dress: vintage
tights: American Apparel
shoes: vintage (Ebay)
locket: vintage
bag: H&M
When I first traded in my car for a bus pass, I felt like my freedom and independence were being traded in as well. I’d been driving for nearly half my life by now and couldn’t imagine doing without. After a few weeks, I realized that rather than lose my freedom to go any and every where, I’d actually gained it. When I had my car, I hated driving on the freeways (actually I’ve only used them once since moving to LA) and I was always afraid to drive very far from home out of fear that my car would die.
Over the weekend, my bus pass and I traveled all the way out to Lincoln Heights to a vintage warehouse sale (I would have never dared drive that far from home). Two buses and a ride straight through the heart of Chinatown later, I arrived. As soon as I saw the “No Boys Allowed” sign on the door, I knew I was in heaven. There were racks and racks of the most beautiful dresses and coats spread throughout the space. There was a sale pile to be picked through as well with everything bearing a $3 price tag. There were couches and beds set up to lounge on with magazines and snacks if you wanted to just relax (who could with all the shopping to do?) Mirrors were propped against the walls and girls walked around in all stages of undress pulling dresses off racks and trying them on. It’s definitely not for the shy or self conscious, but I have to say it created a fun, sisterhood type atmosphere. At one point, I was trying on a dress and a girl across the room yelled out how cute it looked on me.
I’ve been to other vintage sales where the competition to get the best and the most creates a very unpleasant experience. The weekend before, I went to a parking lot sale where, in the frenzy to grab as much as possible, some one elbowed me in the face and snatched my own sweater out of my hand. I left feeling bruised, defeated and with out my sweater. I love vintage shopping, but that just took all the joy out of it.
I snagged this long sleeve vintage dress as well as several others that will be going up in the store in the coming weeks. I can’t wait to go back for more!
