
Sundays really do feel like they were made for vintage markets.
Last Sunday of the month, as always, the vintage market took over the Naviglio Grande — a Milanese tradition where the city seems to pour out onto the canal, especially when the weather’s kind.
I try not to go too often — just a few times a year — but when I do, I make it count.
Today I want to tell you about my most recent visit, and the little trail of inspiration it led me down.
Because sometimes, all it takes is three photos.
I don’t usually go to these markets to shop — at least, not seriously.
What I’m really after is inspiration.
From the effortlessly stylish people wandering the stalls, to delicate porcelain, silver cutlery, stacks of old books — and, of course, vintage jewelry.
If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while, you probably already know: jewelry is a key part of how I dress every day.
And this story is all about that.
My Flea Market Strategy
Here’s how I approach flea markets:
First, I walk through the whole thing without buying anything.
I take photos of the pieces I like and collect business cards from the sellers.
Then, I sit down somewhere nearby with a coffee (or maybe an Aperol) and start cross-checking prices on Vinted, Etsy, and eBay.
The vintage market can be wildly overpriced these days — you never know where the better deal is. So I always research before buying.
If something I love is under €50 (which is rare 😅), I grab it right away. Otherwise, I’ll take my time — message the seller later or look for a similar piece online. Often, sellers will offer a discount if you follow up.
This time, I didn’t buy anything at the market itself —
But that doesn’t mean my research led nowhere. In fact, it took me even further.
Photo 1: A Gold Bow and a Golden Idea
The first photo I took that day was this one:
The moment I saw the combination of a golden bow and a floral detail on top of the frame, my mind instantly went to the latest Miu Miu FW2025 show — one of the strongest collections this upcoming season, in my opinion.


Add a floral brooch to go with it, and you’ve got the full look — those are usually easy to find on vintage platforms.
Personally, I prefer feathers over flowers.
And why stop at just two or three brooches?
That’s when my imagination took off…
I pictured a full feathered boa made of 5–6 brooches in different metal tones and enamel shades!
The key, in my opinion, is to mix styles — choose brooches that are all different — and pin them onto something clean and simple.
All of the examples I’m showing here and below are styled with pieces from Arket’s men’s collection, because I often wear my statement jewelry with menswear.
Photo 2: A Minimalist Sparkle with a Hidden Gem
About 30 minutes later, I stumbled across this stand:

If you’re into vintage costume jewelry, names like Kenneth Jay Lane, Trifari, or Monet probably sound familiar — they could be found almost everywhere.
So when I come across something unique by a brand I’ve never heard of, I always dig a little deeper.
I Googled Marcel Boucher and was absolutely stunned.
His brooches have these beautiful, flowing lines and baguette-cut crystals — so sculptural and refined!
I instantly pictured a "wave" of crystal color starting from the collarbone and cascading down the shoulder! Almost like "The Great Wave off Kanagawa"!

Photo 3: Starstruck
And on that very same stand, I took my third photo:
This Joan Rivers necklace immediately reminded me of my Dries Van Noten piece (I’ve talked about it here ):
Seeing something like that in real life feels like a lightbulb moment —
I can’t imagine this necklace or the iconic star necklace by Thierry Mugler not being on the moodboard of Dries Van Noten’s studio back in 2013.

For some people, a heart motif is an automatic "yes" (like Comme des Garçons or Ami hearts). For me, it’s stars. I simply can’t walk past them.
Which brings me to a story I have to tell…
A Missing Star
Several weeks ago, while shooting a story about Manuela Pavesi, I tragically lost one of the stars from that my beloved Dries Van Noten necklace.
I retraced my steps at least 150 times — but it was gone.
The only comforting thought: maybe someone found it, and for them, it became a kind of guiding star.
I, on the other hand, launched into a full-on replacement mission.
The market on the Navigli turned up nothing. Vinted — also a no.
But then I searched “vintage star pendant” on Etsy… and fell headfirst into a galaxy of antique stars (check my selection here).
My god — what beauty!

If I could, I’d buy them all!
I’ve been dreaming for a couple of years now about making a trench or a knit sweater covered in an entire constellation.
Something like this from the current Erdem collection. More is more!
In the end, I ordered a brooch and two pendants (both bronze and silver to try on and decide).
And a couple of weeks ago, they finally arrived — and after much deliberation, I chose to settle on a silver star:
Now, this necklace feels even more special to me than before ❤️
So, I encourage you to go to vintage markets —
Even if you don’t buy anything, they’re full of stories, sparks of inspiration, and sometimes, a whole universe waiting to be discovered.
So lovely to read about your enthusiasm and inspiration. Gies me hope. Sam.xx
I have that Monet bow brooch (bought it for $10 at a vintage fair) and it's permanently affixed to a toque. I'm a shark at vintage fairs - anything under $10 I just buy, knowing it's worth it.