Style Flashback: My Great Aunt in 1963
Yes, believe it or not, this is a photo of my gorgeous Great Aunt Yvonne (by marriage) when she was only 16 or 17 years old. Turns out she did some modeling in NYC when she was young…who knew.
Coming Up: 2011 Brimfield Antique Show
A co-worker–and Boston native–recently told me about this massive antique show in Brimfield, Ma, located just over an hour out of the city. It runs several weeks throughout the year but the last show for 2011 will be held next week, September 6-11.
I plan to attend the event but since I have never been before I can only share the information that is provided by the show organizers. So here are the details:
- The Brimfield Antiques Show began in the 1950’s and has become the largest and best-known outdoor antiques show in the country.
- Running along Rt. 20 for a distance of perhaps a half-mile, the Brimfield Show is a huge, vast undertaking, filled with thousands of dealers over the course of the week, selling everything from the finest antiques to ‘yard junk’, requiring a day or two to see everything there is to see.
- During show-times, the town’s population balloons to over 250,000 visitors and over 5,000 dealers for the 6 days the Show operates.
- A few of the Fields require an entrance fee on the initial opening, usually $5.00-10.00, which tends to be waived later in the day. Most fields do not have any entrance fee, and generally, you can move freely from field to field.
- Most dealers opt to show their wares inside large and comfortable tents, and all fields are contiguously located next to each other, so seeing everything is an easy stroll.
- There is almost always plenty of parking available, at $6.00 – 8.00 in the middle of town, a bargain in itself. Also, in the middle of the show, the New England Motel hosts the largest and most popular food court with a wide variety of food booths to satisfy every taste.
- By far the largest inconvenience to the whole show is the traffic getting into and out of town, which can range from none to over 8 miles of backup. Traffic is unpredictable, and often determined by the weather. For quicker access into the show, take Exit 8 on the MA Pike, (Rt. 90) through Palmer onto Rt 20 East to Brimfield. Directions are posted at the toll booths.
Below is a map of the vendors.
Also, check out some videos shot at the show in the past. This one features the dealers and the one below talks with buyers/collector.
Cat Power in NYC
Just some snapshots I took of the gorgeous and talented Cat Power performing at Webster Hall in NYC last night. It was an amazing performance that lasted nearly 2 hours and included brand new songs that have yet to be recorded/released!
She was rocking some black skinny jeans, a black button-down blouse and brown leather ankle boots.
Thrifting NYC: Angela’s Vintage Boutique
As I was walking to check out the Buffalo Exchange on 11th Street I found Angela’s Vintage Boutique just a storefront away at 330 E. 11th. St.
The store is full of very lady-like clothing from the 1920s all the way to the 1990s. You won’t find any t-shirts or jeans in this boutique but what you will find is beautiful fabrics, unique patterns and a great selection of dresses, skirts and blouses.
The buyer at the store said they like to keep all of their items reasonably priced so they can have a high turnover rate and fresh merchandise for their frequent customers. While some of their one-of-a-kind pieces are out of a “beans in a can” price range there are many very affordable, high quality items including silk blouses, shift dresses and ponchos. Their selection of hats and shoes was quite impressive, as well. They have a second location at 26 2nd Avenue.
Thrifting NYC: Rags-A-GoGo
I took a trip down from Boston yesterday to see Cat Power at Webster Hall and decided to check out a couple interesting vintage clothing stores while I was in the neighborhood. This particular store I sort of stumbled upon because of it’s outrageous exterior design and bright paint (see here). The store has an amazing selection of patterned and solid color vintage dresses, skirts, blouses, cowboy/cowgirl boots and a huge section for men, as well. The owner, Joshua Suzanne, is super friendly and keeps the store meticulous and very funky. I seriously recommend you visit Rags-A-GoGo at 218W 14th Street. The prices (see the price listing here) and inventory is hard to beat.
Style Flashback: My Mom
This is one of many photos I will be sharing of my absolutely adorable mom. I love to look at old photographs of her to see how fashion has come full circle. This photo was taken in the mid-70s. Although you can’t see her shoes, they are Candies wooden wedges; so cute.
Art Exhibit: Look at you, Boston!
For 3 years, Martini Severin has documented street fashion in Boston on her blog Beyond Boston Chic. She is planning an exhibit featuring a select group of photos from the blog at Boston City Hall in September.
Look at you, Boston! is a noteworthy exhibit that directly challenges GQ magazine’s claim that Boston is the worst dressed city in our country! The money raised on Kickstarter will help with the printing and framing of the exhibit photos. Help out if you can!
End of summer yard sale this Saturday
I wish I would have had this yard sale two weeks ago, before I gave away three garbage bags of clothing to Goodwill but nevertheless, my neighbors and I have some things we would like to get rid of.
I have two wooden end tables, lamps, antique glassware, some clothing/shoes among some other junk!
My neighbor has electronics, about 40-50 records, some books, random housewares, kitchen stuff, gardening supplies a wooden dining room table with 6 chairs, a big green couch and clothing!
Another friend is bringing over a TV stand, dining table, speaker, books, gardening things, more kitchen gadgets, a bird feeder and seeds and table lines and curtains.
Just about everything will be real cheap. We’ll be out at 9 a.m. until it starts raining so come get everything before Irene does!
We are located at 10 AND 12 Archdale Rd. in Roslindale. Right near the the Arboretum!
Humpday Dresses
Just some dresses I have picked up along the way…
White dress, Goodwill.
Orange and Brown Belt, Salvation Army Store.
Long-sleeved dress, Regeneration.
Accessories, From EVERYWHERE (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Yard Sales, Flea Markets, Brazil)
Bean Rating: Boomerangs, West Roxbury
I rode my bike up to West Roxbury today to check out the deals at Boomerangs and I have to say, I wasn’t impressed.
Their inventory is pretty skimpy. I would say their strongest point is furniture. The patterned director’s chairs and wooden dresser (both below) were my favorite pieces.
As for vintage clothing, they have one or two racks of women’s clothing that was worth looking at. They did have quite a few purses and shoes, but nothing that interested me. Besides furniture, their housewares, glassware and seasonal decorations department was “okay” not great.
I hate to say this, but honestly I don’t see any reason to send anyone out there to check the store out. 
I know I will most likely not go back unless I am looking for a specific piece of furniture, which I would call in advance to see if they had what I was looking for. So here’s the bean rating…my advice check out another Boomerangs over this one. But also remember that thrift stores are dependent on the public for their merchandise, so there is a good chance I caught this store at it’s worst.
Women’s Clothing: 1 bean
Men’s clothing: 1 bean
Books: 2 beans
Shoes: 1 bean
Records/LP’s: 1 bean
Housewares/Furniture/Frames: 2 beans
Jewelry/Scarves: 1 bean
Long Vintage Skirts=Knee Length Strapless Dresses
I have been doing this for many years now and I’m sure there are many others who do it too, but here’s the scoop on how to get a cute strapless dress for cheap. Go to the skirt section at your local thrift store. Look for either a cotton or silk long skirt (most likely it will be way too big for you). The best ones will have either an elastic waistband or buttons at the top.
Find a belt to contrast the pattern and colors and schzamm you have a new dress. It’s quite self-explanatory; just pull the skirt up around your chest. So don’t pass over the big-old-lady skirts, they can turn out to be super cute dresses.
Yard Sales: Saturday-Sunday (August 20-21)
I pulled a couple interesting listings from Craigslist today for those of you interested in a garage-sale adventure this weekend. To view all of the garage sale listings in Boston this weekend go to this link. Those of you who live in Somerville, this is your lucky weekend.
Somerville
Where: 29 Highland Road (corner of Highland Rd. & Kidder Ave. Driveway in rear)
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 20
What: Books, knick-knacks, office supplies, art, luggage, household items, toys, clothing and some lamps and furniture.
Jamaica Plain
Where: 31 Wenham Street
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 21
Roll-top Desk, Twin Bed, Mirrored Cabinet, dish sets (one vintage), tons of vintage cook books and other books and lemonade!
Somerville
Where: 157 Highland Ave
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday August, 20
100’s of records, luggage, some furniture, toys and games, and more. This will be in the garage, so it will be open even if it rains! Early birds are welcome.
Somerville
Where: Corner of Mass Ave and Blake Street (near Porter Square)
When: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday August 20.
Moving out of state so everything must go! Bed, table, chairs, tv stand, chest of drawers, Burton snowboard and bindings and a lot more. See the full listing here
HEADS UP FOR NEXT WEEKEND
Allston
Where: 22 Mansfield Street
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday August 27
Bikes, records, amps, instruments, books, clothes, etc!
Blouses and Bangles
Several weeks ago I did a “bean rating” for the Goodwill on Harrison Avenue. The blouses featured in the photos below were all purchased at that specific Goodwill. The accessories–bracelets, belts, earrings–are all thrift-store finds, as well. Photos by Matthew Hashiguchi
The trick when buying blouses is look for quality. Make sure to check all the seams of silk blouses to look for rips or tears. This colorful, vintage blouse is reversible and fits almost any body type.
This blouse is not vintage but is a contemporary design by DKNY. If you love the pattern of a blouse but it isn’t your size, you can get by with buying a larger size and belting it like we did with this one.
This chic vintage belt once belonged to my friend’s grandma.
The blue, polka-dotted blouses is a Banana Republic design found at Goodwill.
The navy blouse above is a vintage Christian Dior design found among the racks of clothes at Goodwill.
Family “Junk”
Some of my favorite antiques once belonged to a family member. Things that they regarded as “junk” or graciously passed down to me have become treasures in my home. 
This post is simply to remind everyone that the thriftiest way to find vintage (and meaningful) clothing, housewares and other items is to ask your family for things they no longer want. 
My great aunt Ina and uncle Bill (right) plan to move to Georgia soon but their home in West Virginia is filled with so many antiques they cannot move everything. Every wall is covered in art, bookshelves full of books and records line the walls, high quality antique furniture is everywhere you look and dainty, fragile trinkets line every dresser and shelf. 
Ina started collecting antiques when she was in her 20s; she is now 70ish so you can imagine how much “stuff” she has. Bill and Ina’s house is like a museum, with themed rooms and priceless treasures dating back to the Victorian era and earlier. She and Bill recently let me dig through stuff they no longer wanted. They planned to give most of it to the auction. I found all kinds of interesting antiques. She also gave me Victorian-Era “chocolate pots” which are absolutely gorgeous and a purple loveseat I expressed interest in years ago.
You may be suprised at what your great aunts and uncles and grandparents have stored away. So take some time to spend with them and take a stroll down memory lane as they tell stories about all their treasures.
Yard Sales: Saturday-Sunday (August 13-14)
I grabbed a couple listings for garage sales tomorrow around Boston. Now is a good time to buy furniture because alot of people are relocating and moving!
SATURDAY AUGUST 13
Brighton:
Where: 360 North Beacon Street (Directly Across From IHOP In Brighton)
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Antiques & Collectibles
South End:
Where: East 6th St South Boston in betweeen K & L.
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Glass Coffee/ End Tables
- 2 kitchen barstools
- Framed artwork
- Canvas paintings
- Entryway tables
- Kitchen appliances
- Televisions and home theater surround sound systems
- Sports equipment
- Clothes – designer jeans and formal dresses
Somerville:
Where: 14 Partridge Avenue Somerville
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Antiques
- Tools
- Books
- Household items
- Furniture
- Plants
Jamaica Plain
Where: 199 South Street near Forest Hills
When: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Sony 5 cd changer stereo with speakers
- Wicker picnic basket w/all accessories
- Small area rugs
- Vintage items including a magazine rack and kitchen items
- Sophisticated messenger bag and laptop bag
- Great books including lots of cookbooks and most of the Best American Poetry series
- Cute and fun gifts items like notepads, journals, rubber stamps, etc
- Misc kitchen, house, and office items
SUNDAY AUGUST 14
Allston
Where: 24 Mead St. in Lower Allston (Mead St. is a private way, near the intersection of Franklin & Raymond Streets)
When: Sunday, 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
- RECORDS! Cds, DVDs, and VHS tapes. Some unusual titles for the movies (bad horror, etc.)
- Clothes (Sundance suede shirt, Anthropologie skirt, handmade skirt, Kenneth Cole handbag, funky shoes — women’s 8.5, and more.)
- Books! Art & art history, novels, business, etc.
- Dishes (tv dinner tray style!)
- Cat feeder (automatic w/timer. Not used.)