Shopping outside the box

Fashion, to me, has always been fun. My senior year of high school, I kept a journal of what I wore every day during the school year so I wouldn’t repeat an outfit. I love putting my own spin on outfits, especially now that I work in the corporate world. I try to be respectful of my work environment, while also staying true to my own aesthetic.

As I’ve mentioned in a prior article, I love shopping consignment, resale and vintage for unique finds. This weekend, I went to the Vintage Charlotte (VTGCLT) Summer Market. VTGCLT is a twice-a-year pop up market (winter and summer) that features artisans specializing in handmade, vintage, unique and one-of-a-kind wares. The brainchild of Amy Herman, the number of vendors and attendees has grown every year.

With a budget in mind, it was time to go shopping.

My first stop was Beautiful Idiot Clothing, a Charlotte based fashion line. I have loved their kimonos and finally purchased a gorgeous one of my own.

My next stop was to drool over the baubles and gems at Here a Chick, There a Chick. I wanted everything! I’ve always been drawn to lockets and I found a locket ring that needed to be purchased.

A lover of all things ocean, my next purchase was a print of a shark tooth for my apartment from Holdfast Outfitters. I plan to buy one of their ‘Raised by Wolves’ t-shirts for my nephew from their website.

Reborn Vintage, a Charlotte based design team focused on bringing new life to vintage wears, has been on my radar for a while. Looking through their denim selection, I found the perfect pair of black denim shorts updated with a bleach technique.

A final walk around and I discovered Pink Dogwood Jewelry. Based out of Greenville, South Carolina, Pink Dogwood is a jewelry line combining vintage and antique treasures with modern design and reclaimed materials. Once again, a locket caught my eye. This time it was a necklace.

The amount of talent and creativity in one room was impressive. I kept to my budget, but I could have easily shattered it, and my bank account. I got business cards from vendors and the names of Etsy shops for future purchases after my credit card cools down a bit.

Everything I bought was made or refreshed by people passionate about their craft. The market was a great reminder of thinking outside the box when it comes to shopping for you or your home.

Find something amazing at VTGCLT this year? Share it on the socials and tag Agenda so we can see your finds.