Do you have fond childhood memories of things like juice glasses featuring The Hamburgler or Grimace that came as gifts (collect them all!) with a McDonald’s Happy Meal? Or maybe it’s your grandmother’s white Corningware with a blue floral pattern that tugs at your heartstrings? Remember the tres chic Culver barware with 22-karat gold details that made the 1950s and ’60s feel so glamorous?
Avis Aldine, a vintage housewares boutique on Magazine Street named for owner Angela DiSimone’s grandmother, opened last year for people like you.
Better yet, at this time of year, these era-evocative pieces may make stylish additions to your holiday tables.
“The goal is to set a table that is both nostalgic and inviting, where every glass, plate, and linen tells your story,” DiSimone said. “We do this by blending eras and textures to create a setting that feels curated over time rather than styled overnight.”
Birth of a business
Owner Angela DiSimone
DiSimone found the path to her shop after months of retail therapy with her mother-in-law while her brother-in-law was ailing from a terminal illness.
“As a distraction, I would take her to estate sales, thrift stores and garage sales,” DiSimone said. “I witnessed the joy that seeing all these old, nostalgic things brought to her, even in a time of such grief. There was something in the practice of reflecting back on a simpler time in life, childhood family gatherings, things you enjoyed as a kid that had a power to bring healing as well as celebration.”
By concentrating on the rescue and reuse of goods, DiSimone honors her own priorities while also appealing to the “grandmillennials” who are her primary market.
Grandmillennial Style is a trend that blends traditional, vintage-inspired decor with modern updates, sometimes called “granny chic.” It features classic elements like floral and toile wallpaper, ruffled or fringed textiles and heirloom furniture combined with contemporary accents such as modern art or clean-lined pieces to create a collected and comfortable look. Key features include layered patterns, rich textures and a nostalgic aesthetic.
Think of the 1980s opulence of Ralph Lauren with tartans and plaids and the country comfort of Laura Ashley.
Holiday suggestions
Cookbooks and drinkware displayed at the shop.
Consider classic, traditional nostalgia, which is timelessly elegant, and add personal touches, which convey comfort and warmth, DiSimone said.
“You are going for layered charm and intentional imperfection,” she said. “Think mismatched china, colorful glassware, embroidered napkins and shiny brass or silver flatware with patina. Seasonal touches like pressed flowers, antique candlesticks and midcentury modern serving pieces bring character to the table.
“Beyond that, bows and a coquettish vibe are still strongly trending, as are layers, textures and mixing in natural elements. Warm, rich deep hues of brown — mocha and espresso — and jewel tones are on-trend. Copper, gold and patina pair beautifully with the color palettes trending this season.”
Services available
DiSimone uses her background as a hospitality industry consultant to assist customers in building a certain period aesthetic for their homes, special events, and curated gift-giving.
For customers who find the notion of creating a holiday or special event tablescape daunting, DiSimone will, after an initial consultant, pack up elements from the shop and help you style your table in person (in the New Orleans area) or over Facetime. Items are available for rent.
DiSimone and her team will also sleuth out specific items for clients on request, and a tableware registry is in the works.
What you’ll find in the store
“People also seek me out because they want to get rid of something. It was a family heirloom. They don’t want it, but they want it to go where it will be loved. They entrust me to find that place.”
The story deals in depression and uranium glass, Fostoria American, Pyrex, Corningware, Fire King, midcentury mercury glass, Culver 22-karat gold-tooled barware, Dorothy Thorpe, covered themed ceramic pie dishes, Carnival glass, cake stands, punchbowls, vintage linens and vintage Asian cachepots.
Avis Aldine, Vintageware, 3614 Magazine St., (614) 205,7179. Follow her on Instagram @avisaldine. Website coming soon.
Inside Sources is a column that tracks trends and provides consumer information from experts in their home and gardening fields.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
