Round Top Recap: The Good, The Bad, and the Beautifully Weird

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Round Top, Texas, is every vintage lover’s dream, part antique show, part treasure hunt, part fashion parade. I’ve been going for 20 years now, and it’s still my happy place. If you’ve never been, it’s absolutely a bucket-list trip for any vintage lover. But I’ll be honest, the Round Top of today looks a lot different than the one I first fell in love with. In this post, I’m sharing an honest look at what Round Top has become, the good, the bad, and the beautifully weird, along with the top vintage and home decor trends I spotted this season.

Back in the day, I could take $100 and come home with a full car, a full belly, and a full heart. Now, that same $100 gets me a parking spot, a sandwich, and maybe two small trinkets. Prices have skyrocketed, and the whole scene feels a little more like a fashion show than a dusty treasure hunt.

I often wonder—are people still there for the thrill of digging through the fields, or just for the experience and the bragging rights?

You can now stay at luxury Airbnbs, dine at high-end restaurants, and sip craft cocktails under twinkling lights. Back then, you got your chicken salad sandwich from a rude lady yelling orders down the line—and honestly, I miss her.

But Round Top still has its magic. Here are the trends and takeaways from my latest trip.

Round Top Trend Alert

Silver – Silver platters and plates remain a timeless staple. They’re classic, versatile, and still everywhere. Thank goodness, because I have a million personally, LOL!

Styled Tables – The booth styling this year was next-level. The vendors who go all out with their displays inspire me every time. I always come home wanting to redecorate—especially my table settings.

Vintage Halloween –  Vintage Halloween decor was all over the place—funny, odd, eccentric, and creative. I love going near the holidays to see what’s trending, and this year didn’t disappoint. Some stuff wasn’t “old” but it was creative!

Bottles – Brown bottles were abundant and beautiful. If you’ve been here for a while, you know my love runs deep. They’re affordable, classic, and easy to style.

Deer Art – Deer-themed art was everywhere, but not the taxidermy kind (although there was A TON of that)—more art based. Totally my style and such a lovely surprise. I mean, you are in Texas.

The Weird – Round Top never fails to deliver the weird and wonderful. From oddball finds to eccentric people-watching, it’s part of what makes the experience so special. And that has never changed!

Black & White Art – From line drawings to charcoal sketches and vintage lithographs, black and white art had a strong showing this year. I am a fan of this trend. It just goes to show classic art never goes out of style.

Things Made from Quilts – I’m all in on this trend. Yes, some people cringe at seeing quilts cut up, but I love how the next generation reimagines them—turning them into jackets, stockings, and home decor. We can be offended by the change or happy the next generation is embracing trades from the past. I choose to be in awe of how relics are brought back to life. Plus there were plenty of good old quilts, in their original form.

White Decor – Even with the rise of color, white decor isn’t going anywhere. It’s classic, calming, and forever vintage-chic.

Let’s Talk About the Boobs – There, I said it. Easily offended people may need to scroll past this one. Don’t come for me, I’m just reporting the facts of what I saw! Paintings of nude women were everywhere. This isn’t new for Round Top, but it stood out more this year. I still laugh about the piece my friend and I nicknamed “Kitty Titty” years ago. She had cat faces for nipples. Round Top’s weird streak lives on. I blurred the image to stay PG…

Vintage Christmas – It’s hot right now—literally everywhere. From shiny ornaments to plastic Santas, these pieces are highly collectible. If you’ve got vintage Christmas tucked away, get it out and use it (or sell it!). Time to visit Grandma’s attic!

Ashtrays – Not sure how I feel about this one, but there was a major influx of ashtrays showing up. I guess this goes with the quilts…if we can bring things from the past up to date with a new purpose, I’m all for it!

Vintage Linens – I saw more linens than ever this year. They’re beautiful, and I have some, but if I’m being honest, my creativity is lacking on interesting ways to use them. If you’ve got ideas, drop them in the comments.

Clothing – This one makes me a little sad. Round Top used to be all about antiques and one-of-a-kind treasures, but it’s now overrun with clothing booths. Cute? Yes. Authentic Round Top? Not so much. Still, if you’re into fashion, neck scarves were everywhere and totally on trend.

Friendship – This never goes out of style. Watching groups of women laugh, shop, and share their passion for vintage always warms my heart. It’s the soul of Round Top.

New Stuff – A growing number of vendors are selling mass-produced decor labeled as “vintage.” Be careful—if authenticity matters to you, double-check before spending big. Not in love with this trend. At all.

High-End Dining – I ate some incredible meals on this trip—a far cry from the days of getting barked at while ordering a sandwich at Legal Tender. Now it’s steak dinners and wine. It’s different, but I have to admit, I enjoyed it. I didn’t take pictures of my food, but I promise it was good…

Final Thoughts

Round Top is still a must-see destination for anyone who loves vintage, antiques, and creative inspiration. It’s evolved, and some of that change has been hard to swallow, but there’s still magic in those fields. And the hunt is always the charm for me.

You’ll find treasures, laughter, a little bit of chaos, and plenty of inspiration.
It may look different now, but one thing hasn’t changed—Round Top will always have a way of filling your heart.

You can read more about Round Top and past trend here.