Rec | MY VINTAGE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IN PALM SPRINGS

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my vintage shopping experience in Palm Springs

i have lost 20 lbs since last year and as an avid thrift and vintage shopper, it felt lightly easier to go shopping for older clothes being a US size 12 again. on my vacation in palm springs, i went to many places. the individual stores, the vintage market, etc, and it was still quite hard to find what i wanted. specifically i was on the search for a 60s mod dress. i couldn’t find that exactly. every mod dress i found either didn’t fit or something very wrong was happening with the seams. i had a light breakdown, as i felt like even with what progress i made, it was not enough. i felt a bit like i wasn’t worthy of these outfits. and even though i know people my size existed then, i was feeling discouraged. but one experience made me more hopeful for myself. i walked into iconic atomic (may be in the uptown part of downtown) and at first i was looking at outfits in the first room. the owner then guided me to the back where they organized sizes with busts 40+ inches (all the way up to 50 inches). she told me her and the store owner who herself was plus sized believed in inclusive sizing for their merchandise. i was gobsmacked at how much i saw there that could fit me and even bigger. I ended up getting a 60s/70s long pink dress with chiffon long sleeves and white flower details. i asked her to zip me up for the full effect. she noticed me grinning from ear to ear. i do wish other vintage stores and shop owners think about expanding their merch more for the girlies like me and bigger. but it’s experiences like that, that make me hopeful for myself journey with my body, and with the search of things i love.

@chiawase_

Mar 4, 2025

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