This week, I’m continuing my love affair with every color of the rainbow. My 2nd favorite this season is Coral. Paired with royal blue or white, or even hot pink, coral is a little bit of flirty goodness in your spring wardrobe. I’m currently hunting for a pair of coral flats to replace the ones Rufus (my giant puppy) ate. Unfortunately, he also has a thing for vintage footwear.

ITEMS ABOVE FROM THESE SHOPS :: quebueno / EyeLoveThat / ExtinctVintage / MediaVueltaVintage / AgeOldThreads

Today in St. Louis it will be a mild forty-something degrees with a cool blast of wind every fifteen seconds. I’m definitely over it! Give me sunshine, poolside, BBQ, and sandals please! This year I am once again on the hunt for a vintage suit. Some of these pretties in the video are giving me great ideas!

Help a gal out-> If you are currently have any vintage suits in your shop, @ me on Twitter!

I’ve got the blues… in a good way. Royal Blue is huge this season! It is such a rich, bright shade + an excellent addition to any outfit. I love this shade of blue when paired or accessorized with another of our best brights: pink, yellow, kelly green, and red. Of course, a royal blue vintage piece is even better! Check out some of my favorites and find more in my Etsy faves. Have a royal blue wonder in your Etsy shop? @ us via Twitter with a link so we can share with our followers!

ITEMS ABOVE FROM THESE SHOPS :: MissBelleCherie / VictoriaWestbury / London Vintage / shopREiNViNTAGE

Although it’s still chilly winter, it’s time to add a pop to color to our wardrobes, isn’t it? I’m guilty of draping myself in black (because it’s easy) throughout the colder months, but I’ve been craving some color! Throw on a pair of Rainbow-Brite-worthy pink pants with a black turtleneck + flats for a cute 60′s mod look, and bring your own bit of sunshine to the party. Oooh…sunshine = yellow pants?!? Maybe…

Items above available via Etsy (top) AndVintageClothing (middle) 36colors (bottom) AnnaNostalgia

While browsing all of the loverly vintage wares via Etsy, I stumbled upon EllenTenTen Vintage and fell instantly in love with the shop. I love her photos and the way she mixes views of her items (of which I want ALL of them). My favorite is the black leather mini which with it’s high-waistedness is so fantastic. Read on to find out more about EllenTenTen…

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: Unfortunately, it is NOT a full-time gig. I work an office job during the day and really lament all the natural light being lost (when I could be photographing my finds!) I started selling vintage way back in 2007. I’d graduated from college with a degree in English and thought…hmmm…well what the hell can I do with that? (Without going back to school.) In my nervousness, I shopped at consignment and thrift stores, as I had when procrastinating writing papers, and all the way back to middle school. It’s a hobby and a pleasure. I really loved this one consignment store I used to go to in Plattsburgh NY, where I finished school. I felt that store was like my oasis. It was always bathed in afternoon light and had a ton of stuff to look through. Anyway, I thought hey, why don’t I try to open a consignment store? That’s something I really like doing. Then it morphed to an online store I developed for a long time but wasn’t technologically advanced enough to carry out, then e-bay, and then etsy.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: Hmmm, I don’t think I do have never-let-you-down spots. I make my rounds but never really expect a treasure at any time. I’m always surprised when I find really good stuff, even though now that I think of it I am usually really happy with at least a few things when leaving a place …hmmm, a paradox. In any case, there is one store I can never forget… it’s called “Thrift Town” and it was in North Texas, sharing a plaza with only an out-of business Montgomery Ward store. Thrift Town was huge. All the men’s jeans, which is what I wore at the time, (high school), always had circular imprints from snuff cans in the back pocket. Anyway I’ve always wanted to go back there. But now I live in Rhode Island, so Thrift Town will remain a dream destination.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: My decision making process is: if I’m hesitating, then it’s a no. I see a lot of stuff I know would sell, but I really don’t want to sell anything other than what I like, than what really strikes a chord with me. That way my store is really like my collection and also an expression of me. I’ll take anything from fifties to early nineties, my only requirement is that is immediately wows me.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: That goes with the question above… if it really wows me, then usually I want it for me! But I don’t like to have overflowing closets and so I try to be practical. I don’t really have a lot of formal occasions and I don’t have a dress-up job. I keep the stuff I know I’ll really wear, instead of keeping the stuff I love just as objects. As for collections, I used to have a great collection of vintage bathing suits, from the fifties, sixties and seventies, and I wore all of them. But I’ve moved around a lot and have lost or left behind a lot of stuff. That bathing suit collection is the only thing that haunts me!

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: Huh, no, I never have thought of that until reading that question. So the answer is no then. Yay! That makes me happy to realize. I really do consider my own closet first :)

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: Well…a perversion of the question, so I can tell this awesome thrifting story… my weirdest re-find, in a way. SO, when I was 21 I lived in Minneapolis and I often wore a, well, a polyester sleeveless sweater from the seventies. It was black on the top and white on the bottom, with birds fading or morphing into each other in the middle, like an MC Escher drawing. I got the sweater in Texas, I know that because I wore it in my 11th grade school photo. (And I went to high school in Texas.) Anyway, after about a year and a half of living in Minneapolis, I went to New Orleans and sub-let my Minneapolis apartment. But then I just decided to live in New Orleans, and, sadly, I’m still not sure what happened to most of my stuff that was left with the sub-letter. I didn’t care too much at the time. I heard rumors of major cat pee damage. In any case, I left behind a lot, including the Escher sweater, and never saw it again…until!

Years later, I had moved from New Orleans to Texas to Brooklyn, and decided to take a nostalgic road trip from Brooklyn back to Minneapolis (more or less) with my good friend Aneta. We went to eat at French Meadows café, because I remembered I used to love to go there in the winter, walking through the snow under white skies, to pick up a chocolate raspberry bar which weighed like half a pound and was really delicious. Anyway Aneta and I sat down there on this sunny brunch-time about five years since I had seen the place or even been in the city at all. Our waitress came around and …she was wearing the Escher sweater!

Anyway I loved it. I love the continual life of vintage clothes! I’m sure my 11th grade-photo-sleeveless-sweater had gone through at least a few people before the waitress ended up with it that day, and I love to think that an object can be so durable, and yet also so special to many random people who come across it and want to rescue it from oblivion. I really detest the throw-away, wasteful modern attitude! And I tried to get that point across to the waitress, but I feel she thought I was trying to tell her that the shirt was mine, and I wanted it back.

Well anyway that’s my favorite thrifting story! Thank you for reading, thank you to Vintage Addicts for fulfilling my adolescent dream of one day being interviewed, somewhere, for something, and thank for checking out my shop!

For more EllenTenTen, follow her via Twitter + her blog! Have a favorite vintage shop you would love to share with our readers? Send us a note to finds@myvintageaddiction.com.

We asked you to share your favorite vintage shops with us via our Facebook page + you jumped at the chance. Thanks to Nancy from LdyLux Vintage for introducing us to Brande of  Victory Vintage Boutique! Victory Vintage is an Ebay shop featuring Brande’s vintage finds from bygone eras. Find out more about Brande + Victory Vintage by reading on…

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?
A: Buying and selling vintage is what I do full-time. I have small children at home and its a blessing to be able to stay at home with them. I got started about 10 years ago on ebay. My love of vintage started with a few hand me down pieces of vintage chiffon lingerie from my grandmother. I had never seen anything so dreamy as these candy colored peignoirs and I was smitten like a kitten. Always loved vintage dresses, hats and bags too, so it really got a hold of me!

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?
A: Oh yes! I LOVE Goodwills and Salvation Army shops..no secret..they use your money for a good cause and that motivates me to keep returning.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?
A: I’m like a well oiled machine anymore..I feel thru fabrics with my fingertips…I go right to colors and prints I like and know instantly if they are what I am looking for by their feel and texture. I know if its a stiff polyester..its a keeper..or a soft cashmere or tweed. I like! I already know in advance what I am after and usually am in and out of a shop within 20 minutes.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?
A: Of course I keep some..but I take photos in so many of the garments and pieces I sell ( I model for my blog and store) So that’s all I really need is the memory that it passed through my hands into the new owners closet who has been awaiting its arrival. It is so much more of a thrill to me to see someones excitement over a piece I uncovered and made available to them rather than adding to my own personal collection. Most of my personal collection is from my grandmothers and these will be handed down to my daughters. Oh but there are rare pieces that my oldest daughter swoons over and begs me to keep for her and I am happy to do that. She is a big part of my business and has learned how to thrift and shop/hunt for treasures like me. This is such a joy to me!

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?
A: Yes..I came across a vintage 40′s tortoise shell box purse made in Italy.It sold right away.I regretted it…I still do.It was gorgeous..but you never know if I found it, I could find another similar some day. I am hopeful.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?
A: Most Satisfying find to me was a 60′s Emilio Pucci long nylon gown! I have loved and admired these in other sellers shops for years and just came across my 1st ever. And found it here in Arkansas! It was beautiful and in perfect shape!

*Find out more about Brande and Victory Vintage by following her on Twitter + Facebook + YouTube.

Have a favorite vintage shop you would love to share with our readers? Send us a note to finds@myvintageaddiction.com

If you’ve ever wondered how the vintage scene varies in other parts of the world, you’ll enjoy reading today’s Addicted To interview. Zohar from RakShniya Vintage fills us in on thrifting in Israel, and more. Read on!

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: My name is Zohar Avron and I live in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel. RakShniya Vintage is an affiliate shop of “RakShniya” which is one of the most successful vintage and second-hand shops in Israel that is run by my mother and her business partner. “RakShniya” has always worked as a family business and I’ve been involved for many years. Because of my endless love for vintage I felt like there was a market for a lot of items that weren’t finding their right customer base and so after I got to know about Etsy I decided to take things into action – basically RakShniya Vintage is my own personal homage to beautiful vintage clothing and accessories that can reach a worldwide crowd. At this moment, I can’t run my shop full-time but I could never say it’s a hobby since the vintage business is something I’ve been “soaking” in for so many years and my shop is something I constantly try to better.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: Most of my vintage finds and wardrobe come from “RakShniya”. I’m always on the look for great pieces, however because Israel is only 62 years old we don’t have such a fabulous vintage heritage like, let’s say, the US does. You mostly won’t find clothes and accessories that are over 70 years old and are Israeli made but I try to visit as many markets and shops across the country as I can, in hopes to discover those wonderful finds you don’t come across every day. The best vintage “spots” though, are the houses I get invited into. Every now and then a family lets me explore their closets for treasures and these visits usually result in the best finds.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: It’s hard to explain how I pick and choose the vintage that goes into my shop but one of my golden rules is “be true to yourself” – there isn’t one item in my shop I wouldn’t try to incorporate into my own wardrobe and it’s important to me that my shop reflects who I am. The way I dress allows me to express who I am and how I feel at any given time. People often say that it’s only when they got to know me that I really let my personality shine – and because I’m evidently, a little shy or guarded, my clothes allow me to show a lot of Zohar on the exterior. I feel that fashion also means much more than clothes, it’s rather a lifestyle and can reflect your aesthetics as they manifest in different areas of your life – I think it’s important to recognize what you gravitate towards fashion wise and also to allow yourself to mix it up when it comes to fashion influences.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: Since I’ve started my business I keep less than I used to. The shop has actually helped me learn what suits my body better because I come in close contact with a bigger variety of items. I do have a few collections – I collect slips (which I wear on a daily basis come summer), I collect vintage t-shirts (the really simple loungey ones) and I’ve started collecting clothes by a certain Israeli brand called “ATTA”, they were pretty much the only clothing brand when Israel was established as a state and it’s always exciting to find something of theirs because they are pretty rare by now.

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: There’s one item I kind of wish I hadn’t sold: a lovely spring skirt set, I don’t know why but I’m obsessed with sets and I guess I only realized how lovely it was only after it sold. I might have overlooked it a bit because it was slightly big on me. Oh well – I hope it’s happy in Australia (where it was sent).

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: One of the coolest and weirdest items I found (and sold by now) was a rainbow bead and crochet handbag. When I first saw it I was taken aback a little because it’s so “in your face” – it’s so bright and noticeable and I try to make vintage look less costumey and I tend to try and blend it into our current clothes. But the more I looked at it and the crazier it seemed – the more I wanted it. I knew I had to get it especially after I saw it had, amongst all that colors, one single black bead – it was as if the bag maker was trying to break formation if you know what I mean and express themselves within their creation. I love it. It was a very popular bag before it sold not long after I listed it.

Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.

With a fantastic eye for vintage, Sadie Rose of SadieDELUXE is definitely a shop to watch. I adore Sadie’s attitude that all vintage pieces are just on the hunt for their perfect owner. For us hopeless romantics, this thought makes for such a sweet love story! Sadie also has a handmade line — Lost Boys & Lovers — giving new life to otherwise forgotten materials. Be sure to stop by her shop to check it out!

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: I’m not selling vintage full-time yet, but I hope to get there soon. Right now I’d say I’m at about half time, and I spend the rest of my time doing ten billion other things – like working another job, making jewelry, raising my son, and holding it down on the homefront (cooking, cleaning… all that good stuff.). I’ve lived in Northern California for just over a year now, after spending nearly 9 years in Oregon.

I started selling vintage when I lived in Portland in 2007 or 2008. My roommate and I rented a spot at the vintage Mecca known as House of Vintage on SE Hawthorne, and sold there for two years. Once I moved to California to this sweet little town – I began to focus more on my online shop since the actual population (and vintage market) here is so vastly different than the one in Portland.

Before I sold vintage, I was an aimless collector and giver. I used to buy amazing things when I found them – feeling certain that one day I would meet someone that it would fit. I was always like, “this is too good to pass up – I have to get it!” My friends were the happy beneficiaries of the product of this habit, and it was a sort of a sad transition for some of them when I started my business (and putting price tags on everything!). However, this is to say that vintage is just in my blood. I’ve always been on the hunt – it was such a relief when I put two and two together and realized I should start selling it.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: Hmmmm, this is a tough one. I feel like generally, I always find one good treasure at most of my usual haunts. I’m still exploring and discovering the full range of treasure-hunting options in my Northern California location, so I’d have to say that I don’t have a favorite yet (though there are some good ones).

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: I try to stay open to all options. It’s sort of like skimming a book (wherein you gloss over most of it, except for the keywords). Generally I sort through piles or racks of stuff, and I have a mental buzzer that goes off when I see textiles and fabrics that look promising. This could mean a cool print, or a gorgeous weave, etc. But as far as clothing goes – that’s mostly how I do it – by skimming for materials that catch my eye – then I dig a little deeper into those.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: Oh, absolutely. I’m constantly finding things that I feel like I MUST have, and then I keep them for a while, and then eventually they end up in my shop. As my personal taste streamlines with age, I’m getting better at determining what I truly want to keep for myself. My favorite collection that I’ve built over the years of thrifting is my collection of “pretty white things” – this consists of various petticoats and tutus, slips and dresses. I have a couple Edwardian pieces in this collection, and a white ballet costume….the whole thing has its own section in my closet and it’s a lot of lace and tulle (this satisfies my inner 6 year-old on a daily basis).

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: Well, this isn’t technically something I sold – but in high school, I gave away a few amazing items that my mom had given me – one item in particular was a fitted, full-length Icelandic 60s/70s wool coat with this cool zip-front…it was so killer. I STILL can’t believe I just gave it away. On the flip side, I do love the transient nature of vintage – you find amazing pieces, and you pass them on. Sometimes you keep them, but there is always an influx of more beauty, and so it is our job (the sellers) to make sure the beauty keeps flowing onward.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: Recently I found these 1940s velvet peeptoe wedges in perfect condition for a crazy low price. The low price, plus the actual materials (red velvet?! rainbow pompoms?!) made me feel sort of like a small girl discovering a giant pile of magical candy. Those moments when you find something so old and so beautiful…that takes my breath away every time.

Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.

After a long hiatus, the Addicted To series is BACK in action! I’ve got some fabulous interviews lined up and I do hope you’ll tag along.

We’re going to kick off the series’ return with an interview with the lovely Anna from Etsy shop Revolving Styles!

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: My name is Anna and I’m a loud, outgoing, 28 year old with one son and a daughter due in mid-May. I received a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and a M.A. in teaching from UC Irvine (yes, I am a UC product) and taught seventh grade for 4 years before my son was born. My husband and I decided that having me stay at home and raise our son would be more important and beneficial to our family than me teaching, so about 10 months after my son was born, I decided to start my vintage Etsy shop and it has been a blast! I’ve always loved clothes and old Elvis and Audrey Hepburn movies, so this has definitely been fun! The best part is I get to work from home and raise my amazing son. I definitely feel blessed, but don’t be fooled! I have never been more tired in my life!

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: I definitely have a handful of spots that never let me down. I don’t mind sharing 2 of them — the Long Beach flea market and the Alameda Antiques Fair. I live close to Long Beach so I try to make a trip every month. As for the Alameda antiques fair, that’s about 6 hours north of me, but my family lives by there, so I plan trips every 2-3 months or so revolving around when the antique fair occurs. Great daughter, huh? The other treasure hunting spots are my little secret!

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: I realized a couple of months ago that my shop picks were becoming quite one dimensional — 1950s dresses, which are my favorite. Since then, I decided to broaden my picks to items that are flattering to a woman’s body and can be incorporated with pieces from today because in the end, I do have a business to run and I want to reach as many viewers as possible, while staying true to what I like. (hope that makes sense) But, I still have a weak spot for the 1950s :)

Also, I don’t mind picking items that need a little TLC, especially from the flea market because those items’ prices are more negotiable and such a better deal and I love restoring vintage pieces!

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: Wow, this question makes me feel like I’m in an interrogation room. haha. Honestly, when I wasn’t pregnant, I would keep more finds and not tell my husband, because he sees this as strictly business, but I see it as pleasure and business! Yikes, hope he doesn’t read this. I have built up quite a collection of 1950s, 60s dresses and 70s button up shirts that I’m afraid I will not be able to fit into for a while, or forever!

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: There are actually 2 little black dresses that I sold in February that I look back on very often and just wonder! But, because I was pregnant at the time and the dress sizes were small, I let them go, but never got to try them on. My big regrets! Here and here.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: This question has me stumped! I can’t say I have any weird ones (except for some jumpsuits I modeled when I opened my shop, but let’s not go there) so I am going to describe my most satisfying find. It was this 1920s white lace wedding dress because the previous owner sold it to me at such a low price because it was damaged and she had no idea how to fix it. After a little soaking and restoring, the lace came out remarkably and I sold it to someone who wore it as their wedding dress! I definitely was smiling a lot that day!

Thanks so much to Anna, for letting us get to know you a bit better. And make sure to check back next Monday for the next installment of the Addicted To series!

Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jeanna from SwaneeGRACE and I sure hope you will too. A gal can only hope to have the luck she has when she’s treasure hunting! Read on to learn more about her vintage addiction.

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: Hello! My name is Jeanna and I’m a New York City native lucky enough to still live in the city I call home. I work full-time as a Business Manager at Bergdorf Goodman but devote as much time as I can to SwaneeGRACE. I consider it much more than a hobby as vintage truly is my life’s passion. I long for the day that it’s more than just a part-time gig.

My love affair with vintage dresses goes way back. I went on my first thrifting adventure with my grandma in the 7th grade, filled a bag for $1 and left with an entire fall wardrobe. Desperately needing another fix, I started going to fleas in New Jersey with my mom and very shortly after that I was exploring Manhattan and rummaging through the myriad of vintage shops that lined Broadway, all of which are now long gone. I’ve been hooked ever since. Funny thing is my nanny had absolutely no idea what a lasting impact that thrift run would have on my adult life. We still laugh about it and she’s tickled pink that I named my shop, in part, after her.

My collecting took a more serious turn about 7 years ago when I started going to all the NYC vintage shows and the Whitaker-Augusta auctions in New-Hope. Further along in my career, extra cash in hand, I did what any vintage-obsessed 20-something sewer would do: started to buy lots and lots of pretty dresses, some not even my size since I convinced myself I could make them fit. This was almost never actualized. My apartment started to look like one big closet and when even I couldn’t take it anymore, I knew selling was the next step. I dabbled with Ebay for a spell, rented space at a design cooperative in Soho for a few seasons and tried my hand at the Brooklyn Flea when it first opened. Throughout it all I wanted an online shop. After having a customized site designed but never programmed due to budgetary constraints, I decided to give Etsy a whirl last August. All I can say is I wish I did it sooner.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: Of course I do! Like most vintage aficionados, I have top-secret tactics and a few off-the-radar thrift spots that continually churn out some pretty spectacular stuff. I often feel like I live a charmed vintage life. Most likely I’m just lucky, but I like to joke that I was some fabulous dress shop owner from the 50s in my past life and I’ve come back to re-collect all of my long lost dresses.

In addition to the shops, shows and fleas (my most favorite being The Elephants Trunk), I recently started traveling to estate sales and just can’t get enough of ‘em. Plus, whenever I travel, the first thing I do after scouting out accommodations is research the vintage spots.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: When hand-selecting my stock, beauty, quality, craftsmanship, design and lasting wear always take precedence over trendiness. With a focus on femininity, flattery and fun, I gravitate towards vintage that displays its roots and simultaneously looks refreshingly current, either on its own or paired with modern pieces. Beautiful and wearable dresses, 25-100 years old and in great condition, that blend seamlessly with a 21st century wardrobe, are on the top of my most wanted list.

And while there’s no denying my heart races when I discover designer pieces, I’m always most taken with those handmade, little known label, and label-less dresses whose fabric, fit, and construction could easily cause any one of them to be mistaken for a piece out of a current designer’s collection. I wear lots of vintage to work and am constantly being asked questions like, “Is that Prada?”, “What floor did you get that on?”, etc. It always delights me to tell them it’s vintage. I just love raising awareness and imparting knowledge about vintage clothing. Anything new that’s even remotely similar in terms of quality is most often cost prohibitive. And let’s face it: vintage is just tons more fun.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: Oh yes, I keep lots of them! My love of a good dress is what got me into this whole thing in the first place. And considering I only buy things I love, if something fits perfectly, it’s really hard not to keep it. Lately I’ve been trying to only put one item from each successful buying trip into my closet and this seems to be working nicely. I know, however, it’s only a matter of time before this plan fails miserably.

In addition to dresses from the 20′s-50′s, there are a few other vintage things I can’t resist: school autograph books from the 1890s-1940s (I just love the quirky and dated phrases), recipe books, photographs of ladies in dresses, watch rings, interesting dress patterns and fashion magazines.

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: Not yet. If I’m on the fence about something, I hold on to it until I’m emotionally ready to let it go. Once it gets into the shop I can’t wait for it to be united with its new owner. I don’t like to have things just sitting around looking pretty on a garment rack. It’s important to me that these items get the love and use they deserve.

Right about now the only thing I regret is not having enough time to get all my pretties into the shop. Thankfully, my summer lighting situation is figured out and I’m about to implement a system to ensure new items get debuted in a timely manner.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: At a recent estate sale that was so loaded it ran over three weekends, I lost my cell phone in a room that was literally knee-deep with picked over stuff (including my own). I didn’t realize the loss until after I left, so back into that musty room I went. Although my phone was never found, I discovered the most stunning, museum-quality 2 piece Victorian beaded sash. Each piece was just lying there on the floor underneath all that madness. Much to my surprise, it survived 100 years (including that frenzied sale!) without one bead missing or even a nip in the chiffon. Amazing!!! As soon as I found it I gleefully gave up on the phone and called it a day.

Experiences like this have taught me that, more often than not, some of the best stuff is lurking in the background away from all the hubbub. Sometimes you just need to dig a little deeper.

Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.