Now that Halloween is only nine days away, the vintage and costume shops in Athens are buzzing with prospective customers searching for the perfect outfit to wear around Court Street next Saturday. If you’re planning at all to walk around on Halloween, you are required to have a costume.
Like most Ohio University students, I’ve had my costume planned since last Halloween. Next Saturday, I’ll be sporting the old-fashioned movie star look by dressing as Audrey Hepburn’s character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And thanks to a trip to Court Street yesterday, I found my remaining piece, a fake cigarette holder.
The search for the cheap cigarette holder took me to one of my favorite places in Athens, Athens Underground. And since I could not take photos inside the shop, I captured shots of my walk from Read Hall to Athens Underground.
I arrived at the store around 1:45 p.m. and walked down the narrow, concrete staircase to the Underground, located at 90 Court St. I slowly turned the tiny, delicate doorknob and pulled open the wooden door. As I entered, the musty smell of old clothing instantly smacked me in the face (the scent reminded me of my grandma’s basement filled with old knick-knacks, boxes and the ever-present mothballs).
I was overwhelmed, as usual. Everywhere I turned my head, a new vintage item came into sight. In my immediate view, I noticed an array of glasses, ranging from 1950s “cat” glasses to aviator sunglasses. Through the doorway next to the glasses was a single-dorm-room sized room filled with shoes and undergarments, including old-fashioned lingerie (some resemble armor). Sorry, but I don’t see how this would be sexy.
The next room was busting with dresses—from 50s style June Cleaver dresses, to 70s sequined dresses, to 80s shoulder-pad-filled prom dresses. The next, with men’s formalwear. The one after, with vests, scarves and hats. Now, back to the main room.
The main room consists of collections of records, books, magazines, sheet music, postcards, Playbills, *insert breath* formal hats, prom-style clutches, broaches, rings, necklaces, China dishes, linens … I can’t think of anything else right now, but you get the idea. Athens Underground has everything.
OK, almost everything. The shop doesn’t carry cigarette holders (I found mine at the costume store down the street), which was the initial purpose of this venture. However, although it didn’t have what I was looking for, my “trip through time” made it worthwhile.
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