I have to admit, Atlanta has not been my favorite place to visit in the past. Only about two and a half hours away from my school, Atlanta seems like the perfect destination to a short weekends trip. The first few times I visited, I felt really lost because I just didn't know where to go for good shopping and eating. The last couple of visits, I found myself really enjoying the city because of the little gems that I finally discovered. Take a look at a few of the vintage pieces I scored as well as some of my food and drink recommendations.
The Clothing Warehouse is one of my new favorite spots for vintage. I went there twice and have bought so many things there that I haven't even gotten the chance to shoot all of the pieces. The first time I went with my mom and we had a blast trying on dresses for their BOGO free dress sale. I bought a 90's floral maxi with shoulder pads, a 50's inspired LBD, a sequin tank, and a black gothic-ish blouse with sheer sleeves (all pictured below). My mom was in the party mood, so she decided on all sequin items including a long-sleeve blouse and a shift dress. This store has so much inventory their organizations makes the search a whole lot easier. Their specialty is vintage tees, leather jackets, and the most colorful array of dresses from waist-defining 50's to disco 70's to the flamboyant 80's floral and ruffles. The store is located in a hip neighborhood called "Little Five Points" which features a variety of grungy yet fun shops. Next to The Clothing Warehouse, I'd recommend a stop at Little Five Points Pizza, even for the gluten-free bitches like me.
Another cute little shop is Collect on Sunday. The store features a variety of minimalist pieces from name brand labels mostly from the 90's, unique accessories and the occasional designer label. I snagged a vintage bronze chain belt decorated with suns. Any other recommendations about what else to wear it with??
Also take a peek at their next door neighbor, Highland Row Antiques. It surprisingly has a large basement with mostly furniture and decor but also a small section of clothing.
I always like to find a good thrift store whenever I am visiting a big city. More people equals a greater chance of finding better treasures. In Atlanta, I only stopped at Lost-n-Found Thrift as we were heading out of town. Like any of the good thrift stores, this is a place where you really have to take the time to look. Here, I bought a vintage navy sailor-inspired dress, a vintage mint green Armani blazer (both pictured below), and a XL men's Versace blazer. I could have also scored a couple pairs of Ferragamo pumps for around $12 each, but I have big feet and vintage shoes will never fit me.
It's not a weekend stop in Atlanta without visiting Paris on Ponce and Ponce City Market. Paris on Ponce is a flea market type vintage store with 46,000 square feet of vendor space. Last time I went there, I bought a vintage cobalt YSL blazer (pictured below). Make sure to slip in the "Maison Rouge", a rental room for special events, for a nice surprise. Just around the corner pick up a coffee at 8 Arm and then head back up to the high line walkway over to Ponce City Market. There are more stores like Anthropologie and Lululemon and a huge market with any type of food you can imagine. On the stairway of the market, I snapped that last picture in my denim dress wearing the micro sunglasses my boyfriend lovessss (he doesn't).
Now for the fun part... where to eat and drink! I'm probably the most picky person about picking coffee shops and restaurants because I like enjoying a cool atmosphere and quality food. For brunch and coffee I love Parish and Petit Chou. For dinner and drinks, definitely visit The Golden Eagle. It's in an odd place, but once inside, the atmosphere can't be beat. They will probably tell you the wait is long but I promise it won't be as long as they say. Put your name in, squeeze into the bar, or just awkwardly hover around it, and grab a drink while wait. Get a cocktail over wine because craft cocktails are their specialty. I like the Flannel Blazer but any drink on the menu is amazing. If you are in a group of two, the mouth-watering brick chicken is a lot larger than expected and a good deal for the price and quality. Other honorable mentions are the duck and the side dish of carrots. This is honestly one of my all-time favorite restaurants so make it a go-to if you are in Atlanta. It's the perfect upscale yet casual-cool lounge.
My outfit for date night to Golden Eagle.