a guide to all things vintage
There may be social taboos and weird superstitions attached to buying gifts secondhand, but I’m such a huge proponent of it. In addition to leaving behind a smaller carbon footprint, you also often find niche, one-of-a-kind treasures. If you know someone who’s open to receiving thrifted gifts, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the secondhand wonders … Read more
It’s perhaps a misconception that all vintage jewelry, especially vintage costume jewelry, will cost you an arm and a leg. For every Crown Trifari poured glass brooch, there are 10 inexpensive Avon bar pins. If you’re just starting your vintage jewelry collection, there really is no need to rush for the $500 pieces. I’d argue … Read more
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Monet jewelry and how beloved it is—it seems like I sell a Monet piece every other day. As a vintage costume jewelry dealer and collector, I frequently come across Monet when I’m scouting thrift stores and estate sales. Truth be told, it’s not the most exciting brand, but … Read more
I used to be a commerce writer (or service journalist, in some circles), and it truly boggled my mind how much people were willing to pay up for decor from places like Pottery Barn and Anthropologie. Let’s just say that the price tags at those places weren’t quite budget friendly for my tax bracket. While … Read more
Over this past year, I’ve become quite fond of vintage clip-on earrings. I love how extravagant and showy the earrings from the ‘50s to ‘80s look, and you can usually find me flaunting a chunky button clip or flower cluster most days. And besides coming in lovely designs, clip ons also work for everyone, not … Read more
I must admit that prior to last year, I was a complete jewelry novice, only occasionally picking up cheap modern costume earrings at craft fairs and department stores. Now, I find myself lost in the weeds over what most people might consider minutia, obsessing over seemingly trivial details like rhinestone composition. When you’re looking at … Read more
When I launched my vintage jewelry shop last year, I desperately sought out pieces with glimmery gems and sparkling rhinestones. Reality diverged from my hopes and expectations, of course. While treasure hunting at thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets, I actually found myself picking up a great deal of enamel jewelry, hoarding everything from … Read more
It’s easy to deride the trend of florals for spring, but I find myself quite fond of how flowers embody beauty and growth, things many of us spend our entire lives in pursuit of. Plus, if history tells us anything, the flower motif has so much more potential beyond being a gimmicky marketing ploy for … Read more
As a vintage jewelry reseller, I often come across broken jewelry when I buy in bulk. Usually, I create junk lots to sell or simply donate craft bags to my local thrift store, but I sometimes harvest pieces for my personal projects. When it comes to DIY endeavors, my latest hyperfixation is making adjustable rings … Read more
The idea of a vintage trend, in a way, feels like a contradiction. “Vintage” is often either synonymous with “timeless” or “outdated,” rarely ever “trendy.” But as fashion insiders know, trends tend to follow a 10-to-15-year cycle, and microtrends have brought even more past styles into the fray. And if experience—both as a vintage reseller … Read more
