I spend nearly all my time walking. Whether it is speed-walking to beat the Rice, Rice Baby lunch lines at Rothschild or trekking from Toronto’s Chinatown to the Harbourfront, my two legs carry me everywhere — no car or scooter needed. So, when Halloween came around and I was in desperate need of a costume, I found myself on a walk to Spirit Halloween.
This walk was a long, cold one. Battered by the wind, I found myself looking desperately to duck into any open shop and stumbled into Starland Vintage & Unusual. The store is a vintage shop selling eclectic decor, secondhand clothing and funky accessories. With its bright, yellow walls and retro game machines, Starland Vintage has been selected by Vogue as one of the best vintage stores in the world.
The shop is located just a short 45-minute walk from campus. It is located on Eighth Avenue and also has select merchandise available for purchase online. Admittedly, the physical location is much better than the website. Starland Vintage’s physical location boasts three distinct rooms, each with its own category: clothing, accessories and decor. Upon entry, I was greeted by an array of gag gifts, pins and an impressive United States map made of magnetic state souvenirs. Clearly, this was the accessories area. Toward the back, I found cases of vintage jewelry, where I spent close to an hour deciding which necklace to take home. For very fair prices, there were also various novelties and enamel pins, making Starland Vintage the perfect place to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift for your friends or yourself.
To the right of the accessories room, I found a large selection of curated and vibrant secondhand clothing options. While it is definitely pricier than Buffalo Exchange, with most clothing items priced over $30, Starland Vintage has great variety that will be incredibly appealing to anyone who enjoys outrageous and maximalist apparel. Certain clothing items that stood out to me included original 1976 McDonald’s uniform shirts, deadstock country music trucker hats and an entire cat-themed tee section. It was also in this room where my attention was piqued by a few different retro novelty arcade machines, including a love tester machine. In comparison to other vintage shops I have visited, these old-school arcade machines gave Starland Vintage a playful vibe that very well suited its novel and eclectic atmosphere.
The other side of the shop offered furniture, home decor, magazines and kitchenware. I was particularly engrossed in the task of picking out the perfect print to go with the 80s badminton racquet displayed proudly over my bed. Much to the detriment of my wallet, I found not one but two delightful pieces: a framed David Will mid-century modern jazz print and a funny embossed license plate. I spent a lot more time in this section than I expected, finding myself captivated by the quirky but thoughtful curation. Every shelf was packed with just enough oddities to warrant a double-take: it is easy to miss the mid-century artisan serving plate or the George Nelson Desk Clock by Vitra. But given how carefully everything was arranged, it never felt overwhelming, and every time I took another look, my eye was caught by something new. Whether it is the Dolly Parton penchant I snagged for my friend back home or the French horn necklace I plan on gifting my friend in Blair, the selection at Starland Vintage & Unusual is always carefully and thoughtfully curated.
I am glad that I chose to go on that urban hike to Spirit Halloween. I have always enjoyed picking out trinkets — a well-known fact, given the Smiski and Mofusand hippers decorating my desk, makeup mirror and even my laptop. But while ripping open a blind box is much fun, there is something incredibly charming about shopping vintage. Going to Starland Vintage was the perfect reminder of that. The shop is Nashville’s very own blast to the past.
