February 6, 2011
Imagine an entire convention center filled with vintage clothing from the 1850s to the 1980s...seems overwhelming, right?

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The truth is, it IS incredibly overwhelming and if you are anything like me who gets butterflies in her stomach at the sight of anything polka dotted, chiffon, or lacey... your mind just goes all a whirl and you don't know where to begin.

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You really have to go to these things with a game plan. This is the 4th convention I've been to and I still haven't gotten down a system, I just spend hours wandering around, touching things, holding dresses against me, squealing with delight when I see sparkly baubles or embroidered clutches... it's like a giant vintage playroom except everything is really (and sometimes REALLY) expensive and sometimes you get "you shouldn't touch that" looks from the sellers.

You're always bound to run into some fashionista whether it be an indie chick or a modern day style icon. The latter was the case for me. I was in the same booth as Alexa Chung and we were both trying to peek at ourselves in the mirror. She had slipped on a 1930s black polka dotted dress with a seafoam green bow on the front, very cute. I had made a friendly exchange with her and told her that I really admired her personal style...and to my greatest sadness, my compliments were met with a barely audible "thanks" and when I resumed to compliment her on her vintage dress choice, she WALKED AWAY. Well, pish posh, how extremely rude!

I was a bit annoyed and we happened to be in the same booth again and the seller clearly knew who she was and had asked her if she gets photographed in the dress to tag them on Facebook or Twitter and her friendly attempts were met with...Silence.

My heart was crushed. I've always admired Alexa Chung's style so much, her dress choices always seem so whimsical, sweet, cute... I thought she herself would also be the same. Maybe she was having a bad day? Oh well, I'll probably still admire her fashion choices, but now I won't be as enamored since her lack of friendliness really just put me off.

But back to vintage clothing... the massive amounts of it present at the Vintage Expo... I actually ended up not purchasing anything. It was really crowded (although in my photographs there aren't people present, aren't I clever?) and I was met with so much snobbery that day. From sellers, from other buyers... when did vintage get so elitist? It was really quite tragic!

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18 comments:

  1. wow, it look slike the selection was amaazing, but too bad about the attitudes. How were the prices??

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  2. Gorgeous! I'm exactly the same way around vintage clothes. Lots of squealing, gushing, sighing... :)

    little-gold-pocketwatch.blogspot.com

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  3. oh my goodness - heaven!!! I'm so jealous. I wouldn't know where to start

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  4. Such a bummer that people were so snobbish. I certainly hope vintage doesn't become an elite interest!

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  5. How I wish I could go! I'd be rather upset at traveling there when those expenses could be used just to buy clothes. I'm not that surprised about Alexa, she just seems like one of those Williamsburg hipster girls who pretty much ignore everyone else that isn't another hipster. That's a little silly at the 'don't touch' stares, that's the whole point of vintage items is to touch and hang against me and pose in the mirror. Seems like you had a terrific time!

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  6. Oh wow what a treasure trove. i feel for you re Alexa and other snobs I dont get it at all.I would be nice to everyone no matter how well known I became (never going to happen tho lol)

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  7. I abhor rudeness such as that. I believe I might have been very uncomfortable there.
    But I would have loved to have seen all the beautiful vintage clothing!

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  8. What a dreamy expo!
    I have to say, my admiration for Chung has now signifcantly decreased. :( How sad that she was rude!

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  9. Oh that place looks amazing. I love a good vintage expo, though the vintage clothing snobbery pretty much abounds everywhere!

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  10. I've been to the vintage expo in SF! Its amazing!

    http://60smodfox.blogspot.com/

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  11. So pretty place! I wish I had a chance to visit that store and buy all of these things, if I just had the mmoney :D

    -Sara
    autumn, coffee and inspiration

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  12. OMG... I couldn't sleep today after these photos....

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  13. Super beautiful. I just want to jump right in. x hivennn

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  14. wowowwowowowwowow looks amazing a chic little vintage dream

    www.storyofafunnyface.blogpspot,com

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  15. I felt the EXACT same way about the expo! While the selection was undoubtedly amazing, I was so turned off by the elitist vibe, snobby sellers, and exagerated prices. I was so disappointed that I had to cheer myself up by making a stop in Old Town Orange on the way home - that was a much-needed reality check : )

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  16. Wow, that looks amazing! It would be extremely overwhelming, though, I bet. So much to choose from!

    xoxo
    www.naturally-christina.blogspot.com

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  17. I've been following your blog now for a couple of weeks, and I love it! You are very inspiring.
    That's so sad that people were so rude. Vintage is beautiful and easy to obsess over (I know I do!) - but it is silly to have an elitist attitude about it.
    But on the plus side, all the clothes are gorgeous!

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  18. Oh dude I like all those displays in fact Vintage dresses is really awesome.


    Laby[wool suits]

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me a little comment, I do try to respond back as often as I can. Have a lovely day! xoxo - Rodellee