Fellow antiquing and vintage-hunting lovers out there?

Hey guys! Laura and Micheline's recent Memphis shopping videos got me wondering.. are there any other gals out there who like to shop vintage and antique stores not only for clothes but for decorating their homes too?
 
I got started at an early age shopping antique stores for Victorian through 50s era furnishings and decorations with my Grandma and Mom when I was a kid. Usually 20s furniture and 30s decor being what we looked for. A love for antiquing and hunting for retro decor is something that stuck with me. Growing up in southern CA we mostly went to old town Orange and some higher-end antique stores in the beach cities. Being used to those prices, moving over to VA it still doesn't cease to amaze me how many lovely things are hidden away in little back road antique and vintage shops, and the prices are 1/5th of what they would have been in CA. There's a few stores nearby that have boudoir type things- 50s compacts and lipstick containers, vintage perfume bottles, bakelite bracelets and brooches, lamps, sweater clasps, loads of celluloid vanity sets, lucite, chalk-ware, mirrors, combs, ladyhead vases, gloves, stocking still in the packaging.. It's like a 20s - 50s screen siren's dressing room was frozen in time. They also have a HUGE brooch selection, and my favourite thing about it is almost everything is under $10.
 
There's another store in town that sales mostly vintage clothes, and accessories like gloves and silk scarves and purses, but everything is all piled up, old lady attic style. It takes some digging but I've found some vanity accessories there and my sister found a Christian Dior hat for $5, and another time I found a 1890s (so the shop owner thought, I think it's 20s) velvet cape. At the time I didn't know this but I was told after I bought it that the trim is monkey fur... I don't know how I feel about that :/
 
I also recently bought a very fancy silk velvet floor length coat. It has a wide beaded collar that folds up into a hood. It's such an unusual design that I knew if I didn't get it I'd never be able to find one like it again. It was owned by the woman who modeled it for the department store in the late 40s and she just stored it all these years, so it's like new. I've bought chandeliers there, and at a nearby Goodwill I found my pre 1900s vanity for $64
 
I think one reason why there is such an abundance of wonderful finds out here in The Small Town South is that there are hardly any younger girls into retro and vintage items, at least none that I've seen. Whenever my sister and I go to these stores the only other people shopping are very old ladies.
 
Does anyone else have good luck in small towns? I love reading about other people's good finds. Here are some of the most recent things I found last week:
Little empty black and gold compact for my sister. She's going to put her powder refill in it. French kitty and rhinestone brooches in the back.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The back of the compact is meant to look like a little record. How cool it that?!

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Permalink Reply by Lissie Bee on August 1, 2012 at 11:37am

Ooooh how awesome. It would be my *dream* to run my own vintage shop! Where are you located? I bet if any of the girls here are local they would love to stop by your shop

Permalink Reply by Kristina Cairns on July 23, 2012 at 5:17pm
So jealous! I would love to open up my own shop.
Permalink Reply by Lisa O'Brien on July 23, 2012 at 5:28pm

It is so much fun!  One of the best decisions I ever made!

Permalink Reply by Crystal Ann Balderas on July 23, 2012 at 8:38pm

I LOVE VINTAGE! i adore old makeup compacts and perfumes, jewlrey and just the look and feel and of course smell of the older more decadent things. ive always had a love for the old. be it the elderly or the old object. made a joke once about adopting grandparents instead of children. lol.  my mom knows all the best vintage shops. i live in waco texas. there is a lot of history around here you just gotta dig. if i had to pick one of my favs. its my new vanity set.

Permalink Reply by Lexi Free on July 26, 2012 at 10:41am

Lovely and oh so elegant!! <3 =D I wish I could find something like that in my area!! =/

Permalink Reply by Crystal Ann Balderas on July 28, 2012 at 8:21pm

thanks soo much!

Permalink Reply by Lissie Bee on July 28, 2012 at 12:59pm

Wow. That's so pretty!

Permalink Reply by Crystal Ann Balderas on July 28, 2012 at 8:22pm

thank you ill have to post a pic of my new to me dinning room table. its 50 style getting it Sunday cant wait to show you guys.

 

Permalink Reply by Lissie Bee on July 29, 2012 at 10:44am

Ooooo.. definitely post a pic! Retro dining room tables seem to be getting harder and harder to find.

Permalink Reply by Lottie Bee on August 1, 2012 at 8:39pm

I'm a vintage nut! And thankfully, so is my boyfriend. We were both raised by moms who loved thrifting. My mom kept EVERYTHING and so I have alot of cool old things in my personal collection that were my granny's. If you ever make it to Pennsylvania, there are tons of antique malls/stores, thrift stores, and flea markets all over! I don't have many pictures of my personal collections, but I collect ceramic cookie jars and planters, dresses, lucite purses, enamelware, and obscure vintage items. I sell on etsy, so you could check out some of the neat things we've found. www.etsy.com/shop/WolfCityAnteeks ..most things we find for dirty cheap. I recently found a pair of gorgeous 3/4th length white gloves at a flea market and the lady wanted $1.00. ONE BUCK?! I could've kissed her. They're beautiful. :) I really should start a blog for the neat things we find. Probably one of my most favorite sales was a rare Enid Collins purse I found in an old man's garage. He only wanted $1.50 for it. I'm surprised I didn't faint.

 

XO

Permalink Reply by Lottie Bee on August 1, 2012 at 8:41pm

Oh! PS--one of my most favorite things about shopping vintage are the people that you meet. I absloutely love chatting with the little old people that sell vintage treasures. They're usually so excited that someone so young has an appreciation for their items. Some of the best people I've ever met are older ladies running booths at an antique mall. :)

Permalink Reply by Catherine Frost on August 2, 2012 at 12:29pm

This is my latest find and I LOOVE it so much!!

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