Antique Mall offers latest fashion trends

Though some fashion trends might be short-lived, you can always count on the new stuff becoming old and old stuff becoming new again. Old fads from each decade have been brought back, and are often worn in a way that looks even more stylish than the original appearance. Because of fashion's cyclical manner, purchasing new apparel that simply imitates historical looks can be frivolous. Thanks to vintage and antique stores, shoppers can buy the latest styles at a bargain price.\nThe Antique Mall is a huge three-story building, located on Seventh and North Morton streets that sells everything from furniture and books to jackets and jewelry. The mall has been opened for 16 years and has a number of consistent dealers and customers. The emporium hosts over 120 shops of quality antiques. Having one of the largest antique collections in town, items that date back to 1900 make the merchandise attractive to die-hard vintage shoppers. \n"Some students come in before school starts and buy furniture or some things for their houses," said retail clerk Sherry Baker. "There is just so much here that people come for just about anything."\nThe first and second floors of The Antique Mall are loaded with furniture, pictures, books, magazines, house ware, clothing and jewelry. The furniture varies from fancy antique embroidered couches to comfy sofas perfect for college life. Decorative lamps and pictures could add simple touches of elegance to a home. Other items sold include porcelain rotary telephones, Barbie doll collections, and wooden desks and armoires. \nThe trendy shopper would be most impressed by the malls' compilation of antique jewelry. Costume jewelry is showcased throughout the store and grouped in sets by the dealer. People sell their belongings to a dealer who sells it to the mall. The dealers are in charge of sales and promotions of their items. \nBrooches are the most prevalent fashion trend this season and The Antique Mall has plenty of them. There are hundreds of shapes, sizes and colors of brooches sold for around $5. The prices will make shoppers want to boycott department stores selling similar pins for $500. Brooches are this fall's must-have accessory, and The Antique Mall allows shoppers to get this trendy look without spending a fortune.\n"In the spirit of the season's pile-on-the-pins trend, a fresh take on how to wear the bejeweled piece is welcome," says Harper's Bazaar fashion writer Jenny Rubinfeld in the October 2004 issue. "... on her travels, New York jewelry designer Carol Cohen scours flea markets and thrift shops to find the most interesting vintage brooches ... and combines them with beads to create one-of-a-kind, stand-out-from-the-crowd necklaces."\nThe hot new brooch-on-necklace style makes a definite statement. The look can be easily scored by purchasing a beaded necklace from The Antique Mall, which typically ranges from $2 to $8, and accenting it with your choice of brooch, and there's certainly a lot to choose from. Employees say that brooches are the most popular recent hit accessory that students have been buying.\n"I never even knew about the mall. It's so big," said IU junior Erica Levine. "They have so much stuff. I think I can honestly spend all day in there."\nWondering where you'll ever find a purse to match? Look no further because stylish purses can be found there. Sequined and beaded clutches in all colors are sold for reasonable prices. The store carries an assortment of evening bags with detailed trim that are sure to spice up any ensemble. \nIf the costume jewelry and handbag collection doesn't make shoppers run over and check it out, there are other items to explore. An eclectic assortment of clothing including timeless classics, such as a Giorgio Armani cashmere sweater, and new styles are on display. Fur is another chic essential for the fall. However you want to wear it, coat, shrug or just a fur muff, The Antique Mall has it. \nIf readers haven't been wooed yet, the newest addition to the store might catch their interests. Oct. 15, the mall will be opening a tea room in the basement called the Greenbriar. Customers can leisurely lounge while drinking tea in between shopping.\n"Becky Clayton, manager of the mall, thought it would be a good idea. She's working really hard on it," said assistant manager Jan Arnold. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback."\nLooking for something particular or just browsing, there's something for just about everyone. When shoppers find it, they better buy it fast because, explained Arnold, if they don't get it when they see it, they'll turn around and it'll be gone.\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Zalkin at mzalkin@indiana.edu.