{ flea market mavens } a complete survival guide

i spent three days of the last week in brimfield, massachusetts, flea marketing with my friends the beckerman girls (below, from left to right: sam, cailli & chloe). they'd flown cross-country from LA, while i drove four hours from NYC for the occasion. obviously, this is an activity we all take pretty seriously ~ albeit one that we consider serious fun!

we've each been hitting the fleas since we were kids, and thus understood certain basic rules of the ritual, like never wear anything 'fancy' (it hurts your hopes of haggling down prices), bring as much cash as you can afford, and make sure your cell phone is fully charged beforehand, in case you get separated from your pack. if you're shopping for clothes (we always are!), wear layers that can come off easily without risking indecency; there will be no changing rooms.

when discussing prices with a vendor, never ask 'will you take X for this?' instead, ask 'what's your best price?' often, they'll quote something lower than what you would've requested. and if you see something you love, buy it right away! it could be gone in an instant (especially if someone else saw you swooning over it).

beyond that, we agreed that there are a few things we wouldn't want to brave the fields without:

1. though we had rain the last day of our trip (when the top picture was taken), the days before demanded wide-brimmed hats to stay cool. remember you'll be outside for hours! 2. most markets are held in muddy cow pastures ~ wellies are the best way to keep your feet clean. just make sure to add in super-cushy insoles; they're always worth the extra 30 bucks! 3. all markets have dining tents, but if you want an option besides fried food or meat-on-a-stick, better bring your own. i always stash a granola bar in my bag; lollipops are also a good pick-me-up when the blood sugar starts to drop. 4. wet wipes! after digging through bins of rusted metals to find that perfect vintage piece, these babies will be your best friends. 5. measuring tape, to make sure that frame/table/rug will be the right size when you get it home. 6. a collapsible wheeled cart is essential if you're shopping for anything large, fragile, and/or heavy ~ particularly home goods. just be sure to observe market etiquette and leave it outside each tent as you go in for a peek. 7. a reusable water bottle and 8. sunscreen are absolutely de rigueur! 9. it only takes one trip to the port-o-potty to scare you into never forgetting hand sanitizer again. 10. a big bag to stash your survival kit & small-sized finds. i like this one because it can be carried as a tote, or converted into a backpack as the weight of your load grows. plus, it's made from repurposed materials ~ and after all, what is flea-marketing if not just glorified recycling?!

finally ~ and most importantly ~ arrive with an awesome attitude! not only will you have a better time, but vendors will be much more apt to give you a good deal if you give them a smile and some sincere respect. as with anything in life, if you choose to make it fun, it will be!!

PS: if you live in the US, click here or here to find flea markets in your state. neither is a completely comprehensive list, but they'll give you a great start!