Niles Flea Market Finds

There is no way around it. Thrifting and vintage shopping takes time. This past weekend was the annual Niles Antique Fair and it was such a successful day. As you can see in the photos, Main Street was filled with vendors selling both junk and treasures. A lot of times when you walk up to one of these tents or even a thrift store, the feeling is overwhelming. There is so much stuff and at first glance, everything looks like junk. When thrifting or going to an antique fair like this you HAVE to be dedicated to spending time looking through everything, because I promise you there will be some diamonds in the rough.

On Sunday at the fair, I probably walked main street three or four times. And each time i found something I had missed before. It is so exciting finding items hidden in junk. Its like buried treasure. I decided to photograph my booty from the day and share my finds with all my readers. Stay tuned for pictures of how I incorporate these items into my everyday outfits. Okay, here we go...

1. Old Coins - .10 each (total $1.00): I bought these coins with the intent to make a great bracelet or necklace. I'll start the project this week :)

2. Old Brass Key - $6: I fell in love with this key when I saw it. Its lovely looking and would look great hung around my neck. I am thinking of buying those velvet ropes to use as a chain because it is quite heavy.

3. Vintage Scalloped Gloves - $4: How cute are these? They were my first purchase of the day and one of my favorites. They are incredibly soft and real leather to boot.

4. Gold Watch - $2: I bought this watch at the very end of the day on my last walk down. It was marked for $35, but as I was looking at it the owner simply said "You can have it for $2". SOLD!

5. Western Leather Wristlet - $15: I have to give credit to my friend Megan for finding this wristlet hidden behind vases and frames. Luckily, she was looking more for an actual purse and pointed the item out to me. I really love this wristlet because it's unique and its great for a casual day. Plus, Calvin Klein's new fall line contains many western items. I'm positive the look will be big in Fall.

6. Gold Leaf Necklace - $3: Once again this was an end of the day item that I got for a steal!

7. Vintage 1920's Dress - $25: I know this dress doesn't look like much on the hanger, but worn it is just so beautiful. The owner told me she bought a trunk at an old estate sale and hidden inside were all these vintage clothes. It is amazing I was able to get it for only $25, because items from the 20's like this in San Francisco sell for well over $100. I can't wait to show you all how this dress looks on! With all this vintage items, I can't help but wonder who wore them before me? What adventures did they have in them? Maybe they fell in love wearing this dress? It makes the items all that much much special :)