AAW x Boston Globe

photo: Dina Rudick, Boston Globe staff

The Boston Globe was kind enough to run a full page in the Thursday Style magazine on the goings-on around here of your truly. I'm humbled. Special thanks to Andrew Doerfler for the recognition.

Another One in the Bag

Top Shelf Flea Market 6 is officially in the bag, and I am truly grateful for the terrific response we had from customers and vendors alike. While it's true that it is a giant undertaking on my part to pull this off, I can't do any of it without the hard work of each and every vendor and the support of readers and community members. Thank you everybody, and here's looking forward to  a great Top Shelf 7.

p.s. I was pretty busy all day, and barely had time to snap a photo. If anyone has better shots to share, please email me at anaffordablewardrobe@yahoo.com and I'll be happy to share them here.

p.p.s. the Shop is back up and running, with many new items continuing to go up for sale in the next few days. Stop by and stay tuned.

Top Shelf Flea Market 6 Today!

Sunday 21 October 2012

George Dilboy VFW Post 529

371 Summer Street, Davis Square, Somerville, MA

Noon till 5pm

As usual, an excellent collection from a great group of vendors.
If you live in the Boston area, drop by. We'd love to see you.

Pick Up The Thread

Q: What do...

a 1980s dead stock Brooks Brothers point collar candy striped shirt....

...complete with matching 1980s vintage price tag from the good old real Filene's Basement, the one that was actually in the basement beneath Filene's department store in Boston,....

a 1930s vintage Borsalino brown fedora from a hat shop in Milan,...

a range of 8 wale corduroy trousers in excellent Fall colors (the pink pair is from Chipp),...

an unworn pair of black bluchers by Paraboot,....

an old canvas work shirt with snaps and a corduroy collar made in USA by L.L. Bean,....

an unusual chamois cloth "fun shirt" made in USA by Orvis of Manchester, Vermont,....

and, of course, ties all day,

have in common?

A: they're all available at the Affordable Wardrobe booth at the sixth semi-annual Top Shelf Flea Market, Sunday, 21 October, Noon till 5 pm, at the George Dilboy VFW, 371 Summer Street, Somerville, MA

c'mon, you knew I was gonna do a plug eventually, right? See (some of) you Sunday.







Top Shelf Teaser : The Red Velvet Shoe

I'm not one to wear clothes from a school I didn't attend, but I have to admit that this vintage track jacket from our friend and Top Shelf Flea Market vendor Michelle of The Red Velvet Shoe is pretty damn cool.

This vintage 1940s silk robe ain't half bad either:

Michelle has one of the best selections of vintage clothing for women and children I've seen. I know this is a men's clothing blog, but I'm assuming many of you have wives and girlfriends who might be more inclined to accompany you to the Flea if they don't have to spend the afternoon listening to you geek out about 3/2 sack jackets and pebble grain longwings. More photos over at The Top Shelf Flea blog.



The Man From Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers isn't what it used to be. There was a time when you could tell a guy was wearing Brooks Brothers from half a block down the street. A certain combination of subtle but distinct details in cut, styling and fit was a clear signal. These days, its hard to know what that means, or meant, especially for younger guys who never saw it first hand. But when you see it all together, it still makes sense.

The high buttoning 3/2 roll...the undarted front...the natural barely padded shoulders. Combined with flat front, slightly high waisted pants with a conservative cut through the legs and cuffed hems. Behold the now iconic #1 sack suit. Acquired in trade some months ago from Newton Street Vintage, I've been waiting for a nice chilly day to wear it. On the feet, double soled shell cordovan longwings by Allen Edmonds. What else?

Given this suits late 1950s/early 1960s provenance, a narrow repp striped bow tie of similar vintage seemed the perfect choice. A soft rolling unlined button collar was also a given. Now usually I'm not one to go full blast vintage, preferring instead to mix older pieces with well made modern things, but in this case the combination picked itself.

All of it vintage,all of it made in USA, all of it Brooks Brothers. It's hard to argue with that.

p.s. there are some photos of what to expect from Eddigan's, a furniture consignment shop and Top Shelf rookie, over at the TSFM blog. Check it out.

Endless Tweed

Herringbone, houndstooth, glen check and tattersall. I've been stockpiling the heavy goods all Summer. Coming soon to Top Shelf Flea Market 6.

Save The Date! TSFM6 is Coming!

Sunday, 21st October 2012, Noon till 5 PM

George Dilboy VFW Post 529, 371 Summer Street

Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

Please "like" Top Shelf Flea Market on Facebook. It helps us get the word out.

Thank You

Top Shelf Flea Market V is officially in the books. Warmest thanks to each and every one of you who stopped by to take a look at what we put together. Here's to another great crowd.

p.s. for those of you who couldn't make it, look for a complete warm weather revamp of the online shop in the coming week.

Gone to Market

see you there!

Top Shelf Teaser

I apologize for my lack of time spent around these parts this week.  With Top Shelf Flea Market V fast approaching this coming Sunday, I've been in a constant swirl of prep work. Just to whet your appetite, here's a little teaser of what's in store for menswear this time out:

Summer sports coats in every shade of tan, seersucker and silk tweed. Cotton, poplin, vintage and not so vintage, you name it, I've got it. Plenty of old stuff from the Big Three: Brooks Brothers, J.Press, and Andover Shop.

A nice little group of jaunty, lightweight plaid pieces. The muted one, third from the left, is vintage 1960s Abercrombie & Fitch. The mini gingham beside it is also vintage, though it's single breasted, it does look suspiciously like that one from the J.Press x Cremieux collaboration a few years back.

And of course, too many ties to mention.

Not to be outdone, good friend Zach of Newton Street Vintage counters with his own group:

I've got my eye on the navy and gold number.

And it seems I'm not the only one who thinks that intricate broad printed paisley is due for a comeback.

He's got me beat with this fat stack of real bleeding madras shirts....

And these butcher striped shirts are a great bold touch with khakis and a navy blazer, no tie, no socks.

See you at the Flea!



Announcement

Top Shelf Flea Market III (the roster)

The roster for the upcoming third semi-annual Top Shelf Flea Market is now set. We've got a good crop of returning favorites, plus a nice handful of newcomers to welcome aboard. It is my distinct pleasure to announce them here.

Artifaktori Vintage

Amy and Amanda of the Artifaktori vintage shop were two of my earliest boosters in the original Top Shelf Flea. They were on hand the first time out, and are returning for a third time. A great source for the ladies among you to stock up on stunning vintage that you didn't even know you liked.

Newton Street Vintage

Our man Zach is also returning for a third round. Since the last Top Shelf in October. he has launched his online shop. Check it out for an example of what you might find at his booth. Friendly and sharp as a tack, he's a great source of sartorial knowledge, as well as a good place to look for the elusive un-darted, hooked vent jacket so many of us revere.

The Red Velvet Shoe

Michelle is as nice a lady as you're likely to meet, with an impeccable vintage style and a great eye for what you need. The best in ladies vintage, with plenty of household chochkies to boot.

Carmen and Ginger

I tend to think of Christine of Carmen and Ginger and Michelle as something of a tag team. Both hailing from the Providence area, I was pleasantly surprised when they contacted me first time out. Christine's got some funky stuff, but it's the coolest, and all top quality. Something for everyone at her booth for sure.

NimCo Vintage Housewares

Good friend Nimco was a Top Shelf original, though she took a pass last time out. We're glad to have her back. Rest assured, any of you would kill to have her decorate so much as a corner of your house. Vintage enamelled cast iron cookery and other kitchen goods are a specialty...she's got more that all of France and Sweden combined.

Swamp Rabbit Books

First editions? Signed copies? Out of print oddities you never thought you'd find? No sweat for our man James. Bookworms, bring your cash.

Gypsy

Ruth and her friends have a passion for fashion...on the cheap...and they just love to pop up at events such as these. Visit their booth for a wide array of ladies designer clothing at a fraction of a fraction of the cost.

A&J Outfitters

Alexi is a guy I know who used to work in the local bike shop. Jason runs the outdoorsy blog eggs & wool...and also holds court at the venerable Hilton's Tent City in Boston. Between the two of them, they've got a lot of bike stuff, and camping stuff, and cool stuff. Some of it old, some of it not, all of it worthy.

Fredricka

Muriel of Fredricka calls her collection "eclectic". I call it impressive. Beautiful things for your home from bygone eras. Her stuff is legitimately antique. "None of that new stuff from the 60s" as she says. Lamps and light fixtures, milk glass, kitchen wares, handmade toys....the list goes on and on.

Bobby from Boston

When Bobby opted in for the first Flea, I was aghast. When he came for round two, I was floored. When he wanted in as a regular...I patted myself on the back. Bobby is the stuff of legend in the world of vintage menswear. Visit his miniature museum, close your eyes, and buy whatever your hand falls on. You simply can't miss.

An Affordable Wardrobe

Of course, yours truly will be there. Remember, this whole Top Shelf Flea thing started as a cockamamie idea to sell my own crap. I'm humbled by your attendance in the past, and I look forward to seeing many of you again this time.

Top Shelf Flea Market III

Sunday 22 May 2011

Noon till 6 p.m.

George Dilboy V.F.W. Post 529

371 Summer Street

Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144