small shop links

I try to shop small or secondhand whenever possible - there are so many fantastic options! Here are a ton of my favourites: 

Here is a link to my curated Etsy lists! I have tons of great stuff by small shops and makers (handmade and vintage) curated by type. It's got great gift ideas and tons of fun stuff to treat yourself to as well. Click away! 

My fave ways to shop for secondhand clothes online: 

Poshmark,  Depop, and Ebay are my favorite places to shop for secondhand clothing (Etsy can be good too!). I recommend: 

- Knowing which brands you like so you can specify on your search! Much better to search 'Madewell jeans size eight' than jeans size eight - it refines your search terms and gives you a better idea of the quality of what you're getting. 

- Being uberspecific about what you want - 'rainbow stripe long sleeved shirt' will return way better results than 'striped shirt'

- Whem searching vintage, learn key terms so you can find exactly what you want, product and fit descriptions like 'depression glass bowl' or 'mod dress' return better results than 'vintage bowl' or '60s dress'

My fave small shops:

Bug Bud Press is the best for 70s inspired clothes in bright colors, handmade in California. Owned by an artist couple who designs all their products.

Dazey LA  has unbelievably cute clothing - also made in LA! Bright colors and vintage inspired. Women owned and operated by a cool artist who hand draws their designs. 

Opus and Tog makes simple handmade clothing for children and small adults (lol). Easy to customize and all handmade by the shop owner. 

Lucy and Yak has the BEST overalls and pinafore dresses, in addition to cute t shirts and other designs. Forever obsessed.

Miracle Eye is a great place for cute midcentury and 70s inspired designs. 

Daily Disco does incredible chain stitch embroidery on custom objects - jean jackets, masks, hats. All so gorgeous. 

Rachel Castle makes the dreamiest art and the softest looking tees and sweatshirts I've ever seen. 

Vally Cruise Press is the cutest knicknack shop for cute objects - cozy blankets, fun keychains, and the best gift ideas. 

Greenwich Letterpress has handmade cards and a fantastic selection of cute gifts and fun little things, curated with love in New York.

Lolo NYC is a store with cute curated objects (it has a coffee side too!). Check it out for all the best gift ideas.

Here are all my favorite DC shops! Most have online stores too: 

Little Leaf has cards, plants, and the best gift ideas. I always buy my friends birthday and Christmas cards here. If you're in DC, go visit! It's right off 14th street, near Trader Joe's. 

Joint Custody  is a fantastic store for records and vintage. I am obsessed with this store. Fantastic music and vintage selection. 

Smash Records has a great selection of records, vintage, jewelry, shoes, CDs, and so on! One of the last vestiges of the DC punk scene. 

Meeps Vintage is a forever favorite for me. Fantastic vintage selection curated by some really cool people. Their sales rack is absolutely phenominal as well - everything is ten dollars or under. 

Songbyrd  has the best cafe and great live music, AND their record selection is absolutely phenominal! It's a great place for newer released.  

Miss Pixies is a fantastic vintage store on 14th street in DC (down by Whitman Walker if you know the area!). It has a fantastic selection of furniture and dishes as well as lots of fun things (cards, vintage postcards and matchbooks, records, books, etc). Such a dreamy space. 

Goodwood is a store for vintage and curated local goods. It's so cute and has tons of fun things. Great furniture, cute soaps etc, cute curated clothing selection. And great incense! 

The Brookland Arts Walk is a collection of artist's studios where the makers sell their goods. It's an AMAZING space for handmade and vintage, a goldmine for local DC treasures. The studios are each open on their own schedule, but all studios are open at the same time during specific events (listed on their website). 

Similarly to the arts walk is Glen Echo Park, a Maryland state park that is busable from DC. Glen Echo Park is an abandoned amusement park that was taken over by the National Parks Service. Now, all of them former park buildings have been converted into artist's studios. It's the coolest spot. 

Shop Made in DC  is great for a curated selection of stuff by DC makers! I can't recommend it enough. They have great storefronts and fantastic online shopping!