STYLE : FLEA-MARKET FEVER : SWAP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Although they’ve been around forever, Southern California flea markets and swap meets have been all the rage of late. Even celebrities--Diane Keaton, James Spader, Madonna--go at dawn and swap ‘til they drop. The variety of new merchandise at most swap meets is so vast that it’s as if someone has simply ripped the ceiling off a mall. At flea markets specializing in collectibles, shopping is the equivalent of visiting 150 small antique stores at once. So grab a fistful of cash (no credit cards here), and wear a big hat. And sing along to the tune of the old ‘50s song: “Come on, let’s go to the swap.”