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Vintage Shopping At The SoWa Open Market

New England is known for some of the best antiquing in the country. From the annual Brimfield Fair in Western Massachusetts, to the stretch of Route 1 in Southern Maine, to the small town of Tiverton, Rhode Island, take a day trip to any of these spots to discover unique home decor and fashionable, vintage frocks. What you may not know is that Boston has it's own cache of antiques and vintage wares at the SoWa Open Market.

Each Sunday from May-October, 10am-4pm, hundreds come to discover the best of handmade goods, locally grown food, and vintage shops. Thayer Street, just off Harrison Avenue, is home to a strip of galleries and artists's studios. On these Sundays though, tents fill the concrete lot and people mingle throughout the area.

The SoWa Vintage Market is located inside a brick building at 460C Harrison Avenue. While the outdoor Open Market closes in the winter months, this indoor market is open all year round every Sunday 10-4 and the First Friday of each month 5-9pm. Stretching horizontally, room after room opens with an overflow of household decor, dresses and jewels from the '60s, '70s, '80s, & '90s, as well as art and various paper products to frame.

Enter at the beginning where the SoWa Vintage Market sign hangs, and take your time to peruse, touch, and try on the various items. It's almost a stimulus overload, but in a good way. Your eyes dart from side to side, scanning until something catches your attention. You imagine that vintage, gold pendant around your neck with your favorite black dress, or that antique tea set displayed on your dining room table, or those perfectly tattered books stacked on your coffee table. The rooms have fashion items at various price points, from a no-name pair of earrings to a Chanel bag.

Items on display at SoWa Open Market
Photo Credit: Kyle Ganson

Be sure to check out the Vintage Market on the next Sunday that you make a trip to the South End, and visit these shops:

GypsyShop

GypsyShop offers an array of clothing, accessories like belts & handbags, and jewelry. Prices are fairly cheap with skirts in the $20-30 range and some jewelry under $10. GypsyShop, as its name suggests, travels around the area; find out the next stop on their Facebook page.

Painted Pretty

An elegant house wares shop, the motto "recycle~refresh~renew" rings true. They carry tables, mirrors, trays, and other furniture. If you want more refined thrifted items, this shop is for you.

Brentwood Antiques

This shop based in New Hampshire showcases various antiques and collectibles. It's exactly what you think of when you want to go antiquing.

SoWa Vintage Market

460C Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA 02118
Hours: Sunday's 10-4pm, First Friday's 5-9pm
website

Jaime is a twenty-something blogger living, working, & shopping in Boston. Interested in all thing things stylish whether it be the latest fashion trend on the runways to the newest decor featured in home magazines, she blogs all about it, and tidbits of her life, at La vie…J'aime. Follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, as well.

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