Exploring Loudoun: Aldie/ If I Were a Rich Girl

Recently, on his blog, Money Reason talked of what he would do if he were rich, where rich is defined as being able to live solely off your passive income. Me? I'd open an antique jewelry store in the middle of absolutely no nowhere, like this lady.


Diamonds & Rust Enterprise is located in Aldie, Virginia, which is a tiny little town located right before Middleburg in Loudoun County. From what I can tell it's a very nice little town comprising of some very old looking houses, mills, a tiny, tiny shopping plaza with a pie shop, and this antique store. The plan was to stop by after visiting Middleburg for some pie at the Hot Apple Pie Shop but we were waaaaay too full. Michael just wanted to drive through but I was like, no way, it is, after all...

ANTIQUE-FEST 2010!!!
WHOOOOOOO!!!!

It had some lovely vintage dresses displayed outside.


Wouldn't this look so pretty with some big Jacki-O style glasses?


This one is so Thoroughly Modern Millie.


It's the perfect dress to wear to do The Tapioca:



Gray! Yellow! White! Black! How Terrif! I loved that movie growing up, too bad it's so completely racists against Asians.

I absolutely loved this dress.


Doesn't it look like something Agent 99 would have worn? Despite my dislike for anything polyester, and despite the fact that I almost never wear a dress, I wanted to buy this one. But, sadly, there was some black smudge on the back.

The inside was kind of small but it was crammed full of the most beautiful antique pieces, ever.


I always have mixed feelings in an antique store. On one hand I"m just insanely happy to be surrounded by so much beautiful pieces. On the other hand, I'm pissed off that they can't be mine. Well, they can, since it is a shop, but I hate the idea of paying retail antique prices for pieces when you can still easily find antiques in thrift stores for around $3-$10.

So many pretty pieces...


So many...

Towards the back of the store there was a giant bargain bin drawer.


I wasn't expecting much so I was surprised to see a lot of really pretty pieces. I found three sweater clips.


Awesome!

I told myself that I will never buy antique jewelry at an antique store as long as I can still find them in thrift stores. But, you know, I saw these...


I just loved the autumn colors, the lady (owner I assume) was just so nice, and it was my birthday... I bought them.

So yeah, that's what I would do if I were rich and didn't need to work, open an antique store. The rent at any place in a town like Aldie has got to be what, a thousand a month? The hours on most of these places are like 11-5, Mon-Sat. Some don't even have set hours, they're "appointments only" or "by chance" meaning, the store's open when and if I feel like working. How awesome would that be?!

Maybe one day...