Retro Vintage Antique Love...

I had the BEST day this past Wednesday. A day to remember:

...My sister beckie and her roommate/"bessie" Kyle came to St. Louis on Tuesday and Wednesday. Their plan? No plan at all... just no working, lots of SHOPPING, and hanging out away from home. After a LATE late night talking, laughing, psycho-analyzing, and reflecting together, we three hung out Wednesday and continued the fun.
First stop? Antiques Row on Cherokee, in downtown St. Louis. This few blocks are jam-PACKED with antique stores, vintage clothing shops, and other quirky little places. We enjoyed the 60-degree day and strolled between stores, taking photos and looking for treasures.
{the "bessies" goof off... Bessie= short for 'best friend'}

{my sis and I take a pause outside another antique shop}

The best store, by FAR, was Ruth's Vintage Clothing, 2003 Cherokee Street, (314) 865-1091. Here, we found AMAZING stuff at really reasonable prices. I got a fur-trimmed winter coat from the 50's, something i've been on the lookout for over a year.... Twenty bucks!! I also found these:
this is a real 1950's pattern... I love the look, the classy mom-thing. Funny note: This is a size 14.5 back then, but I'm a 14, and this would have never fit. Sadly, the measurements that WOULD have fit back then would put me at a 20! YIKES!!! I guess I'm glad the sizes have changed over the last 50 years. I feel chubby enough as it is!
This is a swatch of vintage fabric samples I got for $5. They were printed right in St. Louis, and each fabric style used to sell for 43 cents a yard. Wow!

Even the receipt is done the old-fashioned way. I LOVED this store. Beckie and Kyle each found cool things at Ruth's, too, so we were pleased with our jaunt.

Above, my new red purse that I love. Got it at Wal-Mart, of all places, for $12! Beckie is the proud owner of the coral bag... She found it at Urban Outfitters the day before and fell in love. It reminds me of 1970's old lady lipstick.

Next stop was The Loop, near my old apartment in St. Louis. This area is a strip of restaurants, boutiques, shops, and other cool places, all with a fun, vintage, college kid, artist feel. We made our way to Rag-O-Rama, a resale shop, and browsed their clothes, shoes and accessories.


Beckie found some great stuff here.... Including the red hat, which I made her buy.


I was a good girl and only bought this scarf. I'm really liking navy and red right now. Might be a summer look for me. This will go tied in my hair. Yay!

After Rag-O-Rama, we strolled along the Walk of Fame stars on The Loop, representing famous St. Louisians (Tina was? Really??) on our way to lunch. Aren't Beckie's shoes GREAT?
We ate at Fitz's, a burger joint that bottles their own soda. It was PERFECT for our sunny, carefree day. (Try their cream soda. It is unlike any cream soda I have ever had and it has become a craving of mine since moving here.)

As we walked back to our car after lunch, Kyle saw this graffiti "poet" sign. Since he is working on applying for his Masters in Poetry, it was a perfect photo op.

I LOVE hanging out with these two. THey make me laugh, we have intelligent conversation one minute but can be complete kids the next minute.... And I feel appreciated and able to be one of my more favorite versions of myself with them. They are working on trying to move to St. Louis for real, both for their respective graduate schools. That would be AWESOME.

And for the rest of you out there... If this doesn't make you wanna come out here to the 'Lou and visit me, nothing will. Let's go shopping. I don't even care if you bring a kid or two, just come see me. I have so many favorite places here I'd love to share.