The Browse #4: Vintage Variety Hour

Reflections on intentional vintage browsing, baby pink knitwear and a horse purse I will always love.

The Browse is a bi-weekly curated list of objects of affection, unique shops/brands and style content I’ve been browsing. If this email is too long for your inbox, read it here!

A couple weeks ago, I had two distinct vintage shopping experiences in one weekend. One was at a classic, large vintage store, while another was at my friend’s pop-up vintage shop in a small gallery space. Both browsing endevours had their value in different ways — and I realized that I didn’t necessarily prefer one over the other. But having the variety to decide what kind I’m in the mood for, certainly helps my shopping brain.

Choosing what kind of vintage store to go to is like playing a choose your own adventure game. I’ve noticed that when I go into more of a “traditional” vintage store, it’s more of a treasure hunt, a voyage for heirlooms. I walk in with maybe a slight, abstract idea of what I need or want, but I always prepare myself to be surprised.

A brief love affair with these vintage silver and gold bags at Sweet Lorain vintage and a pair of block heels from Shop Clash.

Whereas a more curated vintage pop-up or boutique is a bit different. Sure, there’s definitely an explorative element there too, but you can usually tell what you’re in for (especially if you pay attention to how the seller or shop is branding their collection). It’s a bit more predictable shopping these racks — although of course you’ll still be surprised — so I go there when I want to narrow my search.

In addition, as someone who is hypersensitive and way too easily overstimulated, even thrift shoping has become an errand that I need to wear headphones to. So vintage stores can be a mixed bag sometimes for my nervous system in general.

Take this horse purse for example, which as beein living at one of Cleveland’s premier vintage emporium, Sweet Lorain. I’ve come to visit her many times. I’ve flirted, I’ve tried her on and of course, I’ve admired. But I don’t think she’ll ever go home with me because the strap is a bit too short for me and she’s a bit bigger than what I’m envisioning. However, having her there (until someone inevitably snags her) reminds me that I can appreciate beauty like this in stores without immediately needing to own it.

Having this variety also helps with practicing more intentional shopping habits. I think we often think of impulsive shopping as being associated with packed online carts and overnight shipping, but shopping vintage and second-hand can also feed into that hyper-consumerist little green monster.

But here’s a couple tips I’ve gathered for myself that I developed because I shop vintage so often:

• Learning to appreciate beautiful things without urgency or need to buy.

• “Checking in” with my closet every week to clean through or put together some outfits.

• Pulling inspiration from the past — i.e., look at inspiratoin from street photography, 70s album covers, photos of your mother, anything that ties you away from the current trend monsoon.

• Pin-pointing your impulsive shopping triggers. I.E.: What environments do you feel like you impulse shop the least vs. the most? For me, it’s often unorganized thrift stores that (usually) have prices that invite an excuse to “eh, just get it” kind of mindset, so I kind of just blackout.

What you may have missed on The Changing Room:

• Episode 10 of the podcast featuring the impossibly chic and talented designer, Miranda Marti.

• First issue of my new series, Fit Anatomy, where I’ll be breaking down some outfit love every couple weeks or so.

• An October reflection including thoughts on categorizing, music I’ve been listening too and what has gotten me out of my reading slump.

Now … let’s get into THE LINKS.