotton and lace blouses.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

• Manzanita
• @manzanita.philly
• Jet Rag
• Ethan Hawke in Reality Bites
• Fru Wear
• Melrose Trading Post
• @gaydarshow
• Casa Vida
• Drew Joiner
• Blakely Thorton
• Xander Torres - @therealprofessorx

LET’S CONNECT: 

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/ 
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Kathy Brand
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• KT 
• Lydia Welp
• Michael A.
• Megan Morris
• Jennifer
• Alana Rivero
• Jerrica Yasumura