How I Shop Vintage
This weekend I'm heading to the Liberty Antiques Festival-- it's one of the largest antique festivals in the region and it happens only twice a year, so you better believe I've been counting down, since like six months ago. Having recently purchased my first home I'll be looking for unique pieces for my place, but I'll also be shopping for the Suite One Studio site. I learned a lot about what you guys love from our last vintage sale, guided by that information I've been stockpiling for months. Add in this weekend's jaunt to Liberty, and this upcoming vintage assortment is one to get excited about. (Join the newsletter to be the first to know when the collection debuts!)
Navigating a flea market, thrift store, or consignment shop can be overwhelming. There's a LOT of junk cluttering your vision, and often things aren't very well organized. It's enough to overwhelm even seasoned vintage pros, so you're totally not alone if you've felt this way. Today I'm sharing the simple principles I use when buying vintage. This mental checklist is sorta like wearing good-design blinders. Suddenly all the bad disappears and the good comes into focus. Speaking of good, everything in that photo is vintage except for the Suite One Studio Dessert Plates! See how timeless good design really is? Continue reading for the three basic principles I use to select those haven't-aged-a-day-past-chic pieces!
It comes down to three basic principles: Shape, Color, Pattern.
Shape: Is the form pleasing to your eye? Is it interesting? Out of the ordinary? Does it have a classic form that time has proven again and again it won't go out of style? Is the shape functional? Yes to any of those and I move onto the next category.
Color: Does the color excite you? Would this color add visual interest to your room/table? Is the color time period specific?-- This doesn't have to be a bad thing necessarily, but some colors are linked to certain dates (avocado green and burnt orange immediately make me think of the 60's) and you want to keep this in mind so your space will looked collected, but not themed. Color is one of the biggest design elements that can impact mood. If it makes you happy when you spot it, just imagine living with it!
Pattern: Simple repeating patterns are the easiest to mix, so if you're like me this is a great place to start; polka dots and stripes are classics for a reason! I love monochromatic florals and marbled patterns too. If the pattern is in a color I love, and on a form that speaks to me, show me where to pay.
I'll be sharing live on instagram stories this weekend. Come hang out and see what I bring back for the shop!