Why I Like Vintage Things

I like to shop. Most women do. It's fun to go with friends to a mall or to a hip city street lined with specialty shops.

But I rarely do it anymore. In my twenties I moved around for my job in television so I found myself living alone in new town a few times. To keep occupied, I went shopping. Clothes, home decorating items, and probably lots of things I didn't really need filled my bags.

Now that I am getting older I still like to shop, but I've tried to curb the desire, which is waning.

One particular reason shopping has become less desirable is my love for vintage things. I am fascinated by the history behind them. Now one could say I am still shopping, but just bringing home previously owned items. I suppose this is true. But, I resell a lot of what I buy, and only enjoy them for brief periods of time. This makes it fun and there is always some "new" eye candy to enjoy.

The other reason I am not as crazy about shopping for new items is because it seems like everything is made in China.

Please understand I know there are hard working people in China putting together these items we buy, but there is also this thought:

If I go to an upscale store and notice the items are made in China and not of good quality and then head to a discount chain and see the items are also marked Made in China, why should I pay the higher price? To me the "Made in China" tag has lowered the value of the item.

For example, I love the artistic look of Mackenzie Childs items. I always wanted to own something from their catalog. Then we went to Pittsburgh to visit my StepDaughter and went shopping on this trendy row of shops. Voila! I found a store that carried Mackenzie Childs them. I was thrilled! There were these pretty pink n white stripe canisters I really wanted for the kitchen. How cute they would look with my LuRay dish collection. Dear Hubs was about to buy them for me for Christmas. Until I looked on the bottom. Yep, you guessed it...it was made in China or another similar location. All of a sudden it lost its appeal!

I did end up bringing home one of their ornaments and I display it on my bookshelf, but I no longer think so highly of their line. They really are no different than anything else I could find at stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx, etc. The prices Mackenzie Childs charges makes me laugh now. Don't ask how much one ornament was. I'm almost embarassed I bought it. While it is pretty, I'm not sure it is "worth" it's high price. What makes this ornament worth more than one bought at let's say, Target? What make an item worth more than another? When dealing in antiques it is usually the rarity of a piece to drive up it's price. I find this fun and fascinating at the same time. If I can order something from a catalog, like the ornament above, it can't be too rare.

So, my love for vintage continues.