Chloe Thompson

You can be as adorable as Annie when you're shopping her vintage finds.

A Vintage Queen's Top Travel Tips

Walk into the new Pretty People in Old Town Alexandria, Va., and you’ll feel like you’re playing dress up … on a very hip play date.

Sequins, bold prints and vivid colors peek from every corner, while rhinestone jewels and veiled hats a la Kate Middleton adorn the walls. It’ll take you awhile to go through the store, lest all the sparkly distractions keep you from making a snap decision.

Owner Annie Lee, of Annie Creamcheese fame, says she’s proud of her newest venture. “This won’t be your typical vintage store that has 1940s gear and then crazy rock T-shirts,” she says. “Pretty People is more of a feminine vibe, more bohemian and more wearable pieces to work with your current wardrobe.” [photo, right, of Lee and Assistant Editor Chloe Thompson at the Pretty People opening]

Lee—who recalls sifting through vintage with her mother at a young age—says it’s easy to incorporate vintage into your everyday wear, including during travel. Lee says it’s vacation time that really makes people show their true colors.

“I think that’s why people love vacation,” she says. “They can take more risks with their outfit and they can even pretend to be somebody else or reinvent themselves.”

During a recent visit to the store, she showed me how. Lee travels frequently to visit her long distance boyfriend, who currently lives in Vegas.

Her must-haves?

1. Flats. “I always have to wear flats when I travel on airplanes,” she insists. “I’ll normally wear a comfortable ballet flat.” [Some of Pretty People’s best footwear, left.]

2. Blanket or wrap. “It gets cold!” she says. Another option? Wear a maxi dress. The long style makes it seem like you’re wrapped up in a cozy blanket.

3. Polyester. We know, a fashionista’s worst enemy. But not so, says Lee. “Polyester is one of those things, either you love it or you hate it. I love it. It doesn’t wrinkle—you can wear it with cute sandals or a cute shoe and pair it with a nice modern necklace to keep it from looking polyester and retro.” Lee shortens her polyester wear in Pretty People (like this green peplum number, right) to keep it looking modern.

4. Hats. “I definitely recommend a hat,” she says. Lee takes these contemporary finds from a San Diego based company and says they are perfect for packing. “You can wrinkle them up and they don’t lose their shape.”

5. Statement jewelry. “These rings are really cute, because if you have a simple dress—say you wear your hair up or down—you can add a great cocktail ring for a statement piece,” she says. “I like the rhinestones and also the double finger rings are also very trendy. They’re actually pretty comfortable, too.” [some of her jewels, right.]

Her rule of thumb? Play the opposites, she says. Pair modern with vintage and vice versa. We love this combo (left) of a shimmery gray dress and muted vintage turquoise necklace—Lee tells us the necklace is from 1960s.

Lee says her store is perfect both for the traveler and for the locals. After all, shopping is key on any vacation.

“When I go to a new city, it’s about that store that I visit,” she explains. “If I find an amazing piece in a store in a cool neighborhood, it makes me want to come back and have that same experience over and over again, and I think that I bring that to Old Town.”

After a few purchases of my own, I'm inclined to agree. Pretty People is a one-stop-shop to spruce up the everyday in your closet.

Pretty People; 108 N Patrick St, Alexandria, Va.; (703/739-2522)