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Overstock Shop – Finally Remastered
I am often asked, "What are these Overstock Drops, and what do they mean?" I understand that my creative lifestyle can sometimes be difficult to grasp, and despite my efforts to communicate clearly, I recognize that my passionate outpouring of information may not...
The Beauty of Things that Already Exist
VOGUE - FASHION The Beauty of Things That Already Exist Il bello delle cose che esistono già We find out together with Gina Pagnella, an expert in vintage who has always been divided between the United States and Italy BY CARLOTTA CENTONZE PHOTOS BY LUCIA BURICELLI...
Story Behind the Aiglon Lookbook: An ode to nightlife
The story behind the Aiglon lookbook - Winter 2021 Photography - Nikka DImrioci Makeup - Barbara Devoti Styling and wardrobe - Gina Pagnella Aiglon Cafe' - Piacenza - Italy An ode to the drama of nightlife, sparkle, glitz, bubbles and above all,...
Outta the Hatch
A very significant part of being quarantined in Italy was, strangely, missing Italy. I recognized the prominent emotion that kept bubbling up, it was that feeling of yearning for Italy; the bee bop, the bull-shitting with strangers, the time-consuming rituals, the...
The Pursuit of Personal Vintage
This year for me has been the year of picking private collections. Italians have opened up their homes, their closets and their past to me for a number of different reasons. Some want to make a little extra cash, some need help at a time of loss and some just want to...
La Serenissima
Nearly four years after the first time I set off to Venice with my new passion project Modern Thrifter, we returned to this divinely beguiling city with one more year under our belt and reason to celebrate. The second time around we were greeted again with a magical...
Local Loop
As per the norm after a long glorious year of stalking vintage in Italy, I was biting at the bit to source form my local "loop" opshops that I have been obsessively hunting in since I got a drivers license and inherited my old lipstick-red Volvo in 1999. This...
Voglia d’Estate
Sorry, not sorry but "desire for summer" just sounds better in Italian. This has been the longest winter, so summer is all I can think about. And the fact that my job requires me to make sure that vintage shops have their perfectly curated summer threads timed with...
How the Rise of Vintage Turned my Life into my Livelihood
Today I am sharing an article I wrote for Mattlumine a Cultural Trends magazine in Milan. It was beautifully translated into Italian but I want share my original English version for all of you who don't speak this beautiful language! What is vintage?...
Valentines Vibes with Candied Hearts
This Candied Hearts 2017 photo shoot was styled by my dear client Moth Oddities, a great team that exudes creative excellence. Enjoy those sugary Valentine’s Day vibes from this photo shoot featuring two of my loves: The Italian sherbet skirt and the San Francisco...
TGI-FENDI
Autumn showers bring Fendi flowers. I left early for a night out in the lovely Ligurian town of Chiavari with my friend and long-time collaborator Michele. If you know me, you’ll know that I am on the hunt every time I board a train. The fact that it was not market...
#MTWant Starring Rocco
In a world full of hashtags, what the h--- does #MTWant mean?! #MTWant is a hashtag I created, thanks to input from my collaborators at Moth Oddities, to help my clients discover what pieces are still for sale in the "Virtual Closet". Sometimes, I can’t believe that...
Italian Vintage in Pieceology’s Cozy Creek
So, as you already know, I buy vintage for curated vintage shops. I source the majority of my clothing, accessories, and objects year-round in Italy, and I also do some vintage hunting when I visit California. Over the years, Pieceology Vintage, a client and friend,...
A Peek at My Parisian Finds
So if you followed my invigorating buying trip in Paris via IG or FB you already know how hyped I am about what I got and how I got it. In all honesty, I was nervous to do my thing in the iconic City of Light, land of antiques and coolness. I mean, I am totally used...
On the streets of New York Fashion Week ’17
As I was trying to live the style of New York vicariously through the internet from my little Italian seaside home I was so stoked to see that I was there in spirit through my vintage treasures. While perusing the almighty Manrepeller article Best of NYFW Street Style...
Thrift Gods Do Exist
This Sunday I set off for a new market, a new adventure. I really need new turf because I had cleaned my trail of highly requested religious medals and I needed some stat! In this line of work you can't just order more or go the store and but some new stock you have...
A Little Vintage Exercise
Sunday is always a good market day. This particular Sunday I did not have two or three markets planned like usual, but I did have something in mind. Since it was quite far form my new place I set out via jogging to get there fast and see what I was working...
Indian Summer -Fall 2016
Indian Summer celebrates that amazing time in Italy that we call September where the sun graces us like summer, but the mood is settling into comfy autumn. It is unique, lively and the beautiful weather gives you the freedom to dress however you would like. Here are...
Oldest Antique Market in Firenze Uprooted
As I have mentioned before, it is quite a miracle to be in the right place at the right time for killer vintage markets in Italy. I manage because it is all I do, but for those of you just visiting Italy it is sometimes impossible. Since I have earned the name as...
Newsflash: My fave summer market is year round
So you may remember my gushy article about my favorite Ligurian summer market that pops up in August when other markets are on hiatus. I waited all year for it. No need this year! Throughout the winter I saw that this market was happening more frequently this year....
Finding Topolino
It all started with a beautiful ticket to a beautiful train. I had a tip that this market was a good one. I have found that it is typical in Northern Italy for markets to happen twice a week like Wednesday and Saturday or Tuesday and Saturday etc... I love this...
Runaway – Summer 2016
When in constant motion of collecting, cleaning, and selling, sometimes I just have to stop, appreciate and capture the beauty of what I have thrifted in this bountiful country. I took advantage of having the avid modern thrifter and talented woman Nina...
Venezia: Land of the Amazing Church Shops
I really did not know what to expect thrift-wise when I got to Venice. My Italian girlfriend-turned-sister who has been by my side throughout all my years in Italy lives in the center of this beautiful city and mapped out every possible spot for me to get elbow deep...
Cinque Terre Thrift
My morning in Levanto was packed as usual not your typical dolce vita fare niente over here ( you can't not hear my sarcasm, right?). I had a great morning collecting sea glass and speaking English with my little buddy Edo. Next on the list was visit girlfriend who...
Storie in Italy Jewelry
For many years I manned a gallery (aka my workshop) and instead of a 9-5 it is an more like a 10ish to 7ish leaving Sunday for vintage picking at markets! I work with a dynamic duo made up of a fellow Californian Michele and Italian artist Antonio, and with a local...
Seasonal Style
So when you think markets and thrifting you probably don't think that the clothing changes with the seasons like it does in stores. Think again! The Italian interpretation of what you should wear and when you should wear it is rigid and transcends even into markets...
Modern Thrifter in the … New World!
I know it is not so "old world" of me to be tearing up thrift stores stateside, but as I enjoy the holidays with my family I cannot help but work, play and thrift. So while working with Pieceology Vintage I decided to show off for owner April and take her on my long...
Modern Thrifter Comes to Life: Pieceology pop-up shop Austin
Modern Thrifter in the Old World met Pieceology one serendipitous Italian summer in the Cinque Terre and things have never been the same since. Austin, Texas needed Italian vintage and Monterosso, Italy was overflowing with it. Here is a selection of my handpicked...
The Summertime Soffita
This market, unlike others, takes place 2 weeks in August when most of the country is on vacation and my markets are on hiatus. I have been going to for years that takes that takes place in a gorgeous little city. Vendors are tucked in every quaint nook and cranny,...
Thrift Envy
If it as happened to you, you know exactly what I am taking about. There is a strange emotion that comes with being a true thrifter. We are torn...do we share, do we invite someone to the market with us? I suggest you do spread the wealth and if you are unsure invite...
Popcorn Garage Market Milano
CasciNet's Popcorn Garage Market. Imagine this: an ancient peaceful farmhouse-right out of a movie about Americans escaping their dreary lives and moving to heartfelt Italy- just thirty minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of Milan. The initial...
My Favorite Finds: Relics of the Paninari
It is a secret to no one, I love the 80's. I loved the tail end that I got to grow up in and kept elements alive in what I wore, under the scrutiny of my peers, until it came back in to style in the early 2000's. What I loved most about 80's style was the complete...
Summertime in the “City”
I have no excuse for my blogging absence . . . oh wait, I do! It was the middle of August in Italy where Italians shut down and socialize in the sun for two weeks! So I will pretend I was doing that. After an illuminating workshop with creative peeps in...
Keep Your Wingwomen Close and Vintage Closer
As I walked up from the underground stop I could hear the pitter-patter of curious feet and walked right into the market. There were vendors shooting off from every surrounding street. I really just scratched the surface, both due to the heat and my desire not to...
Antique Market Social Club
My relationships with my vendors at this amazing antique market grew along side my business grew and they have always remained my firsts; my nearest and dearest. And the best part at this lively antique market they keep the good stuff concealed until they see me pass...
Rummage Hard but Never Forget to Look Up
I have been going to this market in this small elegant Ligurian city for years and the great selection at the market reflects this city's reputation for being the place to shop. This riverea town is a harmonious mix of Italian village and city. The city is known by...
Sunday Surprise
As I have mentioned before it is a science to figure out what markets are where and when, markets are scheduled on a certain dates and times and some markets feel like just pop up out of nowhere. They are the best ones because they are like a diamond in the rough. An...
Taste of a Street Market in the Fashion Capital
Milan is littered with these vibrant markets that happen all throughout the week. There are so many different vendors, all with ranging prices, and glorious treasures to be found in their many stalls. No words can explain what Milan has to offer when it comes to...
Never Underestimate the Presence of Dead Stock
I remember the moment I discovered the existence of dead stock or pieces of clothing that have been tucked away for years and then resurface with their original packing, boxes or tags. I learned of this vintage hunter's dream at a garage sale on a very mossy street...
Thrifting my Way Back to my Tuscan Roots
I know I promised not to be sappy, but a little family history will make this story that much more special. My grandmother, Nonna, as everyone appropriately called her, grew up in Livorno, Italy. She loved it, she missed it. She talked about it all the time....
Every Serious Thrifter Needs a Trusty Calzolaio
Being a rescuer of clothing and footwear from past generations also comes with the obligations and responsibility of restoration. This means that you need to get yourself a good cobbler. In Italy these small un-publicized bottegas are quite common and I blush...
Vintage in the Rough
Since I blabbed your ear off last post I will keep this one short and sweet and very visual, promise. As small Italian cities grow and diversify the presence of more and more second-hand vendors form all over the world have started to become more often tan not! These...
Happy Birthday Modern Thrifter in the Old World!
Perfect timing! My birthday falls on an uncertain and exciting time of year when things are changing winter on its way out and spring is moving in, one day its warm and the next it is cold, winter projects get wrapped up and the spring swing begins. So here I...