What To Wear To A Flea Market

Or, should I say, what to wear underneath what you wear to the Flea Market?

Or underneath anything....

Find it all here.

Bags & Bananas at The Market

I finally received my new camera, but the week of the bi-annual Top Shelf Flea Market III was not exactly the best time to get a new gadget to figure out, as I'm up to my ear lobes tagging items & treasures to bring to Boston on Sunday. I read through about half of the online manual (I thought someone said this is a very simple camera to use?!) and snapped a few photos from my studio of what I've been working on. The jewelry photos were snapped prior to reading anything and the quality is terrible, so my apologies ahead of time.

I'll be debuting a very small portion of a trunk full of vintage Banana Bob jewelry. The company went out of business in the late 1990s, but in it's day made some lovely art deco & victorian inspired pieces with vintage and antique facets and findings. Swarvovski crystals were used in many of the pieces, and most were hand crafted and hand painted, with many limited editions. The assortment I'm bringing to Boston Sunday are on the more casual side, but I am hoping to create a Vintage Jewelry floor in The Red Velvet Shoe and offering this gorgeous jewelry, as it has become highly collected & coveted. If you are looking for a specific Banana Bob piece, please email me and I will gladly check my inventory for you.

(Here is a sample of some of the more glamorous Banana Bob line that I found online...I'm quite certain I have this set, or something very similar.)

Here is a collage of some of the purses I just packed up to bring along....I love the Etienne Aigner in the top left, it has such an equine look to it, and I won't be sad if it doesn't sell because, as you know, a girl can never have too many purses...The top right is a lovely paisley Margaret Smith / Gardiner Maine purse and the label, I believe, dates it to one of her earliest pieces from the 1940s.

You'll find that (and much, much more!) Sunday at The Top Shelf Flea Market in Somerville/Boston, MA ~~ doors open at high noon. See you there!

I found two more!

Vintage swimsuits, that is! Above, a vintage 1970's animal print bikini from Swim Bali, below, an incredible 1960's Hawaiian two-piece in a 38 bust. Ooh la la! These preview at the Top Shelf Flea in three weeks!

Fun in the Sun!

Although I literally still have a space heater blowing on my feet under my desk as I type this, here at Carmen and Ginger, we are thinking ahead to summer as we plan for the next Top Shelf Flea event!

Late 1960's Roxanne Suit in Medium/Large Size

We have been squirreling away any vintage swim and sun related items we have found all fall and winter and plan to debut them at the May 22nd event!  Those who attend get first dibs; after that anything left will go on-line.

No tag or mark on this vintage swim cap, but, it is a vintage beauty for sure!

1950's Roxanne Cotton Weave Belted Swimsuit Small/Medium Size

These vintage cotton suits are getting oh so hard to find!  I grabbed this beauty in a flash!  Please see the vintage cover-up below in a similar but not quite matching pattern.

Early 1960's Gabar Swimsuit in small/medium size.

The cotton cover-ups below were found at the same time as the blue and yellow swimsuits above.  They are adorable and perfect as beach cover-ups for your vintage swimsuits!

Stop by the Top Shelf Flea early to get first look at these summer beauties! Hope to see you there...

All vintage images used in this post are courtesy of the January 1956 Harper's Bazaar.

The Spring 2011 Top Shelf Flea Details!

Top Shelf Flea Market III

Sunday 22 May 2011

Noon till 6 p.m.

George Dilboy V.F.W. Post 529

371 Summer Street

Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

The roster for the upcoming third semi-annual Top Shelf Flea Market is now set. We've got a good crop of returning favorites, plus a nice handful of newcomers to welcome aboard. It is my distinct pleasure to announce them here.

Artifaktori Vintage

Amy and Amanda of the Artifaktori vintage shop were two of my earliest boosters in the original Top Shelf Flea. They were on hand the first time out, and are returning for a third time. A great source for the ladies among you to stock up on stunning vintage that you didn't even know you liked.

Newton Street Vintage

Our man Zach is also returning for a third round. Since the last Top Shelf in October. he has launched his online shop. Check it out for an example of what you might find at his booth. Friendly and sharp as a tack, he's a great source of sartorial knowledge, as well as a good place to look for the elusive un-darted, hooked vent jacket so many of us revere.

The Red Velvet Shoe

Michelle is as nice a lady as you're likely to meet, with an impeccable vintage style and a great eye for what you need. The best in ladies vintage, with plenty of household chochkies to boot.

Carmen and Ginger

I tend to think of Christine of Carmen and Ginger and Michelle as something of a tag team. Both hailing from the Providence area, I was pleasantly surprised when they contacted me first time out. Christine's got some funky stuff, but it's the coolest, and all top quality. Something for everyone at her booth for sure.

NimCo Vintage Housewares

Good friend Nimco was a Top Shelf original, though she took a pass last time out. We're glad to have her back. Rest assured, any of you would kill to have her decorate so much as a corner of your house. Vintage enamelled cast iron cookery and other kitchen goods are a specialty...she's got more that all of France and Sweden combined.

Swamp Rabbit Books

First editions? Signed copies? Out of print oddities you never thought you'd find? No sweat for our man James. Bookworms, bring your cash.

Gypsy

Ruth and her friends have a passion for fashion...on the cheap...and they just love to pop up at events such as these. Visit their booth for a wide array of ladies designer clothing at a fraction of a fraction of the cost.

A&J Outfitters

Alexi is a guy I know who used to work in the local bike shop. Jason runs the outdoorsy blog eggs & wool...and also holds court at the venerable Hilton's Tent City in Boston. Between the two of them, they've got a lot of bike stuff, and camping stuff, and cool stuff. Some of it old, some of it not, all of it worthy.

Fredricka

Muriel of Fredricka calls her collection "eclectic". I call it impressive. Beautiful things for your home from bygone eras. Her stuff is legitimately antique. "None of that new stuff from the 60s" as she says. Lamps and light fixtures, milk glass, kitchen wares, handmade toys....the list goes on and on.

Bobby from Boston

When Bobby opted in for the first Flea, I was aghast. When he came for round two, I was floored. When he wanted in as a regular...I patted myself on the back. Bobby is the stuff of legend in the world of vintage menswear. Visit his miniature museum, close your eyes, and buy whatever your hand falls on. You simply can't miss.

An Affordable Wardrobe

Of course, yours truly will be there. Remember, this whole Top Shelf Flea thing started as a cockamamie idea to sell my own crap. I'm humbled by your attendance in the past, and I look forward to seeing many of you again this time.

Top Shelf Flea Market III

Sunday 22 May 2011

Noon till 6 p.m.

George Dilboy V.F.W. Post 529

371 Summer Street

Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

Men's Department - First Level

As usual, there are a number of sellers at the Top Shelf Flea with very nice vintage menswear.  You know, actual suits and proper shirts, jackets and shoes and such.  At Carmen and Ginger, we typically have a lot of "girlie" stuff but want you to know we've got some fun stuff for the guys too!  A great selection of Hawaiian shirts plus a nice vintage jacket or two, rockabilly Jantzen sweater and rockin' 1950's fringe jacket.  And we've always got some great skinny and zoot-suit style ties!  We'll put the men's goods right up front, in plain sight and with easy access, so that you do not even have to touch the "girlie" stuff - we promise!

It's Leathah Weathah

At least that's what they'll be saying up in Somerville next weekend at the Top Shelf Flea!  (Translation from the Boston Accent: "Leather Weather.")  If you love vintage leather jackets, Carmen and Ginger is going to have some beauties for you at the event!   Each has it's own special appeal, so come early, try on, and find exactly what you want before someone else does!  This is all fresh stock.  Doors open at 10:00 am...