Rising Stars: Meet Lindsay Skulls of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Skulls

Hi Lindsay, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Lindsay Skulls, and I am the owner of L’esquelet, a Macabre Boutique based in Long Beach, California.
In 2013, I found myself exploring the depths of my interests in gothic artwork, architecture, and décor. I’ve always been a lover of the macabre, horror movies, and cemeteries, but after a trip to Barcelona in early 2013, I came back inspired to start a boutique that encompassed these interests, and expand to reach other like minded people. Inspired by exploring the depths of the city’s Gothic Architecture, and history in Catalonia, my mind flourished. I began writing dark poetry and sketching ideas for dark décor & adornment to create & source for the shop. October of 2013, L’esquelet opened its first virtual doors, and a few years later, a permanent space, inside DeadRockers Punk Shop (our sister company). Since then, we’ve expanded to doing Oddities events around the country, and are always looking for new ways to meet people who value these obscure & dark items the way we do. L’esquelet, which is Catalan (romance language spoken in Barcelona) for ‘The Skeleton’, carries a unique mix of artwork (from artists around the world), homewares, wearable adornment, ethically-sourced bones, specimens, and magical antiques. My particular love of old photographs, tintypes, and Victorian Gothic décor, has a heavy influence on the pieces I curate for L’esquelet. I am constantly picking & saving pieces, and always in search of more enchanting elements to add to the mix at L’esquelet.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any business is ever 100% smooth sailing, and we have definitely encountered our own obstacles. COVID was a big one for us as we had been focusing on doing in person events & pop-ups, and that was put on hold for almost 2 years. We also have had issues with sourcing products at times. For example, making sure that specimens we carry are ethically sourced (something we care deeply about). We used to get animal skulls from a man that owned a large property and found them frequently (and naturally) throughout his desert land, but when he sold his home, we were unable to find an ethical source for bones for a period of time. Selling antiques, oddities, and obscurities always has its quirks! But we value finding the right items for our shop, and we’d rather not carry something versus compromising quality of goods, and our morals. We know our customers appreciate this as well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
L’esquelet is known for having an elective mix of unique antiques, macabre artwork, and our own collection of small wear-able adornment. We have a heavy Victorian influence, and that’s definitely shown in our aesthetic. I personally have a deep appreciation for old photographs, tintypes, daguerreotypes, and ambrotypes. I love sourcing these, and hunting them all over the country. I love seeing old photos, imagining the stories they hold, seeing the outfits people wore, all the details that make each one unique.. They are extra special when they have notes, or handwritten mementos with them.
I love showing people the importance of these, and how much photography has changed over the years. People see them and don’t always think they are real, when in reality they are holding a piece of history that is well over 100 years old, and something that someone valued & held dear to their heart. I definitely think our focus on these pieces of history sets up apart.
We also have a heavy focus on the Victorian Mourning Era, in the pieces we curate for the shop. We sell mementos from this era including coffin plaques, post mortem photographs, and hair wreaths. We also make our own replicated items from this era, such as enamel pins modeled after Victorian Coffin plaques. Our aesthetic is very niche & unique, and very intriguing to those who are open to learning about that time in history.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think being informative is important when you are selling niche items. Educating people on what they are holding in their hands, and helping them understand the importance of that piece of history. I think the fact that I never stop learning myself, also helps! Being outgoing, and friendly is huge when you do pop-ups, & events as well. Connecting with your customers, fellow vendors & creatives, & ultimately, your community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themacabreboutique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesquelet
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesquelet

Image Credits
Sterling Reed
Lindsay Shaver