There’s a certain kind of magic that only happens in Round Top, Texas. Maybe it’s the wide-open skies, the tattered tents flapping in the breeze, or the thrill of discovering something extraordinary buried beneath a pile of old things. For me, it’s all of that and more.
Every trip to Round Top feels like a treasure hunt, and this one was no exception. I always arrive looking for pieces with character, history and a little bit of soul — things that have lived a life before finding their way into ours.
Vintage Finds for Our Stores
This trip brought some especially good finds for our stores. A vintage painted green wood cash wrap from Neiman Marcus in Houston was an instant yes. Between the signature Flea Style color, fabulous patina and all that glorious storage, it couldn’t be more perfect for a new store opening next year. From the same vendor, I scored a double-sided, freestanding tiered wood shelf that will make the dreamiest hat display.
Then there were six enormous pegboard walls in the prettiest blush pink, originally from an art gallery in the Fort Worth Stockyards. These beauties are headed to our Fort Worth store, where they’ll become a home for hats and all the little details that make a hat your own. I also found an old potter’s table with just the right shape and character to become a patch bar destination in a new store. I can already picture it stacked with trucker hats and patches, ready for customers to create something uniquely theirs.
I’ve been dreaming of incorporating more old columns into our stores for floral moments and display risers, so when I spotted four in Warrenton from some longtime vendor friends, I bought the entire set. An old French black desk with the coolest ram-head details on its legs also made the cut. I can’t wait to see it styled with folded tees and denim.
Vintage Fashion, Brooches and Personal Treasures
Of course, no trip is complete without a little fashion hunting. I found hand-dyed, American-made bandanas, a slew of ‘70s velvet and pearl belts and vintage camo jackets begging for custom patches and plenty of inspiration for our design team. And the brooches! I spent hours digging for old brooches and stick pins, bringing home hundreds for our hat bars and hat styling kits.
One special find, a brass brooch shaped like a wide-brim hat with a silver feather, was simply too good to share. That one’s staying in my personal collection. Speaking of personal collection, I brought back a few treasures for my new place, too: vintage plaster lions now flanking our living room fireplace, a vibrant abstract floral oil painting and a funky ’70s black leather chair with handsome silver legs.
I found two tattered paper umbrellas in the perfect colors and a pair of eight-foot wood doors in the dreamiest butter yellow and maroon. I can already envision the doors as a fitting room in a new store or a backdrop for a photo shoot at HQ. Gaggles of old silver trays and chippy art frames also made it home with me for displays and photo shoot props.
Food and Lodging in Round Top
And then there’s the other essential part of Round Top: the eclectic food and lodging. After long days shopping until the light gave out on us, we fueled up on brisket tacos, loaded cheese fries and frozen margaritas (my favorite are at Bader Ranch). We also stayed in the coziest little cottage, the perfect charming refuge to return to after hours spent outdoors.
Now that I’m home, the fun continues as we sort through the haul and find the perfect places for everything. That’s what I love most about Round Top: these aren’t just old things. They’re pieces with stories, waiting for their next chapter.
Keep an eye on our stores this holiday season for a little Round Top magic. You never know which treasure from the fields might catch your eye — or become part of your own story.
