Toni's Vintage Trips: October 2013

I'm always looking to find new vintage stores to visit and discover. But lately, I have wanted to revisit some of my favorite stores that I discovered this year. The Rockridge and Piedmont neighborhoods of Oakland have some very interesting small stores that are frequented by locals, but are easily accessible to anyone visiting the Bay Area. These stores have contemporary designer clothes as well as vintage and there are many good restaurants to stop in for lunch breaks.

My first stop was near my home in Berkeley. Labels (on Ashby Avenue near College Avenue) is a high-end designer consignment store that has shoes, purses, scarves, hats and jewelry. I love their shoe section on the second floor. The prices are very reasonable for used designer shoes and there is even a $20 marked down section.

After seeing so much eye candy at Labels, I got back in the car and drove down College Avenue to Pretty Penny in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. This is the small, ultimate vintage clothing store. A favorite among locals, it was crowded with shoppers. The music playing is rockabilly, which has a great beat to shop by. Pretty Penny also has an upstairs shoe section, with almost exclusively vintage shoes and purses.

From College Avenue, I drove to the Piedmont area of Oakland, which is another fun shopping area with small boutiques, restaurants and emerging vintage stores. Three of my favorite stores here are Mercy Vintage Now, Resurrect and Rare Bird. These stores have only been operating for a few years, but are very popular. In Resurrect, I bought a vintage jean jacket for my friend Summerlea's toddler, Bram. Can't wait to see him in it. Enjoy the photos!

LABELS

2629 Ashby Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94705

(510) 356-4144

labelsluxury.com