Why I've Always Shopped Secondhand — Long Before It Was Cool

Lillian Pipa
April 19, 2026

Personal Essay  ·  2026

Why I've Always Shopped Secondhand — Long Before It Was Cool

I didn't start shopping secondhand because it was sustainable or trendy or because someone convinced me it was the right thing to do. I started because we didn't have much money, and my mom found a way to make that fun.

Growing up in Bridgeport, browsing was how we spent time together. We'd go to Consignment Originals on Black Rock Turnpike for clothes. My mom had a good eye and knew how to find things. There was a shop on North Avenue that had home goods, toys, and books. That one was mine. Books were a quarter each. When we went, my mom would give each of us a dollar. Four books for a dollar. I was always hoping for Goosebumps. I always came home happy.

If we were driving somewhere and saw a tag sale sign, we turned around. Every time. No discussion. That was just the rule.

Most of what we owned was secondhand, and this was long before thrifting was cool. There was no aesthetic around it, no one making it feel intentional. It was just how we lived. We were resourceful because we had to be, and my mom made it feel like an adventure instead of a limitation. I've carried that my whole life.

What I learned without knowing I was learning it was that old things are often better than new things. The clothes held up. The books were real books. The furniture was solid. You could feel the difference. Nothing was designed to last eighteen months and get thrown away. Things were made to be kept, and they had been. That's how they ended up at a tag sale in the first place.

"We were resourceful because we had to be. My mom made it feel like an adventure instead of a limitation. I've carried that my whole life."

I'm grateful for it now in a way I couldn't explain when I was young. Not just the practical things, like knowing how to spot quality or see past surface wear. But the values underneath it. Don't be wasteful. Don't buy things you don't need. If something already exists and it's good, use it.

Thrifting is fashionable now, which is mostly a good thing. More people buying secondhand means less waste and more appreciation for things that were actually made well. But I'll admit it's a little strange to watch something born out of necessity become a trend. The tag sales and consignment shops of my childhood weren't a lifestyle choice. They were just Tuesday.

What I hope doesn't get lost is the actual point. It's not the aesthetic or the thrill of the find. It's the idea that things have value beyond their newness. That keeping something going is better than replacing it. That a quarter book read a hundred times is worth more than something bought and never opened.

Loom is a direct line from those Saturday mornings with my mom. Every piece I bring in, I'm thinking about what makes it worth keeping. The quality of the material, the craft behind it, whether it's the kind of thing someone will still have in twenty years. That's not a business philosophy I developed. It's just how I was raised.

If any of this sounds familiar — if you grew up this way too, or if you're just starting to think differently about what you bring into your home — I'd love for you to come see what we've found. New arrivals at loomvintage.com every week, or come find us at 1139 Post Road in the Brick Walk, Fairfield.

— Lilly

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Things made well, chosen carefully. New finds added every week.

A Local's Guide to Downtown Fairfield — The Best Restaurants, Shops & Things To Do on Post Road

Lillian Pipa
April 19, 2026

Neighborhood Guide  ·  Fairfield, CT

A Local's Guide to Downtown Fairfield — Post Road, the Brick Walk, and Beyond

The best restaurants, shops, and wellness spots in downtown Fairfield — written by someone who just opened a shop here and genuinely loves this town.

Loom started in Black Rock on Fairfield Avenue — a beautiful, unique space that I loved. But the honest reason I moved here is that this is where more of my customers already were. Finding and affording retail space in Fairfield County is not easy, and when the right space came up in the Brick Walk, we took it.

What I didn't fully appreciate until I got here is how good this stretch of Post Road actually is. Almost everything on this list is independently owned — real people who opened something they believed in, not franchises or chains. That's increasingly rare, and worth supporting. Black Rock will always be where Loom started, and I'd love to open a smaller second location there one day. But this is where we are now — and it's a genuinely great place to spend a day. — Lilly

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Dining & Drinks

Post Road has a surprisingly good dining scene for a suburban main street. These are the ones I actually go to.

Molto
1215 Post Rd  ·  The Brick Walk  ·  pizzeriamolto.com

The classic — I've been coming here for over 20 years. Handmade pasta, gourmet pizza, a 40-foot Carrera marble bar, outdoor patio in warm weather, Italian films on the walls. One of those places that has earned its reputation honestly over time. Order the burrata.

Wild Rice
1136 Post Rd  ·  wildricefairfield.com

Wild Rice was a Fairfield institution for sixteen years before it closed during the pandemic. It left a real hole in the neighborhood. It's back now — same ownership, same dedication to fresh sushi and Asian fusion, beautiful new interior and patio. This was always my favorite spot on Post Road and it still is. Sit at the sushi bar if you can. The sushi is fresh, priced well, and completely unfussy — exactly what good sushi should be. Order the Christmas roll.

Open daily from 11am. The lunch specials are genuinely excellent value — some of the best on Post Road.

Sophie's Pizza Bar
1275 Post Rd  ·  sophiespizzabar.com

Where I go for drinks with friends on a late night — velvet booths, oven-charred pizzas, great Aperol spritzes, and an atmosphere that makes it easy to stay longer than you planned. Sophie's has that rare quality of feeling like a real night out without requiring one. Come for drinks, stay for the pizza.

Colony Grill
1520 Post Rd  ·  colonygrill.com

A Connecticut original since 1935. Thin-crust bar pie, cold drinks, and the legendary hot oil stinger topping that makes this place unlike anything else in town. My husband's favorite pizza, full stop — which tells you everything. Colony is not trying to be anything other than what it's always been, which is exactly what makes it great. If you haven't tried the hot oil version, that changes today.

Flipside Burgers & Bar
1125 Post Rd  ·  The Brick Walk  ·  flipsiderestaurant.com

Casual, genuinely good burgers and a beautiful patio — we're neighbors in the Brick Walk and couldn't be happier about it. Great for families, great for a relaxed evening outside. The kind of place where nobody has to overthink what they're ordering.

Oggi Gelato
1499 Post Rd  ·  oggigelato.com

Proper Italian gelato — dense, slow-churned, seasonal flavors. We used to drive to Norwalk for Oggi, so having it right here on Post Road is genuinely one of the better things to happen to our family recently. Non-optional. This is where the day ends.

Coffee, Breakfast & the Farmers Market

How to start a morning in downtown Fairfield properly.

Firehouse Deli
22 Reef Rd  ·  Downtown Fairfield

Where we go for breakfast with family before the Farmers Market on Sundays. Real deli energy, great sandwiches, the kind of place that's been feeding the neighborhood for decades without making a fuss about it.

Fairfield Farmers Market
Sherman Green, 1451 Post Rd  ·  Sundays 10am–2pm  ·  Seasonal (June–October)

Over 25 local farms and food producers on the Sherman Green every Sunday — fresh produce, artisan bread, fish, meat, eggs, baked goods, flowers. A genuinely good weekly ritual. Get there early for the best selection, and combine it with Firehouse Deli beforehand for a proper Sunday morning.

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Shops & Boutiques

I don't shop much for myself, but the boutiques in downtown Fairfield are genuinely worth browsing.

Loom Vintage
1139 Post Rd  ·  The Brick Walk  ·  loomvintage.com

Our shop — curated vintage home decor, furniture, lighting, brass, glassware, ceramics, art, and natural fiber clothing. Everything chosen by hand. We started in Black Rock and moved here because this is where more of our customers already were. The Brick Walk made sense. New arrivals weekly, full collection always at loomvintage.com.

Text 203-307-5385 if you want help finding something specific — genuinely one of our favorite things to do.

Lolli Sutton
1875 Post Rd  ·  lollisutton.com

A home and vintage furnishings boutique founded by two sisters — a curated mix of vintage and new pieces with a coastal Fairfield County sensibility. Art, jewelry, books, furniture, and housewares in a beautifully put-together space. The kind of shop that's genuinely fun to browse even if you didn't plan to buy anything.

Marea
Post Rd, Downtown Fairfield  ·  shopmarea.com

The flagship store for Liz Joy's coastal lifestyle clothing brand — relaxed, European-inspired, effortlessly wearable. Marea has been all over Instagram for good reason, and seeing it in person at the Fairfield store is genuinely better than online. If you've been eyeing pieces on the site, this is worth the stop.

The Beehive
79 Sanford St  ·  Just off Post Rd  ·  thebeehivefairfield.com

Curated gifts, home accessories, and interior design services in a thoughtfully assembled space just off Post Road. The tagline is "interiors to inspire, gifts that delight" — which is accurate. A good stop for anyone looking for something that doesn't look like it came from a chain store.

Vintage Garden
1189 Post Rd  ·  Downtown Fairfield

A longtime Fairfield favorite for home décor, gifts, and seasonal pieces with a garden and European country aesthetic. The kind of shop where you go in for one thing and come out with five. It's been a community fixture long enough to have earned the loyalty it has.

No. 299
48 Reef Rd  ·  Downtown Fairfield  ·  no299.com

A home decor and gift shop on Reef Road — curated goods for the home and for her, with a sharp, personal eye. The kind of shop that has a real point of view and doesn't look like anything you've seen before. Multiple locations across CT now, but this is where it started.

Ohsella
1215 Post Rd  ·  The Brick Walk  ·  ohsella.com

Handmade jewelry and one of the best birthday party experiences in Fairfield — you and your guests come in and make custom charm necklaces or bracelets, designed by you and handmade on the spot. The jewelry is beautiful on its own, but the party experience is something genuinely memorable for kids and adults alike. One of those spots that's easy to walk past and hard to leave once you're in.

Olive My Stuff
Downtown Fairfield

High-end consignment with a sharp, well-organized edit. Designer pieces at a fraction of new price — the Fairfield version of luxury resale done with real taste. If you know consignment, you know how rare it is to find this well executed.

Wellness

Downtown Fairfield has a quietly excellent wellness scene. These are the three I'd send anyone to without hesitation.

Silver Chiropractic — Dr. Paul Silver
1136 Post Rd  ·  drpaulsilverchiropractic.com

Everyone I know goes to Dr. Silver. That's not an exaggeration — it's something you hear constantly around Fairfield, and it's earned. Over 29 years in private practice here, voted most recommended chiropractor in Fairfield more times than anyone can count. Not the kind of practice that keeps you coming back indefinitely — the kind that actually fixes the problem. And everyone knows Kari at the front desk — her friendly energy makes the whole experience feel less like a medical appointment and more like visiting people you like. A family business with personal attention you won't find anywhere else.

Privá MedSpa
23 Sherman St, Fairfield  ·  privamedspa.com

This is where I go. A boutique medspa just off Post Road with real clinical expertise and a warm, unhurried atmosphere. I see Melissa there — she has over 30 years of experience in laser and skincare treatments, and the results are natural and refined, never overdone. A gift card here is one of the most genuinely thoughtful things you can give someone who spends all their time taking care of everyone else.

Modern Salon
Fairfield  ·  modernsalonfairfield.com

Melissa's boutique salon — over 27 years of experience, trained in NYC, L'Oréal Color Ambassador. Serious technique but the atmosphere is anything but clinical. She has a way of making you feel like a long-time friend after the first visit, which is rare and worth a lot. They also do private events with the salon reserved exclusively for groups. A great Friday.

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A Perfect Day in Downtown Fairfield

Everything below is walkable or a short drive along Post Road.

9:00 am

Firehouse Deli on Reef Rd for breakfast, then walk over to the Farmers Market at Sherman Green — Sundays only, seasonal. Local farms, artisan bread, fresh flowers. Go early.

10:30 am

Walk the boutiques. Loom Vintage for home decor and clothing, Lolli Sutton for home finds, Marea for clothing, No. 299 and The Beehive for gifts and decor.

12:30 pm

LunchWild Rice for sushi (sit at the bar), or Molto for Italian on the patio. Both excellent. Pick based on your mood.

2:30 pm

Vintage Garden for seasonal home pieces, Olive My Stuff for designer consignment. The stretch of Post Road east of the Brick Walk rewards a slow afternoon.

5:00 pm

Early drinks at Sophie's Pizza Bar — Aperol spritz in a velvet booth. The atmosphere is worth arriving before it fills up.

7:00 pm

DinnerMolto if you saved it for the evening, or Colony Grill for the legendary thin-crust hot oil bar pie. Both are the right answer.

After

Oggi Gelato at 1499 Post Rd. Not optional. This is how the day ends.

What strikes me most about this part of Fairfield is how much of it is still independently owned. These aren't chains filling retail space — they're businesses someone built from scratch and shows up for every day. That's getting harder to find, and it's worth going out of your way for.

Loom is at 1139 Post Road in the Brick Walk. Come find us. If you have questions or want a recommendation — text 203-307-5385 or email hello@loomvintage.com.

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Curated vintage home decor, furniture, lighting, and natural fiber clothing — right here in the Brick Walk.

Why Everything Feels Worse Now. And Why It Costs the Same.

Lillian Pipa
April 13, 2026

Essay  ·  April 2026

Why Everything Feels Worse Now. And Why It Costs the Same.

It's not just you. Things aren't made the way they used to be. And if you've noticed that the new sofa doesn't feel as solid as your grandmother's, or the sweater you bought last fall already looks tired after twelve washes, you're not being precious about it. You're right.

Growing up, furniture felt permanent. Pieces stayed in a home for decades — sometimes generations. A dining table, a chest of drawers, a good armchair. These things were bought once and kept. My grandmother's brass candlesticks are still in my house. Her sewing machine still works. The wool coat she wore in the seventies still has its shape. None of that feels accidental to me anymore. It feels like the result of a completely different relationship between makers and materials.

What happened since then is a story about speed, and about the decision — made quietly, over decades, across industry after industry — to optimize for price at the point of purchase rather than value over time.

In furniture, it started with the widespread adoption of particleboard and MDF in the 1980s and 90s. These materials are cheaper to produce, faster to assemble, and easier to ship flat. They also absorb moisture, sag under weight, can't be refinished, and don't survive a move intact. The furniture you buy today at most major retailers is not designed to last ten years. It's designed to look good in a showroom and cost less than solid wood. That's the whole calculation.

12M+

Tons of furniture are thrown away in the United States every year. Most of it can't be repaired, refinished, or repurposed — because it was never made from materials that allow for any of those things.

Clothing followed the same arc, just faster. The rise of fast fashion in the early 2000s compressed production cycles from seasons to weeks. Designs move from runway to rack in days. Garments are made from synthetic blends that pill, fade, and lose their shape quickly — because the expectation is that you won't keep them long enough for it to matter.

The average piece of clothing is worn significantly fewer times today than it was fifteen years ago. We own more than ever, spend more collectively on clothing than ever, and yet the average quality of what's in our closets has declined steadily. The math on this is brutal once you see it: a thirty-dollar shirt that lasts one season and gets replaced is not cheaper than a hundred-dollar shirt that lasts a decade. It's three times more expensive, and it produces ten times the waste.

"A cheaper piece that needs to be replaced every few years ends up costing more in the long run. We've just gotten used to doing the math wrong."

And through all of this — the thinning of materials, the shortening of lifespans, the systematic substitution of the appearance of quality for actual quality — prices have not gone down. They've gone up. The particleboard sofa costs what a solid wood sofa cost a generation ago. The polyester blazer costs what a wool blazer cost. You're paying the same price for a fraction of the thing.

I think about this constantly, because it's the entire reason Loom exists.

I didn't start buying and selling vintage because I thought it was charming or nostalgic. I started because I kept noticing the gap between old things and new things when they sat next to each other. The weight of a brass candlestick versus a new one from a home goods chain. The hand of a wool blazer from the 1970s versus something labeled wool today with a 30% synthetic blend. The solidity of a side table built from real walnut versus one that looks identical in a photograph but wobbles when you set a glass on it.

The old things are just better. Not always — there's plenty of vintage that's worn out or poorly made. But the good stuff that has survived to reach us has done so because it was built to survive. That's a kind of quality proof that nothing new can replicate. A piece of furniture that's fifty years old and still solid has already passed a test that no new piece has taken yet.

80B+

Garments produced globally each year. A significant percentage are worn fewer than five times before being discarded. Natural fiber clothing — linen, wool, silk, cashmere — doesn't work this way. It's built to be worn for years, washed hundreds of times, and kept.

There's also something that doesn't show up in any statistic, which is the way a room feels when it contains things made with actual care. The texture of hand-thrown pottery. The warmth of unlacquered brass developing its own patina. The weight of a glass that was blown rather than molded. These things register — in your hands, in your peripheral vision, in the way a space feels at the end of a long day. They're not luxuries. They're just the difference between objects that have a relationship with the person using them and objects that don't.

I'm not arguing that everyone should furnish their home from scratch with vintage finds, or that new things are always inferior. I'm arguing that the default has shifted in a way that most of us haven't fully reckoned with — and that once you see it, you can't unsee it.

The sofa that seems affordable is often expensive when you count the replacements. The fast fashion haul is often wasteful when you count what gets worn twice and donated. The impulse buy that fills a space is often wrong when you measure it against the piece you'd actually love and keep for fifteen years.

Choosing better doesn't mean spending more. It usually means buying less, more slowly, with more thought. One solid piece instead of three mediocre ones. One well-made garment instead of six that won't last the year. That's the version of consuming I'm interested in — and it's why every piece I bring into Loom has to earn its place. Not because it's old, but because it's good.

If any of this resonates, browse what we currently have at loomvintage.com. New finds go up every week — furniture, lighting, home decor, brass, glassware, ceramics, and natural fiber clothing. Everything ships nationally, or text 203-307-5385 if you want help finding something specific.

Our Fairfield shop at 1139 Post Road in the Brick Walk opens this spring. Come find us.

— Lilly, Loom Vintage, Fairfield CT

Shop New Arrivals

Things made well, chosen carefully. New finds added every week.