By Caron Schwartz
As the days grow shorter many minds turn to what to wear to celebrate autumn festivals. From Germany’s Octoberfest and Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos to Diwali in India and our very own Halloween, fall is when we get crazy before the winter chill descends. (Here in Florida, there’s not much of a chill, but it might cool off enough to flaunt Aunt Eunice’s fox jacket.)
Need ideas? Here’s a whirlwind tour of local emporiums where you can get your dapper on.
Designers’ Consigner: Lots of high-end bargains organized by size and color. Come for the couture but stay for the home decor. You’ll be wowed by local artist Roland Chew’s wildly colorful photographs and plenty of mid-century modern finds. (OK, not costume material, but fun nonetheless.) The sister store, Designer Exchange, has similar merchandise.
Andrea & Friends: First you’ll linger over the jewelry case with its bottomless trays of antique and vintage baubles. If you like Victorian, Edwardian or Art Deco rings and things you’ll be in heaven. (I admit to trying on some bling.) The rest of the store is a museum of lovely satin dresses, plenty of fur, weird old uniforms, miles of affordable costume jewelry. And hats the likes of which you’ve only seen in old movies.
ARTpool: The granddaddy of them all. Here the Sultana of Style Marina Williams flitters about to help you find your unique look. The store is organized by decade from the 1920s to the ‘90s, so Marina can easily point you in the right direction. Not much 100-year-old fabric has survived, so her tailors repurpose new stuff to look old. (I tried on a couple of flapper-ish dresses just for fun.)
Outfitted in a dashing striped jumpsuit and multicolored eyeglasses with accessories ranging from beads on top of beads to chunky rings, chandelier earrings and more, Marina’s philosophy is more is more. “The experts may say after you’re done accessorizing, take something off. I say, ‘put something else on!’”
When you go, here’s a far from comprehensive list in no particular order:
Gulfport Beach Bazaar
3115 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport
ARTpool Gallery
Vintage Clothing Boutique & Vinyl Record Store2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Wendy’s Closet on Central
2107 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Andrea & Friends Antique Mall
2400 Dr M.L.K. Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg
Revolve Clothing Exchange
2000 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
Designers’ Consigner
2394 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg
So Chic Consignment
3625 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Designer Exchange
7038 Central Ave., St. Petersburg