KRISTA CURRY: SECOND STOP, SIXTH AVENUE >>>

It is amazing how many items Melanie Peterson can cram into Vanity, her tiny fashion boutique on Sixth Avenue. Ladies, if you're looking for that perfect, uniquely funky item at a great price, this is certainly the place to go. Peterson describes her women's clothing store as half vintage, half modern consignment.

Upon walking in, I made a beeline for the rack of vintage dresses. And the dress that yielded my most high-pitched and enthusiastic “Aw!” was a 1950s pink lace prom dress with flower detailing, size small and $98. And, as far as I could tell, in perfect condition. All right, so there are a very limited number of places you can wear a dress like that. Just watch television in it and feel like a Happy Days princess.

Besides the special-occasion styles, the everyday clothing is also rather unique. A blue wool miniskirt that looks like it came from Marcia Brady’s dressing room was $12; a size small or medium. An ivory, satin circle skirt with a diamond print, size medium, was $18 (another Aw!-inducing item). Tall, brown Bandolino boots were $34; fleece-lined tall rain boots (which are terribly difficult to find for under $65) were $20 in a size 9. Damn my size 7 1/2-or-maybe-8 feet!

Vanity, with its wide selection of unique, hard-to-find pieces (Peterson buys about 70 percent of the clothing from places like estate sales), is fun just to look through. I’ll bet it’s even more fun to watch television in that pink princess dress, though.

[Vanity Fashion Boutique, 3108 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.985.7845]

Bargain Guide Feb. 5

ANNOUNCER: Krista’s post on Vanity is the second of many second-hand store reports she’ll be dropping on Spew in preparation for the Weekly Volcano’s Bargain Guide issue Feb. 5, 2009. The South Puget Sound is full of free and ridiculously cheap stuff â€" you just need to know where to look. Leave it to The Weekly Volcano to uncover all the ins and outs and exclusive bargains to be had.

To advertise in the section, call 253.584.1212 or email us at advertising@weeklyvolcano.com.