Lord have mercy, the flea market was GOOD to me this month. I’m almost embarrassed by the excess, although I keep telling myself I’m saving money & keeping trash out of landfills. Right? Right!? Humor me here.
Anyway, I went on Saturday with my best-flea-market-buddy-ever, Lauren (and you should definitely go lurk her blog if you enjoy being jealous of beautiful white crocheted lace dresses, because, hot damn). My first mistake was forgetting that October was the “big” month for this flea market. I don’t know what people have against November & December, but for whatever reason, they choose October as their month go to Christmas shopping. The place was PACKED – lots of slow-moving old folks with their dogs in covered baby strollers (sidenote: why? Why wouldn’t you just leave your dog at home? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND). On the flip side, it meant that all the sellers brought out their big guns this month… and we made out like bandits.
Here’s a shitty Instagram pictures of my haul, minus the clothes I bought (oh yes… there are clothes).
This is the very first thing I bought – like, within 15 minutes of getting there. Isn’t she a beaut! I’m pretty sure this is from the 40s/early 50s. I (unsuccessfully)tried to lighten the image; it’s a lovely forest green velvet. The buttons are mother-of-pearl with gold edges. This will definitely be my Christmas dress 🙂
The second dress is a navy day dress from the 40s. I’m not totally sure of the fabric content, but I’m thinking rayon. Sidenote- the seller & I bickered over the age of this dress. She said it was late 30s, I said early 40s. She said she knew her vintage, I said I know my sewing patterns. Later when I was hemming it up (don’t worry – the original hem is still there, I didn’t cut anything off :)), I found a tag on the inside of the skirt that dates it to 1940. I guess that’s kind of a compromise, huh?
Ps – I know it looks totally ugly on the hanger, here’s an action shot of it on me 🙂
I also got some patterns. Aren’t these darling? The seller remembered me from last month & saved me a box!
I came across that giant box of zippers right before we left. As in, “Let’s lurk this last shed and then go home, I’m cold.” The seller and I haggled a bit on the price, then settled on $15 for the whole box, plus whatever else I wanted to stuff in there. I added a few scraps of fabric, giant covered buttons, and a purse pattern that Lauren was eyeballing. I wasn’t sure if I got a good deal or not, I just grabbed the box & hi-tailed it home.
I know it doesn’t look like much, but there are 83 zippers here! Almost all of them are 22″ (some longer), and they are about 50/50 nylon and metal. Every color of the rainbow! That comes out to about $.18 per zipper, so yeah, I reckon I got a good deal 😉 Add that to the giant bag of metal zippers I scored a few months ago; I’m pretty sure I’ll never need to buy another zipper again trololol
You’re probably wondering what my second mistake was.
My second mistake was going back the next day.
This time, I went with my parents & niece Caroline, who is the sassiest little sass that ever sassed.
I would have bought this if it wasn’t $10.
I discovered that I was a designer in a past life.
And here’s haul #2, combined with some stuff my parents bought. Aren’t those side tables amazing?
I missed one of my regular sellers the first go-round, so I was interested to see if he still had anything for me (I usually get my patterns from him):
OH! Ok!
(yes, the “kloth” is in there and yes I plan on using it)
Change purse gloves!? DED.
I actually have no need for these (you should see my collection of fitting books), I was just amused that they were from the US Department of Agriculture. So randumb haha!
I found this pattern at a different booth. I was really excited about it – it was only $1 – until I realized that some idiot piece of shit waste of life SEALED THE ENTIRE THING UP IN CONTACT PAPER. S/he had arranged it in some weird cardboard shadow box with a bunch of sewing notions (not cool vintage sewing notions… like, shit from Joann’s) and plastic-wrapped the whole thing closed. I only wanted the pattern, so the seller punched the front out and gave it to me lol. I was able to rip the top open very carefully with a razorblade, and the envelope contains one pattern piece & the instructions. So boo 😦 Oh well, at least the artwork is pretty enough to display.
I also bought more clothes!
50s wool skirt that feels like a blanket.
50s party dress that fits me perfectly (and yes… that is a bird shit stain on the collar lol. I need to clean it!)
This dress was only $5. Hold onto your hats – there is a significant amount of fading down one side of the dress, all the way to the hem. Those spots have been lightened to purple. Hence why it was so cheap. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it – the sun damage isn’t terribly noticeable when worn (the seller suggested I wear it in the dark haha), but you can still see it. I thought about dying it, but I really like the color as-is. So idk yet. But for $5 – I couldn’t leave it behind!
This square dancing dress was also $5. I’m not sure of it’s age – it’s handmade, at any rate – but it fits and that skirt is super twirly. MINE.
I also found these beat-up 70s wooden platform sandals for $5.
All in all, a good 2 day haul – and I spent way less than $100 total!
And just to keep this related to all things blog~
I’m wearing the blanket skirt today – it goes perfectly with my Chuck sweater 😉
LLADYBIRD 
I love it, you look great in the skirt and sweater 🙂
Awwww, MAN!! I never find things like that at flea markets! You must have the best one in the world in your area.
It’s really not bloody fair that we don’t get ANYTHING like this in New Zealand. Except at vintage fairs, which usually means that oversized 80s denim jackets are about $40. Stupid small country.
Oh, we get that shit too. A lot of the thrift stores have gotten in on the vintage and started charging obscene prices for anything that looks old. It’s so fucking stupid!
Love that Blue 1940 dress. And the patterns! AND THOSE SIDE TABLES!!! Wow, we don’t have anything like this in Toronto. I would die. Absolutely die. I’m so jealous right now!
Wow! You always make such bargains! Not jealous at all, no, no, no…. 🙂
I was thinking about the blue dress with the stain, can’t you try to find the same shade of blue and dye it to take out the stain? I don’t know much about dye, but it’s just a thought.
I considered it, but it’s a really unique shade of blue. I’m not sure if I could get a dye that matches it (without mixing it myself, I mean). However, the dress does have quite a bit of length that I’d need to cut off before I can wear it, so I may have a dye party with the scraps and see if I can come up with a solution 🙂
BAH! I’m so jealous of your awesome 2day haul. Not only did you get great sewing stuff, but the CLOTHES! I would have bought that $5 stained blue dress, too, and that skirt is really adorable on you in the last pic there. 🙂
OH, OH, OH! My roommate actually had a pair of sandals JUST LIKE THOSE in the 70’s, and I coveted them so much. I borrowed them a couple of times, but I wanted to steal them. I am so jealous!
Haha that is so funny! Maybe they are the SAME PAIR!! 😉
That plastic Santa in his sleigh!! What memories. We had that exact Santa when I was a child that lived on top of the console TV (dating myself here). My brother and I loved that Santa. It always meant Christmas was coming, and it was the only decoration we were allowed to put our grubby children’s hand on!
I love the plastic Santa! He was only $1; I couldn’t leave him behind. I think he’ll look nice on the mantel 🙂 I really love your story, thanks for sharing! 😀
OMG!!! A haul isn’t even a good enough word for all the goodies you’ve found! That navy blue 40s dress is gorgeous on you and I adore that last outfit pictured too. Gorgeous!!!
LAWD! I want to go shopping with you! Congrats on the excellent haul.
This is a shockingly good haul! Commendable!
I LOVE the Hollywood pattern!!! I would be furious if I’d seen the, um, ‘artistic’ creation.
My favorite out of the clothes you found is definitely that skirt!
Love the navy dress and the plaid skirt! Looks like such a fun place to go! The side tables are amazing, too – great find!
I am jealous because of your pattern!
I’m gaga over those vintage patterns especially the “Vogue Couturier” one. Such great finds! I sometimes go to Salvation Army stores etc but never see any sewing stuff 😦
Maybe I’ll try my luck at the trash n treasure market one day.
U find such great stuff!
Lauren, me encanta tu blog!!! es mi blog preferido, lo leo cada dÃa para inspirarme y sigo tus fotos de flickr… me gustan mucho las compras que haces, son maravillosas!!! Aquà en España, las cosas antiguas cuestan mucho dinero, aunque yo como tú voy a muchos mercados. Acabo de comprar una antigua máquina de coser de juguete muy barata!!!
Me gusta mucho todo lo que haces!!!
un saludo
Jealous! The old toy sewing machines here are always $50-$100+… soo expensive! I would have a collection if I could afford them:)
Wow! Just – wow! That is seriously a good haul – I’m really in love with the vintage dresses you picked up – particularly that 1940’s number. It looks sooooo perfect on you! I would try to copy that dress and make a bajillion of them!
Also – in regards to the dress with the fading – maybe you can try to dye it the same color – it should just brighten up the rest of the dress and replace the color where it has been bleached out.. maybe?
I can’t get past the beauty of the velvet dress. Wow oh wow oh wow. I like the navy dress, too. It reminds me of the one I had that I accidentally gave to my daughter’s high school drama department. Would it be uncool to go back six years later and ask for it back? Heh.
Congrats on all of it; really wonderful finds! I am not so savy with blogs so not sure where to put this comment–Letting you know that I am checking regularly to see your review of the newest Vogue patterns. Just came out –I saw them for the first time two nights ago ….just awful most of them, so can’t wait for your comments.. And as for the models…why is it fashionabe to model clothes with one knee in the air like a drum major or marionette? I’ve seen this pose several times with Vogue, and can’t figure out the allure…..
Ok, that dress is really perfect on you … as is the skirt … as is that sweater. Please come fix my closet and make it look like yours? But seriously – you got some AWESOME goodies at the Flea!! Well done, my friend!
Gorgeous! The dress and skirt look adorable on you!
Cute red outfit! The navy dress is PERFECT.
Sigh. So jealous. Lucy above is right – NZ does NOT have this kind of flea market with crazy goodies. I love that Vogue Couturier pattern that your “regular guy” saved for you and can’t wait to see you in it. Also, the fact you have a regular guy? Awesome.
Love the 1940s dress on you and love the blanket skirt with Chuck. You truly are so amazingly stylish! I will know I’ve got there stylistically when I love my outfits as much as I love yours!
S to the C to the O to the R to the E!!!! Congrats chica on a blinder of a haul xxx
See, I’ve always been skeered to go to flea markets. They just seemed so… ooky. And with the seller sitting right there staring ya down… And haggling is so not my thing. But I dunno… someday when I have money again, I may come on here for inspiration and then go hit up a flea market. That navy blue dress totally transformed once you put it on! And I really love those side tables, too.