LONG DAYS-

Today we’re back at Brimfield, Massachusetts for the Brimfield Antique fair for a vintage buying and inspiration trip.

Somehow every time we come here we are met by a fierce storm and three feet of mud to troop through in every field.

This is the first Brimfield fair of 2012, and probably the best for the year. All the vendors have been out buying for the entire winter waiting for us to come and pick through all their best treasures.

We’re starting to become veterans here. People recognize us, many even keeping aside special items that they brought along specifically for us.

Besides buying for our stores and ourselves personally, we also keep a sharp eye out for visual reference and inspiration. Many times we pull reference for how vendors display and merchandise goods, and also look out for any interesting graphic inspiration.

2 gigabytes worth of things I regret not buying.

Like this. Too steep to keep.

We rock these shows. Ten football fields worth of junk that we sift through, organize, pick from, negotiate, buy, transport, repair, and clean to make our shops the best stores in the world.

Filed under visual reference/merchandising ideas. Next month I’ll show you where this ended up guiding our look.

Ran into BoweryBob who was walking the show doing some buying for himself. Should have gotten a close-up on his hat which was an awesome plastic map of the United States. Looking at his outfit you won’t be surprised to know that Bob was one of the original founding owners of the now defunct PegLegNYC clothing company.

Everything about this picture.

Look at this cool guy. Price is wearing a Reason Static Beanie, A Reason Union Made Hooded Sweatshirt, and a Reason Waxed Cotton Hunting Jacket.

We don’t need no stinkin’ stickers. Fact of the matter is that we’re awesome and get the best deals here because people don’t expect us to be here buying for a brand or a store. Most vendors actually give us the ultimate hookup because they think we’re just some kids who don’t know what we’re doing.

If you didn’t see the grass and mud poking through through the ground, this photo could have easily been taken in the lobby of a five star hotel.

Inspired.

You know how we feel about letters. And how I feel about taking pictures like this.

Again.

His name was Daffy. And despite our best attempts, he is not for sale.