Vintage shop owner gives her own shopping list

Ada Egloff, owner of the new Northern Liberties secondhand clothing store Oma Vintage, tells us where in town she likes to shop and have a night out.

Lovers of vintage clothing, rejoice: There’s a new secondhand shop in town and it’s full of beautiful pieces for women and men. Oma Vintage, located at 716 N. Third St. in Northern Liberties, is the perfect place to find belted trench coats from the ’70s, colorful Panama shirts, psychedelic maxi dresses and other incredible, gently worn treasures.

Owner Ada Egloff, who got her start selling vintage clothing on etsy.com as retailer Lollycrisp Vintage, opened the store in June. She finds her pieces all over town – at flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores and individuals’ collections.

“The most enjoyable part of this business is the search for gems, so whenever I get the time, I like to scour unexpected places for beautiful things,” she said. “I try and shop for the store the way I’d shop for myself, looking for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that have stood the test of time. I like the idea of giving new life to something old and loved and finding pieces that still manage to feel fresh and current.”

Egloff grew up in New York City and attended college there, but she’s found a home in Philadelphia.

“Philly provides sort of a best-of-both-worlds scenario. It is urban, and there is commerce, art, culture happening, but it is more quiet and laid back than New York,” she said. “I was able to start my own business here at a young age, which is probably what I love most about it here. The city provides young, creative people with the freedom to try things out.”

EAT

I have a few favorite places to eat, depending on my mood. I love Dim Sum Garden for their Shanghai soup dumplings and hand-pulled noodles. You can always have a solid meal at Royal Tavern or the South Philly Tap Room, too. Royal Tavern has great food and a great atmosphere. I particularly love the beefsteak tomato, bacon and truffle salad. Oyster House is my newest favorite, with their dollar oysters from 5 to 7 p.m.

DRINK

The POPE [The Pub on East Passyunk] is great for hanging with friends. It’s got more of a scene happening than a lot of other South Philly bars. The beer list is impressive, and the fries are excellent. It’s a great place to sit around in a group and just talk and have fun. I also love Johnny Brenda’s and Kung Fu Necktie for the shows and great beer.

SHOP

I like Vintage Connection because of the selection. Heather Waity, the owner, has a really good sense of which vintage pieces translate to current trends. I’m always able to find at least one standout piece when I visit her shop. I’ll go to American Apparel, Urban Outfitters and J. Crew for basic pieces and find the rest of my clothes while I’m thrifting or in vintage shops in New York.

PLAY

I love going to North Bowl with a big group and being silly, bowling. I also love sitting in Rittenhouse Square on a Sunday afternoon and people-watching, hiking up by the Wissahickon Creek and seeing movies at one of the Ritz Theatres.

Anna Hyclak can be reached at anna.hyclak@temple.edu.