Springtime in November at the Alameda Flea Market

What a day it was yesterday to go to the Alameda Flea Market.  It’s November, but in the 70’s in the Bay Area, so it was the perfect day to walk around in summer clothes and photograph beautiful vintage clothes.  As I said before, the time to get there is 9:00 a.m. in order to get into the flea market for only $5 and to see everything without rushing.  The place is huge and it takes at least 3 hours (not counting eating lunch) to see everything.  This time, I did not take my own advise and got there at 11:30 and the parking lot was full.  I luckily found a parking space and then took the (air conditioned) shuttle to to the entrance.

My usual method for tackling the size of this flea market is to walk to the back and then zigzag through the many rows.  This time I took another route and started with the first row and worked my way back.  My first stop was at a stall that had 2 large tables of designer purses piled on top of each other.  Digging through the piles, I found a black leather Louis Vuitton purse for $30.  I’m not 100% sure that it is authentic, but it is beautiful and I’m giving it to Mama Fran for Christmas.

Then I strolled through the flea market row-by-row, photographing everything that took my fancy.  I wanted my readers to get the feel of the place, so hopefully I was successful.  I’m amazed how well the photographs came out considering the amount of sun and glare that was everywhere.  The flea market was as fun and festive as ever and getting into the holiday spirit.  There were a lot of vendors selling Christmas ornaments, etc.  By the next one (first Sunday in December), it will be in full swing.

I met some really nice vendors that I want to mention, including Maria Crooms who had an excellent collection of hats and vintage purses.  She is on Facebook, so check her out.  I also met Debra Rose who also sells vintage purses and Julie and John Vintage who had some fabulous vintage jewelry.  I finally want to mention Kate Dohn, owner of Story Teller Vintage (www.storytellersvintage.etsy.com, storytellersvintage@gmail.com) and  Tracy, owner of Roads Less Travelled Vintage (www.etsy.com/shop/roadslesstraveled2) .  Both of these vendors combine their collections of clothes, purses and shoes that span the 1930’s to the 1990’s.   Their clothes and accessories are both interesting and beautiful.  Please check out both Kate and Tracy on etsy.

The next Alameda Flea Market is Sunday December 2nd, so try to make it and have fun shopping! 

 Louis Vuitton champagne bag

 Venders & shoppers

 Walking the flea market

 Floral embroidered purse Maria Crooms

 Pink & white beaded purse Maria Crooms

 Gorgeous gold & turquoise (Chinese) vintage purse Maria Crooms

Black sexy, strapless dress with faux fur collar

 Gold purse and jewelry from Maria Crooms

Vendor Maria Crooms

 Louis Vuitton purses

 Fun jewelry to pick through

 Piles of designer purses

 Fran's Louis Vuitton purse ($30) found in the above pile

 Flea market shoppers

Mens' Dept.

 Mink stole and holiday wreath

 Neon flashy jacket

 How cute is this?

 Shoppers with white Port of Oakland cranes in the background

 View of San Francisco in the background

 Vintage purse heaven from Debra Rose

 Vintage purse heaven from Debra Rose

 Vintage purse heaven from Debra Rose

 Black cashmere sweater and velvet pumps

Vender Debra Rose

 Vintage purses from Debra Rose

 Unusual black patten leather purse rom Debra Rose

 Fur coat & home accessories

 Sherlock Holmes wool overcoat

 Black velvet cloak with faux fur trim

 Salvaged Glamour

 Purses & shoppers

 Leopard print swing coat

 Original jewelry

 Vendors John & Julie Vintage

 Renoir & Marc Jacobs

 Purses, purses & more purses

 Short black velvet jacket over white blouse

 Hot black riding boots

 Brown 1940's fitted suit for the office

Fantasy wedding dress

 Double breasted jacket with mink collar

 Vintage I.Magnin jacket

 Such cute shoes - can't decide which pair I like better

 Cip-on earrings

 1930's lace-up heels by Ombeline

 Silver leather woven purse

 Story Teller Vintage & Roads Less Travelled Vintage (1930-s - 1990's)

 Story Teller Vintage & Roads Less Travelled Vintage

 Vendors Tracy & Kate of Story Teller Vintage & Roads Less Travelled Vintage

Vintages shoes from Story Teller Vintage & Roads Less Travelled Vintage

Vintages shoes from Story Teller Vintage & Roads Less Travelled Vintage 

 1960's pink prom dress & school girl outfit

 Little black dress & matching cowgirl shirt

 Hot pink suit

 Lime green gown

 Black feather fan

 Gender bender leather jacket

 Military chic

 Mannequin with an attitude

 The Elvis Center

 Fringed vest 

 Miles of vintage clothes

 Black faux fur evening jacket

 Colorful briefcases

 Vintage Coach shoulder bag

 Grandma's pink dressing gown

 Straw purse with shells

 Small embroidered purses

The hint of things to come