If you asked me how my weekend was or where I went during a day off, it’s most likely that I’ll tell you I went vintage shopping of some sort. I love it! I think it’s the combination of the thrill of never knowing what good stuff you’ll find mixed in with seeing some frighteningly odd items along the way (that are usually at least good for a laugh or a snapchat). I actually loved the vintage markets we had back in Springfield, MO, and they were for sure one of the things I was the saddest to leave. Such. Cheap. Prices. Thankfully, the Nashville vintage game has been pretty good so far, but we are still finding where all the good shopping is as the months go by (we took these photos at the super cute Pre to Post Modern vintage store). There’s certainly a strategy to vintage shopping because you want to make sure that you are getting really good pieces amongst the clutter, and it can be hard not to get lost in all the overflowing shelves and aisles. Here’s a few of my top tips:
Make a list: If you’ve ever been to a flea market or vintage store, then you know how incredibly overwhelming and packed those places can be. I literally get dizzy vintage shopping because my eyes and head are going crazy looking up and down and back and forth for hours. However, knowing what you want can really help you focus your search and cut down on the time you spend shopping. For example, if I know I want to look for an awesome living room chair and some cool books, well then I can bypass the giant shelves that only hold glassware this trip or just head straight for the furniture section (if they separate out the bigger items like some do). Knowing that I’m looking for a specific size or color of object also helps you scan booths as you walk by without feeling like you have to inspect every single tiny item.
Ask how special/rare the item is: The longer you vintage shop, the more you have a good idea of what’s rare, what’s easily found, pricing ranges, etc. Knowing what’s already out there and what’s hard to find can help you decide if you should pay extra, buy it somewhere else, or wait for a better version or color later if it’s common. This skill takes time to develop, but you can also go with a gut feeling if you are over the moon about it or just feel “Meh.”
Set a price limit… As with any purchase you make, you want to know what your budget is. You’ll also want to take into account any additional work or cleaning the item might need, as that will also contribute to the total cost (for example, sometimes getting an item reupholstered can be more than the original item!). Don’t be afraid to make an offer either! I always offer less to try and get a deal (a lot of places won’t let you make an offer unless it’s over a certain price though), and they usually take the offer or at least counter.
…but be willing to go over if needed: Wait, didn’t I just tell you to not overspend? I did, buuuuuuuuut every once in a while there will be a thing SO SPECIAL and SO AMAZING that you just may have to reconsider your budget. For example, our new house has a wood-burning fireplace, and I knew I would have to get some fire pokers if we wanted to use the fireplace. So I almost jumped out of my body when I saw a set of brass unicorn fire pokers at a local vintage place. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? I think the set was listed for $175 (which was way more than I wanted to spend), so I made an offer of $125 (which was still more than I was wanting to pay), which they agreed on. While I did overspend, I knew that the chances of me running into another amazing find like that was slim to none, and so it was worth it to go over a bit on such a special find.
Do a quick online search: Before you commit, it can be a good idea to do a quick online search for the item and see what comes up. Can you get it on Etsy for $40 cheaper? Does it come in a color you like better on Ebay? It’s amazing what vintage stuff you can find online, and if you see a bunch of the same item, you’ll know if it’s a more common or rare item to begin with.
Walk away if you aren’t sure: Like with many purchases, it can be hard to know if you really want to buy something or not and you may feel on the fence about a few things. I find that it works best for me to only buy items I’m really excited about and put back any items that give me reservations. Doing this makes one of two things happen – you either totally forget about the item by the next day (which usually means you shouldn’t have bought it anyway), or you end up thinking about it non-stop until you go back and see if it’s still there. That’s basically what happened the first time I went to check out the Nashville vintage stores after we moved. I saw this giant pink phone advertisement from the 70s that was so good, but it was more than I wanted to pay for wall art at the time, and I just wasn’t sure. I left without it, but I ended up thinking about it all the time for almost two months before finally going back to see if it was still there. Thankfully no one else had bought it (I was sure it would be gone by then), so I made an offer and took it on home! It is true that this strategy of coming back days later if you’re still thinking about it only works for flea markets that are always there (rather than the pop-up flea markets), but even if you go to a temporary market, you can always walk around for a while, see everything else there is to offer, and go back if you are still fixated by the end of the day.
Think if the item can be used for a different purpose: Sometimes the cool thing about vintage stuff is the fact that it can be reused in a different way than what the item actually was to begin with. If you find something you like but you don’t want it for its original purpose, think if it can be used in a different way! Maybe you find an awesome record cover for a band you’ve never heard of that you can use for wall art, or a blanket you can recover a chair or bench with, or a piece of serving ware you can use as a planter or vase. Think outside the box when something catches your eye!
I thought I’d show you my two favorite vintage finds in the last year (the brass unicorn pokers and the 70s pink phone) – not bad, huh?! Of course sometimes spending hours looking at every single thing is kind of the point of vintage shopping, so feel free to also have those coffee-in-hand-browsing-carelessly kind of trips. Those are fun too! Do you have any vintage shopping tips you swear by? xo. Laura
Credits//Author: Laura Gummerman. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Elsie Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
37 Comments
OMG I’m SO glad you posted a picture of the unicorns. I was like “WHAT??I HAVE to see this…” So fun!!!
Wow, you weren’t kidding, those fire pokers are amazing!
OMG UNICORN POKERS! So jealous.
Jamie
http://www.sweetteasalvage.com
Ok, let me be totally unoriginal: THOSE POKERS! <3
Can you tell me some of the best vintage stores in Springfield?
I was wondering about the telephone the other day, when you posted your living room tour :).
I usually overthink too much about the pieces, leave and when I come back…are gone! And then, I continue overthinking: I shoud had bought it the other day!
I love the unicorn fireplace tools! Adorable 🙂
Such a great vintage shopping article! Thank you for providing these ideas and starting points for your audience. Vintage items can hold great endearment and lasting style power over newer products. Love your suggestion for thinking outside the box too. Intended purpose of yesteryear does not limit your options for today 🙂
Such a great vintage shopping article! Thank you for providing these ideas and starting points for your audience. Vintage items can hold great endearment and lasting style power over newer products. Love your suggestion for thinking outside the box too. Intended purpose of yesteryear does not limit your options for today 🙂
I know I was starting to get nervous toward the end that we weren’t going to get to see them! They are AMAZING!
When you lived in Pittsburgh, did you ever go to Who New in Lawrenceville? It’s a mid-century modern lover’s dream! It’s amazing what is happening in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. It’s now the “it” place to live. I love it here!
I love Vintage shopping! This looks so fun
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Those unicorns are amazing!!
These are such great tips! My husband and I just moved, so I’ll be on the vintage hunt for the next few months to fill our new space. 🙂 Also, THANK YOU for showing the unicorn fireplace tools!! I was hoping you’d deliver!! 🙂
I loved all your tips for vintage shopping!! Your site is wonderful!! Glad I found you!!
Funny thing, I have that EXACT brass fireplace set, down to the little details at the bottom of the stand. Mine has elephant heads instead of unicorns. I’m not sure where it came from, my stepdad is an antique collector and he gave it to me after a recent move.
When that pink phone popped up in the background of a post a week or so ago I scoured the internet to try to find the source.. good to know it’s vintage and one-of-a-kind! 😉 And congratulations on the unicorn set- you definitely should win some sort of award for finding those.. so righteous.
Those unicorns are AMAZING!!!
Great Tips Laura I love vintage shopping! I live by that “love it or leave it” thing too, it definitely keeps me from impulse buying too much junk. Love the wall phone (always wondered where it came from) and those quirky unicorns! How cute and funny!
Omg I don’t think I could truly go vintage shopping in a legitimate vintage store! I’d buy everything because where I live there really isn’t any vintage shops!
I really love this kind of places. You can make amazing discoveries. I would spend my lifetime in there !
Omg those unicorns! I’m glad you didn’t walk away from those!
One thing though, about the walking away if you’re not sure… I do this too often, and then after having thought it through and decided I need to have it, it’s not there anymore. Drives my husband nuts!
isnt this the same article elsie wrote on this exact topic? this is weird.
I love your taste Laura!
http://www.shopthecoconutroom.com
I LOVE Vintage shopping! The scarier the place, the more interesting things you’ll find – I have a ‘scary’ flea market in my town that I love getting lost in. It’s got things piled floor to ceiling… I have no tips, but I absolutely love that retro cat pic that’s hanging in the wall of that store. I may need to make a day trip to Springfield, MO, just to check out their stores!
The unicorn poker set… I’ve been collecting unicorn paraphernalia since I was 6 years old! Those make my heart go pitter patter!
The biggest tip I agree with is being willing to walk away! I don’t know how many times I’ve bought things at a vintage or thrift store because it was so cheap or I felt like I would miss an opportunity, and then I never used the item. Never. Maybe once because I felt like I had to. It’s hard to walk away because prices are often lower or items feel unique, but the more second hand shopping you do the more you realize that one-of-a-kind items pop up all the time.
could you do tips on curtains? I’m trying to pick curtains for my new home and I’m just not sure where to begin or what styles to go for.
Laura,
Is your bag vintage? If not, tell me more ’cause I love it!
Christine
Great article! I opened a vintage shop a few months ago and everything I read here is so true! Thank you!
http://www.lesindecisesvintage.com
If you’re buying multiple things don’t be afraid to ask for a small discount – I bought 2 chairs & a painting and was so excited/in love I totally forgot, until the owner said I should ask for a discount (ha!). Got sales tax taken off. Also if you’re looking to bargain, use your smartphone to get an idea of how much similar items go for at other places. This helps me make a reasonable offer that shows I have some knowledge in the area.
Also if you’re going for furniture, know the measurements of your room & doorways, AND your car (or the cost of renting a truck). Or how much weight you can carry if the store is very nearby (I definitely HAVEN’T carried chairs the 4 blocks from the thrift store to my home… also haven’t carried a 9ft ladder a few blocks while walking the dog. No shame.)
I find it so interesting how different areas of the country have such different flea markets. In the North East (Boston area) flea markets mean OLD OLD stuff, something from the 60s or 70s would be on the newer end of what we pick through, especially for furniture. But then in California, I wish I drove there because they have AMAZING mid century selections. My current favorite items to pick through is vintage hardware and fabric!
Thanks for the tips! http://www.hannamarielei.com
Sometimes getting the right fashion accessory or showing it off isn’t always easy. These Exquisite Fashionable Home DecorI ran into not long ago can be a great solution for shoring your favorite accessories.
Have you been to the Nashville flea market? It happens every last weekend of the month! You can find some really unique stuff there. It’s probably one of the best flea markets I’ve ever been to. I used to live in Chattanooga and would go all the time before I moved. Chattanooga is a cool place too, I loved The Knitting Mill Antiques for vintage finds. It’s about 1.5 hrs from Nashville! Xo
http://www.thefairgrounds.com/fleamarket/dates.asp
http://www.knittingmillantiques.com
Wait! Those unicorns are seriously on another level!!! OBSESSED!!!
@Holly, http://emfurn.com/ has a wonderful collection of vintage chandliers and clock in addition to the amazing furiture supply. Please try visiting the website