Postcards from Parma:
Antiquing with Anna Brockway
When vintage fan girl and Chairish co-founder Anna Brockway invites you on a bucket list trip to Parma, Italy, you say “sì!” before even consulting your calendar. After a whirlwind few days of shopping at the Mercanteinfiera (Italy’s largest antique fair), palazzo peeping around Parma and taste testing alllll the prosciutto, we left feeling full in the best kind of way. Read on for Anna’s favorite finds, style inspo for your home and closet, and some major wanderlust.
On travel days, Anna keeps it comfortable and polished with a classic trench and denim. And after a long journey, our priorities upon arriving are: check in, ditch the suitcases, grab coffee, and explore. The city of Parma drips with old-world charm, and we couldn’t wait to take it all in.
A waist-cinching shirt dress in fresh citron makes a bold, sunny statement paired with neutral accessories. On the night before we hit the market, everyone was bubbling with excitement for what lay ahead.
Parma’s world-famous Mercanteinfiera is comprised of six massive pavilions with goods from over a thousand antique dealers. A day of treasure hunting (during which we logged 18k steps!) calls for comfy sneakers, a cute toile top, and a roomy tote to stash your finds.
In between market days, we were lucky enough to tour one of Parma’s most historic homes, a fabulously frescoed 14th century castle that’s still privately owned by the same family. Anna’s sightseeing look is textured and tailored in black and white for an effortless transition from day to night.
Anna opted for a chic tweed jacket (perfect for flaunting her vintage bracelet scores) for our farewell dinner and best meal of the trip. At Trattoria Corrieri, the happy yellow walls and charming checkered linens are only outshined by the to-die-for prosciutto.
One final nightcap in town was the cherry on top of an amazing trip—and Anna definitely got the outfit memo, balancing a bold sleeve and head-turning color with sleek skinny black pants.
We tasked Anna with curating a collection of statement jewelry and effortless outfits inspired by our travels throughout Italy. Take Anna’s advice—and scoop up these pieces while you still can.