My way of going to Flea market

Or Where Just Three Photos Can Take You

Wearing my updated (read below how) Dries van Noten necklace, Prada FW2007 waistcoat, Chimi sunglasses

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.

for the second season now, Miu Miu and Lotta Volkova have been styling looks with multiple large brooches. (They actually did something similar back in FW2015, too)

The bow brooch I saw at the market was by Monet — you can find similar ones on Ebay and Vinted. Here’s another version by Christian Dior.

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…

here are some of my Vinted finds

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:

I was drawn to the minimalist tennis-style necklace and bracelet with an unusual mix of enamel and crystal by an unfamiliar brand to me

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"!

here are some of my finds from Etsy

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.

clockwise from top left: 1 - famous “Necklace of Stars” worn by Queen Consort Maria Pia of Savoy, 2,4 - my Dries Van Noten SS2014 necklace, 3-6 Joan Rivers necklaces, 5 - Thierry Mugler star necklace

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!

of course, a fully star-studded look would cost a fortune — many of these brooches are made with precious metals and stones — but the way they shine together is simply breathtaking.

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.

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