how did we not notice the ice cream RIGHT at the door ew slurpees

More LA recapping! A month late! Yeah!

So Sunday I went to the huge flea market with Suz and Rich from Weardrobe (sidenote: SO MANY awesome things in store in their cray heads. Seriously. They almost make me want to skip summer break ahead to September.) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and, dear God, was it amazing. Completely exhausting but so worth it. I have never seen so much crap in my life. But I live for crap! I love crap! Yay crap! So it was just the right place to get a sunburn and spend hours at. Also, wacky coincidence that a comment from a lovely reader was what prompted us to go and that the same girl recognized me in line for tickets (hiiii Emily, hiiiiiiiiiii)

a very enthused rich

pooey, too big

The friends my dad and I stayed with had been a good 30 or 40 times and told us which sections had the best selections and deals. We went to literally hundreds, football fields of stalls and got a good haul. They picked up stuff for the Weardrobe closet and themselves and I was mostly “OMG YOU GUYS THIS IS SO COMPLETELY USELESS AND POINTLESS I NEED IT.”

I went a good hour or so without finding anything at all, then once I got something I just sorta kept going...like all problems in this world, we can blame BARBIE. I saw this Skipper (her lil sis, duh) case from 1969, bought it for $8, then set off to find a dress with all the same colors from the case in it. Foun

d it, hyperventilated for a couple seconds or so about how awesome crazy it would be to wear them together, then put on a “what a piece of crap” face to negotiate the price down from $15 to 8, which still felt like a bit too much but it is really perfect).

time for a gogo girl summer

Also got: black crinoline, some pins, and some stuff for Laura and Kate.

Without turning this into a LET’S BE RECESSIONISTAS!!! TYRA SHOW ME HOW TO MAKE CLOTHES OUT OF DOG FOOD!! type thing, one thing I am completely glad to have been told before going to the Rose Bowl was how to negotiate. Some of the people are really weirdly intimidating but there’s really nothing to lose and every dollar counts, especially at a flea market. The c

rinoline was originally $5, which is not much compared to some online and store prices, but getting it down the 3 allowed me to get the pins. Keep a straight face and act like the seller is lucky enough to have you even considering buying a piece of their junk. When I was trying to get the price of the dress down, Suz jumped in and was all “Seriously, no one else here would buy this because it’s so small and would only really fit her,” so then I was all, “Yeah, we haven’t seen many kids here at all, kids aren't even PEOPLE,” etc. Which was partly true, though not entirely (Hi Annie!)

So all the crap was fun but being with Suz and Rich only made it mayyyyybe a billion times better. Then we were good little tourists and tried to find an ice cream place. We got slurpees instead and talked more about Weardrobe and blogs and fashn and etc etc. I don't think you understand how awesome these people are.

enjoy coke.

No comment necessary.

mustard hat!

silver peacock!

this little child was at one of the first booths we saw. as we made our way back to the entrance he was nakey.

ugh, there were SO many crinolines, i wanted all of them so as to fully emulate this.

so awesome

each one of these is worth 45 exclamation points

TOTAL GEM

hollaaaaa

i honestly would have bought these if they fit

reminds me of rocket power-era nickelodeon for some reason
reminds me of a bike for some reason

tiny tin 40's shoes, so cute!

After the bowl my dad and our friend and I visited my great aunt and her daughter, who had so many great stories about when she was hanging with Bruce Springsteen and Robert DeNiro, and Joni Mitchell, and when she met Bob Dylan. *glances at shrine in bedroom* LIFE IS UNFAIRRR

Til we meet again, you crazy cats!

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

FREAKINGGGG LOVE YOUR PAGE! KEEP ON POSTING, I GO ON YOUR PAGE WHILE ACTUALLY I SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE TEACHER IN CLASS HAHA. I'D BE HAPPY IF YOU TOOK A LOOK AT MY ART, I THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE IT. XX

Fannah said...

Okay, few comments. First, that Barbie, excuse me, SKIPPER case + dress combination is AMAZINGLY CRAZILY GENIUS, so is the dress on its own. Second, I love the pictures of the coke-sniffing coke lady and the portective underwear. (Did you buy such? You should have! ;) ) Third, I adore the peacock. Fourth, I need me a crinoline and another one and just a few more, to layer altogether and I know you could really pull that off.. Fifth, the binoculars are just.. no words. Sixth oh my lord those sunnies :D

Ashley said...

Tavi,you're awesome.

Caitlin said...

i love finding out surprisingly cool secrets about your family. like my gran used to be neighbours with laurence olivier... wtf??

xx

desertöse said...

I could look hours and hours at flea market pics. and yes, again, I totally envy you for this skipper case, because it's so useless and beautiful. only an alice in wonderland case from the 60's could top that, if something like that even exists...

laia. said...

i want to go to there.

no, really.

Isabel said...

Gahhh, this makes me want to go to the Rose Bowl pretty freakin' badly.

Stacy said...

looks like you had a ton of fun!! the peacock skirt was adorable and those funky sunglasses are awesome

http://fashionhandglide.blogspot.com

KNOCKOUT CLOTHING said...

Ya know... after 9 years of selling vintage on EBay I have yet to go to the Rosebowl for goods!

What would you say the price ranges are for say, 50s-80s stuff? Is thrift store cheap the norm? Or are most dealers trying to get top dollar?

I've actually considered selling AT the Rosebowl because EBay has become oversaturated w/ shady dealers, mama stone wanna be's, and aspiring dealers who frankly don't know their product. My sales have taken a BIG nosedive as a result, so I'm *trying* to find an alternative selling venue.

More than anything I'd love to find someone or some place in NYC or LA to link up with! I'm sick of selling amazing pieces for next to nothing!

Holla when you can : ).

xoxo, SarahJayne @ Knockout Vintage Clothing

Anonymous said...

AAAH I am dying – film cameras, vintage sunglasses, 70's patches.. AAAAHH.

Rocket Power.. old times.

sd said...

so yeah...i need to attend a flea market right now haha

Emma said...

gahhh the crinolines!
Flea markets are defs where its at
coolio postio! xo

Chelsea said...

This looks like a really good version of a market I visited on holiday. I need more rummaging! and that mirror.

Lara said...

ahhh...this looks so cool. why oh why don't i live anywhere near california??!!! The closest thing i have here in an auction but its mostly expensive vintage stuff...

Allegra said...

My little brother picked up those shoes you liked in an urban store in atlanta. HE looks super fly in them.

Lucy said...

That seems a really funny shopping destination!
Lucy =)

Emily said...

oh heyyyyy rose bowl is this sunday again.. come back!

-Emily

px said...

Hah, I have that prune juice patch! It was a rummage sale find, I wonder how many of those are floating around in the world.

Ashley said...

Your blog is by far the most entertaining I read.. love!!!!!!

http://fashionroadkill-halifax.blogspot.com

Emilie said...

So basically, this girl from my school is related to Robert DeNiro, and she threw a graduation party, and though I am not a senior I ended up going to said party, and Robert DeNiro was kind of THERE and I kind of STARED AT HIM CREEPILY...it was great. My friend berated me for about half an hour for not ensuring that I shook his hand but I feel like he probs didn't want to be harassed.

Gabby said...

those sunglasses are the spinning image of otto rocket's windblown hair. this now concludes the only time i will probably ever use "otto rocket's windblown hair" in a sentence.

Emma said...

those tutus are fantastic :]

Katy said...

Wow, it sounds like you had an amazing time, I'm so jealous! Though I have to say instead of writing an actual sentence here I was just contemplating writing "ME WANT SILVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Simply Me said...

oh my god, i started hyper ventilating at the site of that table full of cameras. i would have fainted if i had seen that. i collect cameras and those look absolutely beautiful.

NorwegianWood said...

Flea Markets are pretty much my absolute fave summer activity, and cali ones are the best, for sure. This post reminded me of this ridiculously small paisley dress i thrifted a while ago....I think it needs to travel in your direction...we'll talk ;)

bobb said...

Wow the flea market and what you found there are just great. The Skipper case, the dress , the table with all the cameras, and the weird combination of items that people sell. My heart pounds when I see all that great stuff, and I wonder what else was there.

I miss good flea markets. I used to get up at 5 on Sunday mornings to look for records at one that's long gone. I regret never having been able to go the the legendary record flea market at the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. A friend told me that people got there so early that most of the trading and selling went on well before dawn.

It's great you got to hear all those stories about Dylan and everyone else.

Anonymous said...

I'm drooling over all those cameras!

Lisa said...

Oh my gosh! I live in LA, how did I not know about this amazing flea market!? Looks so awesome!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that looks amazing. I love all of it. The crinolines look amazing, and I'm pretty sure I played with vintage barbies out of a skipper case like that when I used to visit my grandma. It's funny, the pentax camera in the front of one of your pictures is the exact same one that my dad used during the '80s and has now given to me :)

Emily said...

hahaaaa I just clicked on that 2nd picture, and here's for some more freaky deaky coincidences: i'm in the picture. on the left. stop following me

-emily

TheShoeGirl said...

So awesome!! Looks like you had so much fun! :)

Soren Lorensen said...

all of the stuff is totally mind-blowingly supermega craptastic

but the thing i'm most jealous of is the person who met Joni.

parasites that dwell in you said...

what a wicked place to be :D

Ash Rose said...

I want those tutus!

Also, I was trying to think of what your new hair reminded me of...then I remembered! This girl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qg2pD8Yb3o

I bet like $5 you'll look just like her when you grow up. Well, if you keep getting the same haircut, I guess.

Alicia said...

crinolines are the shit, and you can easily dip-dye them.
QUICK TAVI, OMBRE CRINOLINE.
Make it happen.

p.s. if you learn how to sew, NOTHING will ever be too big :)

Anonymous said...

I just know I would have bought ever pair of sunglasses on that table. Really awesome. And people who met Joni Mitchell really make me upset with my life. Not fair.

-Hannah

Anonymous said...

oh my god, i had that skipper case! and i was so mad at my mom because she found that at a garage sale, and i wanted a NEW barbie case, not something from 10 years ago (back in 1981). man, i was such a brat. it looks awesome now.

whateveryouwantittosay said...

DUUUUUUUUDE! I had that "prune juice sets you free" patch in high school. Found it at an antique shop, rocked it on my backpack along with my anti-flag and diecast patches. hahaha

Unknown said...

Your Bat Mitzvah dress, is beautiful, and so are your new glasses...
I am 28 and reading your blog makes me smile.

Unknown said...

I hope i am wrong but, i just tried to buy one of your t-shirts, but they only send it to the UK? i am all the way down here in Brazil..i would love to wear you tee...how do i make this work? HELP?

Tavi said...

knockout clothing-It varied and mostly depended on the booth's location. Some were trying to sell dresses for $30, others for 5-know what I mean? Maybe sell on eBay and flea markets?

Emilie-JEALZ

Emily Rose-Cray. Mind officially blown.

Bobb-I wish I could've gone to that too!

Jennine-Best coincidence..ever? I am sure you were not the only kid who wanted brand new toys...points at self..

LUI-Shipping is worldwide!

Kat said...

That gogo girl dress and I are running away together, and we are going to have many brightly-colored seizure-inducing babies together, and you can be their godmother and pinch their cheeks and feed them ham and give them ugly scarves. Only you never have bad taste in anything so that might be tricky.

Anyway there's a special post on my blog that I made with you in mind, as a kind of you're awesome/late bat mitzvah gift.

WendyB said...

This looks like it was so much fun. Love all the brightly colored crinolines.

Lucky Sharm said...

Come to Paris cherie, the Rose Bowl is ok but you can purchase the facade of a bloody building or the underwear Napoleon was wearing when he invaded Egypte. N'importe quoi! Oh the dresses, the shoes, the multitude of fabulous CRAP. 'tis vraiment incroyable! Allez, au Clingancourt!

Most of all, it is in France. Best place EVER! No one lives/eats/breathes la mode like parisians. Yes, even the straight men.

Love your writing, makes me laugh and gives me hope for the future.

Nancy Magoo said...

Jealous!

Although next week I will be going on the hunt at the Paddington markets in Sydney! Eee!

BABYDIABOLICAL said...

http://pict.com/view/802776/0/tav

I made an animated gif of you "rollin wit da homies" but I can only post as a link.
BABYD
p.s. interesting side note as I was typing that my s key stuck and I wrote " I can only post assssss"

Julia said...

This looks like such a great flea market. I wish we had better ones in Calgary!

Michelle Park said...

Duuuude, you were in Pasadena?? I thought that you lived far far away. Where are you from? I just went to the Pasadena City College flea market, it was alright but definitely not enough clothes.

I have a new blog and shop. check it, fool.

MonochromaticFacets.blogspot.com

Julie said...

how is it possible that i just came across your blog last week?!!!
girl, you're the fuckin shit!!!
keep it going, youre going somewhere for sure.
anyway, i sent my brother, a fashion designer, your blog link. and he apparently has been peeping your blog for a year. he needs to adopt you. he told me if i've seen the photos when you came to pasadena and i just found them. i grew up and still currently reside in pasadena, ca. i hope you enjoyed your time here! :]
i'm only 21, and just barely becoming interested in fashion. i know "how is that possible if your brother is a fashion designer" but its true, and your blog just set off the last spark i needed to become excited and more interested. thank you. :]

Julie said...

how is it possible that i just came across your blog last week?!!!
girl, you're the fuckin shit!!!
keep it going, youre going somewhere for sure.
anyway, i sent my brother, a fashion designer, your blog link. and he apparently has been peeping your blog for a year. he needs to adopt you. he told me if i've seen the photos when you came to pasadena and i just found them. i grew up and still currently reside in pasadena, ca. i hope you enjoyed your time here! :]
i'm only 21, and just barely becoming interested in fashion. i know "how is that possible if your brother is a fashion designer" but its true, and your blog just set off the last spark i needed to become excited and more interested. thank you. :]

Anonymous said...

omfg hyperventilating about all of those sunglasses theyre too cool.

Anonymous said...

omfg hyperventilating about all of those sunglasses theyre too cool.