5 Outfit Necessities To Pack For Round Top

Some people are simply part of the fabric of Round Top, and Maddie Zeien is one of them. With her family behind The Cotton Shed, Maddie knows that Round Top is about so much more than shopping. It is about family, tradition, the people you meet along the way, and the little things that make each trip memorable. You might even find her serving up mini donuts in style, adding a little extra sweetness to the Round Top experience.

We are so excited to welcome Maddie as a new contributor to Round Top Finds! She is sharing her 5 Things to Pack for Round Top, with the tried-and-true essentials every shopper should have along for the adventure. Consider this your insider guide to packing smart, shopping comfortably, and making the most of your time in the fields.

Welcome to Round Top Finds, Maddie! We can’t wait to share more of Round Top through your eyes.

"Local” Pieces

These are the pieces you bought on your last trip. That blanket coat from Sapana, located at Henkel Square. Or the turquoise bracelet you found digging in the fields in Warrenton. This shows your continuous support for the vendors that make up Round Top Antiques Week. Seeing the items they made and/or sourced styled by you brings them joy.

Sapana Jacket Captured by Allison Ermon Photography

I have been coming to Round Top as a vendor since I was about fifteen, so more than six years now. The first few years at Marburger, and then a move to Blue Hills, where we do Spring, Fall, and Winter Shows. In terms of dressing, I’m well-seasoned for Antiques Week. And as someone who comes from a small business family, I know the importance of always showing up for these companies. Find the brands that speak to you, and stay loyal to them. There are so many ways you can show up for these hard-working people other than buying from them. Sharing them on social media and through word of mouth with your friends and the strangers you pass on the street are just as important as financially supporting them!

I remember my first show or two. I was fourteen years old, newly homeschooling after going to public school my whole life, when I finally got to see Round Top for the very first time. It was a world like no other, and you know what my mother had told me leading up to that moment? Not just how amazing the displays and antiques were, but just how cool everyone dressed. My outfits then were simple compared to now, because Round Top shaped my own personal style today. It’s a place where you can be as maximalist as you want and not be judged for it. The place for creatives to let their true selves show!

So, buy the pieces that make your heart stop. And don’t ever stop wearing them.

Layers

The weather in Round Top is unpredictable; you can never be overprepared. Always pack layers.

I have numerous coats from Sapana, and I always make sure to bring at least one with me every trip. They are the perfect layer to spruce up any outfit, and with unpredictable weather, you’ll be well prepared for a surprise cold front.

Pair with jeans or a skirt, and a blanket coat will take any outfit to the next level!

Shade Amour captured by Allison Ermon Photography

Boots & Backups

It’s Round Top, pack those boots and get two-stepping through Zapp Hall! But keep a backup pair of sandals or sneakers in your car for when those blisters start. And always have a pair of rain boots on hand; the venues can get muddy.

If I could only pack one bag full of things for Round Top, a pair of Fraulein Boots would be the first thing going in my duffel. Spending many years wearing all kinds of boots now, I can say without hesitation that Fraulein Boots are the most comfortable pair I’ve ever worn. And as I’ve said before, I’m a vendor, so I spend hours on my feet. Blue Hills is a fifteen-day show, open nine hours a day, and I wear a pair of Fraulein’s all day long, almost every day. That’s saying something!

But I understand that not everyone has the luxury of wearing boots all day and going pain-free, so please, please, don’t forget to pack a backup just in case!

Fraulein Boots

Textures & Colors

If there is one styling rule I would follow in Round Top, it’s this: Round Top fashion is bold. While you should always remain true to yourself and your personal style and comfort, don’t be afraid to step out of that comfort zone a little bit! Wear fun textures, bright colors, and mix patterns!

Hats & Sunglasses & All the Accessories In-Between

It’s typically hot, windy, and sunny, so bring on the shades! Cowboy hats and flatbill caps are the perfect accessories to any Round Top outfits! Add a pair of fun shades, and you’re officially a Round Top diva.

Remember that hypothetical one bag you get to pack for your trip? I’d apply this to that list too. Accessories are as necessary as a Topo Chico in Round Top.

Think a colorful necklace stack, bandanas, bangle bracelets, turquoise rings, and a vintage statement belt.

Now combine all of these, and you have an outfit that just screams Round Top.

Maddie's Round Top Do’s & Don’ts: 

1. DO wear the best pieces in your closet.
2. DON’T buy something you’re only going to wear in Round Top, but never touch once you get home.
3. DO wear a cute, hands-free, cross-body bag instead of wrestling your purse strap on your shoulder all day.
4. DON’T wear heels. Most of the venues are on uneven gravel or fields. We don’t want any broken ankles cutting your trip short!
5. DO pack a rain coat!
6. DON’T copy everyone else; be yourself!
7. DO buy vintage, secondhand, and handmade clothes.
8. DON’T shop fast fashion!

Being perfectly straightforward with you, as someone who is confident in their personal style, it is very easy to get swept up in the Round Top fashion world; to be carried away by everything you see online. Within that, it’s also extremely easy to grow overwhelmed with it all. That’s why I’ve written this guide above to try and help make things easier for you!

The most important thing to remember is to be yourself and have a good time!

Growing up in high school, all I wanted was to fit in and follow trends. And then I went to Round Top, and that changed my view of everything. The goal was no longer to fit in, but to stand out, and when you shift your mindset to that, then dressing for Round Top will be a piece of cake. There is no right or wrong answer, as long as you feel comfortable in your outfit.

But if you’re feeling unsure, then that’s what this guide is here to do: to help you! It’s not a step-by-step instruction manual, just a few tips to help you get started in the right direction. At the end of the day, antiques are the heart of Round Top, but we can make sure we look good while hunting for them!

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