My week in Maine was fantastic. Rocky beaches, loads o' lobster, lots of friends, and a couple of rainy days to explore Portland's vintage spots and other great shops. Here's my list of my favorite Portland shopping sites, for those of you who are going to be in the neighborhood.
Encore, 521 Congress St., 207-775-4275. The scoop: Plan to spend some serious time hunting through the racks of this amazing vintage emporium -- it has everything from retro frame bags, gorgeous gowns, fantastic furs and more. It's not cheap (but definitely ask if the price can be reduced before you buy -- if an item's been there for some time, they'll drop the price a good amount), but the selection is outstanding. What I bought: Phenomenal made-from-an-Oscar de la Renta pattern ivory silk ruffled top and skirt ($40); vintage fur caplet ($100); silk knot belt in fuchsia ($14).
Pinecone + Chickadee, 6 Free St. The scoop: This quirky new emporium carries a mix of new handcrafted (Ferdinand's squirrel drummer tees; great kids items; cool jewelry) and vintage items, especially housewares. What I bought: Lipstick-red plastic serving dish/tray ($20), though I easily could've scooped up much more.
Find, 16 Free St., 207-699-4285. The scoop: This great little consignment shop has a mix of retro and gently worn new items. It's definitely worth a scour — and the sales staff is incredibly nice and helpful. What I found: Bright red vintage American Tourister round suitcase ($22, currently going for $100+ on eBay, likely due to the fact that it's also in the September Lucky mag).
Material Objects, 500 Congress St., 207-774-1241. The scoop: A large mix of gently worn new items and a sizable vintage selection make this one of the more popular shops downtown. What I found: Cropped lambswool vintage jacket ($45 — they go for so much more in bigger cities); newish alpaca vest ($15).
Blanche & Mimi, 184 Middle St., 207-774-3900. The scoop: Orla Kiely bags, stripy ribbon, vintage toys and more all come together in a perfect, eclectic mix. What I bought: Well, nothing, but I was pretty shopped out by the time I got there. There were many, many things I easily could've snagged.
Folly 101, 101 Exchange St., 207-773-5227. The scoop: Love, love, love everything about this carefully curated home store: The whitewashed furniture, the mix of colorful housewares, even the little polka-dot matchboxes they sell. What I bought: Oversized striped Baggu tote ($14), to hold all my other loot.
Happy Portland-y shopping!
{Photo from Flickr}
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