Submitted by: Donna Lind
A couple of months ago I read a book called “Alligators, Old Mink and New Money” by Alison and Melissa Houtte. The book is about a woman who turned her lifelong passion for vintage clothing into a successful vintage shop in New York City. I love a good vintage shop and by the time I had turned the last page, I was in the mood for a day spent up to my elbows in a great place searching out whatever treasures awaited me.
Fast forward to last Sunday, a gorgeous unseasonably warm sunny afternoon when I drove to the Uptown Arts District in Michigan City to explore the storefronts and I wandered into Patina Vintage. Cue the angelic choir hitting a high note in the atmosphere as I walked down the hallway into a shop filled with all the most wonderful items all carefully chosen to hit the spot for any vintage shopper.
I immediately headed to the back corner where there was a rack full of dresses, skirts, purses, linens and anything else that could drape on a hanger, and I pulled out a great sleeveless summer dress. Sitting on the floor next to the rack was an overflowing wicker basket and I dove in up to my elbows to find two vintage kitchen linen tablecloths. At the very bottom I spotted a springy floral print and when I tugged it out from beneath the pile, a cotton dress materialized– a little crumpled but definitely worth adding to my pile.
The shop is laid out in such a way that you can move in from the front entrance in a loop that takes you down one side, around the back and up the other side without missing any of the displays. As I worked my way around, I turned my attention to the vintage kitsch, glassware, artwork, furniture, cookery and so much more.
By the time it was all said and done, both dresses fit so I piled them on the counter along with the linens that I will eventually turn into kitchen curtains, a sweet little blue pitcher and a gift for my daughter, to remain unmentioned until I can present it to her.
The owner, Amy, said the shop had been her dream and next month, she will be celebrating her first full year here. As she and her daughter totaled up my finds, we chatted about the store and the area and her shop owner neighbors, all of whom I plan to visit next. I am keeping a close eye on the Patina Vintage Facebook page so I can return for their one-year anniversary next month, but I certainly won’t need an excuse to make Patina Vintage a regular stop.
Donna Lind can be found at: www.linddigital.com facebook.com/linddigital instagram.com/linddigital
Comments