Why is it that the best old display pieces are never for sale? And why are they always paired with something so totally unrelated to their original purpose?
It is one of the laws of nature that if you run across the perfect vintage shoes for yourself, they will be the wrong size.
Almost every antique mall in the USA has at least one excellent example of Miss Havisham’s wedding dress, stage-ready, rips and all.
Look up, look down, look all around in order to find where the dealers hide their magazines.
Irregular pricing exists. In this case, the brown linen dress was $7 and the frilly organdy apron was $25. Seriously.
And then there are those sellers who have a well defined niche and who stick with what they know. At first their prices seem to be a bit high, but then you realize that everything in the booth is there because the seller carefully chose each item for its quality and condition. Cherish these sellers.
I would have loved to have been there shopping with you. You and I think alike
Linda, hopefully someday we will get to do a shopping trip together. Now that would be fun!
Oh I completely agree with all of your observations:). Why can’t I buy the necklace AND the model hand? Why? I gave up on vintage shoes years ago … it seems a US10 is the shoe equivalent of a giant cruise ship.
I have the opposite problem with modern shoes. I wear a 5.5 and some places no longer carry below a 6. (I guess I have rowboat size feet!)
And what about those art-deco mannequin busts with the cute little painted faces? I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who wants to buy up the displays too!
Yes, I do visit those gals from time to time, as I keep hoping he’ll break down and sell one to me.
The pricing is very odd indeed. And don’t get me started on the magazines! Great post as always.
I didn’t even see the Vogue pattern catalogs at first as they were covered up by the other stuff in the whatever-the-heck-it-is.
Yep, Miss Havisham’s dress and the pricing on the dress and apron–indeed! I want to leap through my screen and prowl around that last booth you showed.
That booth is one of my favorites, all leather and wool. Last year I bought my favorite pair of shoes there: 1990s made in Italy Ralph Lauren oxfords. See, the laws of nature are made to be broken.
I love this post! It’s very helpful, and also endearing, since I have had a few of those thoughts myself! Especially regarding display pieces! *sigh*
xoxo
-Janey
I hope you bought those magazines!
Of course I did!
Could you give me some ideas for dressing in 80′s style for a party?
I’m probably not the best person to ask about this, as I was completely out of the fashion loop throughout the 80s. If it were my party, I’d pick a celebrity associated with the era, like Cyndi Lauper and duplicate her look, just because images of her are easy to find and thrift stores could supply the wardrobe.
Your thoughts are completely accurate. We all can relate. It always leaves me wondering if there is some sneaky fashion law that prohibits finding your dreamed out outfit in the right size. Despite sometimes being challenging, I simply love shopping Vintage! Ideal playground for creative and original ideas.