What a weekend to shop ...
While planning a last-minute weekend of shopping is no big whoop for yours truly - it's what I do, man - I realize that other folks are a bit more strategic in their buying patterns.
As in, they look for sales.
If this is your bag, then I've got some good news: many of my (and perhaps your) favorite Nashville boutiques are having sales right now.
At the top of my list:
Sugar, at 2146 Bandywood Drive in Green Hills, is currently having a summer sale where much stock is marked 20 to 80 percent off. I love hitting up Jennie Ader's fabulous minimalist boutique for goodies from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake (their arty scrunced-up Califlower line is to die for) and indie greats like Gary Graham.
Across the street at 2209 Bandywood, shoe emporium Perfect Pair has shoes marked up to 90 percent off regular retail through Saturday (27th). Casey and Whitney have some cool stock, including kicks Pedro Garcia and Dolce Vita, two brands j'adore that won't totally break your bank - especially when they're discounted, yo.
If handmade items float your boat, scoot on over to East Nashville for the Walden Artisan Market, where crafters, designers and vintage dealers alike set up shop on Saturday and Sunday at 1898 Eastland Avenue, across from the Rosepepper Mexican restaurant. Yum!
Finally, of course, what is the last weekend of the month without a trip to the Nashville Flea Market? Held at the fairgrounds, 'round where Wedgewood Avenue dead ends into Nolensville Road, you can find some fabulous vintage clothes and accessories from some of my very favorite local vendors.
In fact, many of the lovely vintage wenches (I say that with great love, mind you) who set up were at the vintage sale I hosted last week at Fanny's House of Music, the East Nashville music store where I have the second location of my own vintage biz, currently called Flora Vintage (name change TK, very very soon, folks).
Anyway. Make sure you check out wares by the fabulous Kim Brewer, the brilliant Aria Cavaliere, and the incomparable Carmen Jaudon (that's her above, cooling off in the shade during our Fanny's sale last week). The first two ladies will set up their gear in Shed 4; Carmen reports that she's in the Creative Arts building, which might be just another name for Shed 4 - I'm not sure! Regardless, they are both must-stop and shops.
While you're there, make SURE to go to Antique Alley on the north side of the fair and see my darling friend Mike Wolfe, who has come down from LeClaire, Iowa, to set up a booth. He's a professional picker - check out his website (including videos of him in action!) here - and has some amazing stuff. We had dinner last night and he showed me the contents of his Mercedes van, including a vintage hair salon dryer contraption and 30s linoleum printed with children's nursery verses that he pried off the floor of some old house or another in the vintage-rich Midwest,where he does much of his pickin'. Tell him Libby sent you!
