On Sunday I had friend and owner of Retro Rejuvenation, Lyndsie come visit me.  She’s an absolute doll and we had an incredibly fun time visiting vintage shops and thrift stores for two solid days.  Sometimes the downside to having so much fun is a failure to take pictures.  Even with reasonable cameras in our pockets, I got no pictures of us together.  How lame am I? But what I can show you is my insane haul…yeah, this is going to be one of those posts.  Monday, found ourselves on the prowl at thrift stores, and at nearly every shop we scored…it was the craziest thing! And as cliche as it may be getting, we couldn’t help blasting Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” as we cruised down the road, because seriously, “This is fucking awesome.”

I picked up a few of the normal thrift finds…some slips, a couple of belts…but there were a few things that utterly floored me…

First was this Root Beer Bakelite bangle…

Lyndsie picked up one of those taped up vases filled with “junk” at Goodwill, and pointed out three bangles, whispered “I think these are Root Beer,” and showed me the price tag of $7.00. A risk worth taking.  Upon returning to the car, we ripped open the vase and poured out all of crappy metal bangles, plastic beads and broken watches to reach the bangles, which were of course at the bottom, yanked them out and rubbed them until hot, and low and behold, they provided us with that glorious whiff of formaldehyde.  While Lyndsie made the purchase, she offered one of the bangles to me as a gift, and I was oh so pleased.

We continued on our merry way and at another shop were scanning the dresses…sometimes you can just run your hand along the edge of clothing racks, feeling the fabric and stopping when something feels right…and my hand stopped on a plush royal blue dress of silk velvet.  I pulled it from the racks and inspected the garment…snap closures at the neck and side, a dainty faux sash…no…it couldn’t be…but it was…a 1920s dress! And it was $9.99.

And it fits!  Of course, the picture doesn’t do it justice, but that’s okay. I kind of what it to have a fabulous reveal later…probably for a viewing of The Great Gatsby.  It appears to have no holes or tears, and is just missing some kind of buckle for the sash, which is an easy fix, just have to find the right buckle. Update! To view this dress in action, visit my Great Gatbsy post!

My final score was this piece of furniture…

At $14.99 I couldn’t leave it at the store.  It’s a little rough (a cat used it as its scratching post) and could do with being re-upholstered, but for now I’m going to leave it as is.  The biggest problem right now is finding a home for it.  So for the next few days Patrick and I will be playing musical chairs…literally.

I also happened upon a vintage hat box which had at least five hats in it, for $2.00.  I didn’t dig through them, just purchased it.  But ultimately I didn’t care for the hats, and Lyndsie found herself in love, I gifted her the hats and box.  Lyndsie didn’t make out too shabby either, the highlight being an End of Day Bakelite bangle (that is in addition to the Root Beers!).

By the end of the day, we were exhausted, but on an extreme thrift store high.  It was just plain amazing.  I’m not sure if it was a fluke or if Lyndsie and I posses some sort of magical thrift powers when united.  I’d like to think it’s the latter.