Vintage clothes, lamps and barware at Retro Genie’s in Northampton, Mass.

Yesterday (Monday) I left my icy computer cave and took a quickie shopping trip to Northampton. I went to Eileen Fisher and Faces and for lunch at the India Palace… but could not bear to leave without a visit to my favorite retro vintage clothing (and more) store: Retro Genie. .

Really, I almost didn’t go, because I NEED NOTHING and didn’t want to TORTURE myself. And in fact, I was good, I didn’t buy anything (sorry, Jeannie). This time. Even so, it was great fun to look and take photos for the blog. Jeannie has been in business for a while, so she has great contacts throughout the region who call her in when they have high quality, vintage clothing.  For example, that’s Jeannie, above, with a wonderful orange leather jacket, fur trimmed, from a 1970s fashionista. I tried it on, and it looked pretty darn great. But, I actually don’t like to dress that flashy.

Drats. I really would have broken my no-buying vow if this embroidered, leather hippie vest had fit me better. It was a wee bit small around the arms. I am a broad-shouldered, corn fed farm girl. Who pines (romantically) for Haight Ashbury circa 1969, that is.

Woah — this pair of supersized 1970s lamps was also hard to resist. They were in impeccable shape. $170 for the pair – a great price, I think. To my view, Jeannie has terrific prices given the level of quality.

If I owned this vintage Koi sake set, I would drink sake more often. Jeanie says these don’t stay in the store long.

I thought this was a minnow bucket, but Jeannie said it was a portable barbeque. In plaid, our theme of Q4 2010. This one was NOS – in perfect, pristine condition. Peoples: Use your stuff. Don’t save it. Use it! All the NOS MIB stuff I see at estate sales — saddens me.

Pretty poodle lamp with fiberglass shade. Jeannie has the bug bad as the rest of us.

Kartell or Kartell-style serving dish. Put ice or hot water in that bottom smoked glass part to keep the potato salad cold or the swedish meatballs hot. This 70s-style serving ware– I think it’s a next, huge trend.

Jeannie had several vintage Valentine cards — very fancy ones complete with boxes. I really should have bought one for DH, but like the rest of America most likely, I am having a hard time envisioning getting past Dec. 25 in one piece at this point.

Lots of hats, of course. Do you think there are, like, 6 million vintage hats across America? What will we do with them all?

Retro Genie: On Facebook. Location: 15 Market Street, Northampton, MA 01060-3229 (413) 584-4364