Toni's Vintage Trips: All Things Vintage (Oakland, CA)

When I visited Vintage a la Mode in San Francisco a few weeks ago, I found out about a fabulous vintage store in Oakland called All Things Vintage. I was told that it was the ultimate vintage store. I had to check it out for myself. According to their website, the store is a hobby and a labor of love for 2 long-time friends, Lucy, a middle school teacher and Claudia who owns a design business. They started out shopping at garage sales and flea markets and then, a few years ago, became sellers at the Alameda Antique Fair. At some point, they had so much inventory of clothes, shoes, purses and jewelry, they took it one step further and opened a store at their current location in Oakland. The store is only open every other weekend and is very popular with the locals as well as vintage clothes shoppers in the Bay Area. It is a small house/store crammed full of the most exquisite dresses, hats, shoes ,jewelry, purses and the list goes on an on.

Everything in the store is exclusively vintage and even though they do consignment, you will find very few contemporary clothes there. They get a lot of clothes from estate sales, such as sweet sixteen dresses from the 1950's, lacy gowns, fur coats and even a gown worn by film legend Bette Davis. The store is a clothing museum, but happily, everything is for sale. Prices are very reasonable and they regularly have sales. There is a large clearance area in front of the store. If you want to visit All Things Vintage, go to their website to checkout the weekends they are open. I know, I will be going back to shop!