(Photo courtesy ThinkStock)
Transitional dressing from summer to fall can be tricky (the weather is always so erratic) but it’s such a fun time of year to get dressed - and shop! Layers, textures, and prints are everywhere and To help inject a bit of new life into my current cold weather wardrobe, I’ve been busy scouring RVA's second-hand shops for some serious autumnal inspiration and wanted to share with you a few of my favorite pieces I’ve picked up along the way!
First, I have a bold statement to make: literally every single person on the planet looks good in a plaid button-up. They’re a classic American staple and can be worn so many ways that they're always on-trend. It’s not often that I go into a vintage shop with an agenda but I stopped by Blue Bones Vintage with the specific purpose of scoring a soft, tomboyish plaid button-down - and that’s exactly what I found! I plan to go super literal in the styling with this one and pair it with skinny jeans, metallic oxfords and a bowtie.
You may think vintage sweatshirts are a dime a dozen at the thrift store but a good one is harder to come by than a neon floral print in Kim Kardashian’s closet. That’s why I’m such a proponent of letting the pros do the sweatshirt sourcing for me and head to my favorite vintage shops instead. In this case, Drew Spruill of Yesterday’s Heroes found this perfectly worn-in, shrunken vintage sweatshirt in his travels and all I had to do was pop by his expertly curated shop to try it on (luckily for me, I’m roughly the size of a small child so I can still pretend to be a Toys R Us kid even as a 32 year old).
Silk scarves are one of my favorite accessories to collect. They’re affordable (this one was $1 at The Clothes Rack on Cary St.!), beautiful and multi-purpose. I’ve worn this one in my hair, as a belt and knotted around the strap of my vintage Coach bag (my best NYFW street style move).
Everybody looks good in a plaid button down. And scarves are an easy, inexpensive way to update your wardrobe for fall. (Photo by Megan Parry)
Ashby is the kind of shop you’ve got to circuit at least twice before you head to the dressing rooms; I only found this rad midi ruffle hem H&M skirt after I thought I was done shopping! I’ve already worn it with a crop top, leather jacket, vintage rhinestone necklace and strappy neon yellow heels for an evening out to Rappahannock and The Rogue Gentleman and got tons of compliments on it.
As a former vintage shop owner, I may be biased but I honestly think shopping second-hand is the most fun way to shop and Richmond is positively bursting with awesome spots. Of course, there’s a special thrill when you add a pair of shiny, new heels to your wardrobe but there’s no greater personal shopping satisfaction than coming across a 1960s mod floral print mini dress in your size and knowing you’ll be the only one rocking anything like it at your friend’s wedding next month.
If you’re a second-hand newbie, I’d definitely recommend browsing second-hand shops solely for those unique, standout pieces for your wardrobe; like I mentioned before, cruising into a consignment shop with a shopping list of basics is a recipe for disappointment. Keep an open mind, try everything on, and give yourself plenty of time to look so as to avoid getting overwhelmed and giving up!
Some RVA second-hand sources:
Blue Bones Vintage
322 W. Broad St.
Yesterday’s Heroes
105 S. Addison St.
The Clothes Rack
2618 W Cary St; 6780 Forest Hill Ave
Ashby
3010 W Cary St.
Clementine
3118 W Cary St.
Baggio
9734 Gayton Rd.
Round Two
104 W Broad St.
Halcyon Vintage
117 N Robinson St.
Bygones Vintage
2916 W Cary St.
Rosewood
16 W Broad St.
Diversity Thrift
1407 Sherwood Ave.
Second Debut
3114 W Cary St.
Fan Tastic Thrift
1914 W Main St.
Indigo Avenue Clothes
3324-A W Cary St.
