12 (Glorious) Things I Scored At Brimfield

It's the oldest, biggest, baddest flea market in the Northeast (maybe everywhere!). Thank God we had a pickup truck.

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I love Brimfield. Maybe not like other lifers LOVE Brimfield, but trust me, I’m getting there. Even though I’ve never been to Burning Man or a Flaming Lips show, I kind of think Brimfield could be my Burning Man. Y’know…the annual next-level planning. The anticipatory bonding + texting + hardcore coordinating with other soulmates friends who, too, have a serious thing for dusty, meandering MEGA yard sale marathons.

There’s more to it, of course, like the packing and outfits, i.e. beat-down jumpsuits, straw hats, excellent sneakers, and chic no-name totes (is it The Row or just Brimfield?). I’m telling you…it’s a vibe. Not to mention spending days at a time soaking up nonstop vintage inspiration, connecting with other folks who can easily lose their minds over a ‘60s ceramic Bitossi horse the way that you do. And, lest we forget communing together at every food truck meal, eating delicious things with our hands under a blazing sun and walking from morning till sundown like we’re on our very own Camino de Santiago.

Because Brimfield isn’t just a flea market—it’s a pilgrimage well worth renting a car, mini-van, pickup truck, U-Haul for. A magical treasure-brimming place with barely any cell service and surprisingly nice-smelling porta-potties. But a pilgrimage nonetheless.

I think last week was my eighth time to The Show (I’m not sure if anyone calls it The Show, but I just did), and I road-tripped with my local friends Cecilia Dean and Brandon Holley, both first-timers😎. I consider myself very lucky to have a rotating cast of friends/relatives who have the patience and physical tenacity to handle roughly 16 hot, sweaty football fields of historic, collectible goodies, as well as ME talking endlessly about such goodies in detail and spending half the day running back and forth to the ATM machine (tip: Bring your WHOLE spending budget in cash. Just do it. If you can bring a little more than your whole budget, I salute you. Sell some shit on The RealReal in advance if you have to…you’ll be glad you did:).

Brimfield happens three times a year—six days in May, July, and September. I’ve gone during all three months, and May is my favorite by far, but July also has its advantages with some staying away due to the high-summer heat, which can occasionally mean less crowds and more deals.

*ATA ❤️note: I’ll be sharing a Brimfield Mini Guide/Tip Sheet later in June for those of you planning on the July 11-16 dates or later on in September, so stay tuned for that. But without further ado, a rundown of my spoils from last week’s excursion.

1. Okay, I jumped on this Kartell Trix about 20 minutes after parking our truck. This iconic convertible day bed/chair/something extra-cool you can do many things with that takes up almost no space was barely used. And even though it normally goes for $1,800+, the seller gave it to me for $350. Hallelujah, Brimfield…truly what A Tiny Apt. wonders are made of.