It feels like it’s been a little while since we checked out the Perth 3-in-1 Polka Dot Vintage Markets and with an invitation to the latest market clutched in my hot little hand, it was no surprise how I spent my Saturday. Having chatted about the Polka Dot Markets here on the blog before, I won’t go into too much detail but the Polka Dot Markets are a 3-in-1 market held at the Claremont Showgrounds featuring hundreds of stalls selling antiques, crafts, collectables, records, hand made goods, retro items and so much more.
If it’s been a little while since you’ve visited a Polka Dot Market, you may not know that the upper section of the market has been melded into the ground floor. At first, I was sad thinking that the market would be smaller but honestly, it took me the whole day just to get through the sections they had and there was so much to see. With so many amazing vendors, there was such a large range of things to look at that I spent most of my afternoon just browsing and finding unique treasures.
The market did a great job of having a good range of vintage clothing and accessories throughout the market too. There were so many stunning garments including unique lingerie, coats, hats, bags and of course, everyday clothing. I was keeping an eye out for vintage cardigans but didn’t find any that spoke to,e however I found a 1990’s Laura Ashley cotton dress which I loved. In summer I live in this hideous 80’s cotton house dress that’s held together by optimism at this point so this new dress will be my replacement. It’s a cute dark blue covered in flowers and it’s perfect for running around the house in summer.
One of my favourite items that I found around the markets was a powder puff made from swan down and it was literally the softest, most fluffy thing I’ve ever held in my hand. It was a gorgeous green colour but as I already own a powder puff, I left it for someone else. My second favourite item was a Persian Cat lamp stand which unfortunately was broken but I was so tempted to buy it and fix it up myself (my husband hinted that this wasn’t a good idea….jury is still out on that one). I also came across some gorgeous thimbles; although I don’t actually collect thimbles, I’ve been wondering if I could collect a bunch to turn them into something for the sewing room but until I have a set project, I’m not going to start any new project collection. Ironically, none of these items came home with me but I did manage to find a few goodies.
My favourite purchase of the day was a pair of fruit bead clip-on earrings which gave me so much joy that I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw them. I’ve always loved retro fruit-inspired jewellery (I just happened to be wearing all pear-inspired jewellery on the day) and this piece was well made, in good condition and at a great price. The second piece (or at least the other two pieces) I found for myself were two small handkerchiefs because we’re heading into cooler weather and ya girl can get a touch snotty.
One special point of pride for this particular market was the Miss Polkadot Pinup Parade which I was kindly asked to judge. Organised and hosted by Miss Goddess Michele, this parade featured local pinup girls strutting their stuff wearing their favourite outfits. Roping my Miss Naomi Scotts as a secondary judge, we both struggled so much in deciding who would take home the titles. Every single contestant looked immaculate, had a unique and interesting storyline, so many great props and poses so yeah, it took us a little time to make a choice. In fact, we even asked the audience’s opinion because that’s really important too. All in all, our amazing runner-up was Miss Carolenna Mia and our title winner was Miss Perky Platinum. Both girls did such an amazing job and it really was neck and neck.
This pageant was one of my last roles as the current reigning Cooly Rocks On Classic winner so it was nice to take the sash out for a stroll before I have to hand over my title in a few months.
Just in case you’re like me and are completely driven by food, the markets had a great selection of delicious food options and there was a very short wait time when I went to order myself some lunch. I loved both the bao and toasted sandwich options.
All in all, the Polka Dot Vintage Markets for April 2025 were an absolute dream. There were so many stalls to check out with a plethora of vintage, retro and antique goods to rustle through. I did wish I could have returned the next day but alas, family commitments. The second Polka Dot Market for the year will be coming in November and it’s known to be one of the best ones to go to just to find unique Christmas presents. I cannot wait already and have already marked my calendar.
Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. There are no affiliate links and I do not benefit from any link clicks or purchases made.