How I Survived the Rose Bowl Flea Market

I came to LA for one of the world's largest Flea Market for my buying trip. It was sensory overload as there were hundreds of tents offering up furniture, jewelry, clothes, shoes and plants to upcycled items. If I lived in LA, I would definitely furnish my apartment with all of the mid century modern furniture and art.
Rose Bowl Flea Market is by far the most massive flea market I have ever attended.

Here are my top 5 tips for surviving the Rose Bow Flea Market:

1. Get there early: It’s worth paying the extra $15 to get in at 8am. You avoid the crowd and can scope out the best items before anyone else. Plus if you get there early, the parking is free.

2. Have a game plan: Know what you are looking for. The place is huge and overwhelming with 2 large sections in the parking lot, and another wrapping all around the Rose Bowl. It was my first time there, so it was hard to know where to look first as I wanted to look at everything. Bad idea. Have a game plan and you'll be a bit more focused.

3. Hunt and Bargain: The fun of the market is the hunt for treasure, so spend a bit of time at each place that looks promising. Also, most vendors will give you a better deal if you ask for it.

4. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat: By noon, the sun overhead gets unbearably hot. Bring a hat and keep hydrated so you don’t get burnt by the sun.

5. Bring cash: Cash is king here, and you might loose out on something special if you don't have your cash ready and someone else snatches it up. Bring more than you think you need.

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Shopping in Singapore: Haji Lane

I found out about Haji Lane only after returning from my trip to Singapore. Much to my disappointment, I missed out shopping a fashion paradise full of independent boutiques, vintage goods, and local designers. Much of the charm is in the colorful buildings that line the tiny and narrow back-alley street.

I was lucky enough that my bf went back last week for a short trip and took a few photos. I live vicariously through his photos and commentary, and can only imagine the vibrant, eclectic street.

theblogshop: Most definitely the cutest name of a boutique, complete with their own fashion blog.

He brought me back this ring from a boutique called Pluck which reminded him of the cut out work  on my leather cuffs.  He was probably drawn more to the ice cream parlor inside the shop than the actual women's clothing, but much to his credit, he also mentioned it was one of the best shops on the street.