oh you gotta have a method!
i look for magazines and books (heavy), then women's shirts --> dresses --> purses ---> hats ---> shoes ---> nighties (shut up, i found a lot of pretty things in there) then put some stuff back, then finally records and housewares.
usually. sometimes i skip the clothes because i can tell there won't be anything.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:23 (eleven years ago) link
i can't say that i've ever found anything great at 2nd time around but I'm not there very frequently, tho i recall their prices being absurdly high for non-vintage consignment
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:24 (eleven years ago) link
There's a giant Goodwill by my office that I go to usually to look for costume accessories etc when I'm goign to a theme party or whatnot.
I tend not to shop for clothes a whole lot, bc I find that a v disappointing exercise being larger than most of the stuff on the racks. I tend to limit myself to jackets, occasionally glance at skirts.
But I always get a kick out of looking at things like furniture and books and coffee mugs and framed pictures and whatnot. Years ago Mr Veg found these awesome matching coffee mugs printed with PRESBYTERIAN FAMILY CAMP :D
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:24 (eleven years ago) link
also - i skip pants usually because really, like i am going to find any pants that fit me? ha. it has never happened. i used to look for men's pants when i was a teen who wanted to disappear and even got some super sweet and durable *perfectly snug* turquoise Levis cords from the little boys section yeeeeears ago (RIP) but i think that covers my success with used slacks/jeans/trousers/pants.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:26 (eleven years ago) link
also lol because 'second time around' is just the most common predictable names for a consignment store, like that or 'second helpings' or 'second-hand rose' or whatever.
my boyfriend and i joke that when we open our consignment store it will be named 'sloppy seconds'
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:28 (eleven years ago) link
ANYWAY, my clothing scores have been limited lately, the only thing of note would be a couple vintage pendleton wool shirts and a few ties. always, always with the neckties.
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link
oh, well that's not entirely true, i did buy a vintage denim jacket during my trip to the east bay (i needed a layer, so) -- it's got a navy / gold / red wool plaid for the collar and placket facings, raglan sleeves, and a drawstring waist? it's a bit odd and is fitted more like a parka than a denim trucker jacket. but it's nice & i like it.
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:35 (eleven years ago) link
I've lived in poor areas for a while, and the goodwill & second-hand stores are useless except for housewares so that's the only section I check (but housewares can be a good mine--witness the rare Fiesta candlesticks I found this summer). Would have to go way out of the city, or else uptown to rich neighborhoods to find good clothes.
― purveyor of generations (in orbit), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:39 (eleven years ago) link
*gold mine
i feel like there should be some sort of demographic analysis you could perform to locate the areas where thrift stores most likely to contain treasures
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:48 (eleven years ago) link
A long time ago, around 2001-2003, I used to take the train out into NJ to Paterson and Passaic and walk from the train station to a local Sal Arm in a building with one of those big chalet-style rooflines and an all-glass front wall. It always had THE BEST STUFF, including great furniture that I just had no way to truck home. My favorite shirt in the world in my entire life came from there, it says "Vulcan Science Academy" on it and is the perfect degree of falling-apart soft.
The Red, White, & Blue in Paterson used to be amazing as well, I bought a bunch of silk Vera scarves from there for $2 each.
― purveyor of generations (in orbit), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:51 (eleven years ago) link
it would depend on what you consider a treasure, no?
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:52 (eleven years ago) link
as far as i am concerned, i long for the golden age of the late 80s/early 90s, when there were lots of people in NEOH giving away their old tiny party dressesother dream area would be in california in the mid-late 80s (?) when people were giving away their crazy 60s and 70s clothes
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:54 (eleven years ago) link
i think higher-than-average median income + low or negative population growth provides a pretty good starting point, tho
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:55 (eleven years ago) link
ime it helps to go where the old folks are (or had been, until recently, r.i.p.)
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:56 (eleven years ago) link
Bingo.
― purveyor of generations (in orbit), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:56 (eleven years ago) link
one of my best finds is an oscar de la renta shirtdress with gold tinsel and brown embroidered lederhosenit was like $2 because it was in the kids section
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:58 (eleven years ago) link
but i could reminisce about old clothes forever -- there's another thread for that
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:59 (eleven years ago) link
i really love church & community thrift stores the most
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:03 (eleven years ago) link
and the old ladies who volunteer there 7 hours a week
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:05 (eleven years ago) link
oscar de la renta shirtdress with gold tinsel and brown embroidered lederhosen
wait is this one item or two?
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:06 (eleven years ago) link
i love the woman who runs the thrift at the episcopal church in providence, she is always there and ALWAYS at least a little bit drunk
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:06 (eleven years ago) link
I love the places where they hand-write receipts and you get awesome little old lady handwriting
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:07 (eleven years ago) link
oh, i'm kind of obsessed with boxes of old postcards...but those are more often in antique stores than thrift stores
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:08 (eleven years ago) link
one item -- the dress had the lederhosen sewn oni still have it
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:10 (eleven years ago) link
wait waht, i thought for sure you were talking about 2 items
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
waow
can you take a photo of it? it sounds incredible!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8003444599_5725fd6e57_m.jpg
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:13 (eleven years ago) link
those little poofs all over the dress are gold tinsel
You mean the dress had little picture of lederhosen embroidered on it or that it had actaul lederhosen attached to it that you wear as part of the ensemble? This is a very confusing sounding dress.
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:13 (eleven years ago) link
Oh so it has like suspenders embroidered on it. I think I get it now.
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
Sometimes I go to the Episcopal thrift shop with my grandma, but I can never find anything. Also, I can't deal with the old ladies complaining bitterly when the shop doesn't open EXACTLY on time.
― tokyo rosemary, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
can you see it? it's like the gold paisley wallpapered room with an orange carpeted conversation pit of dresses only it is not sexy at all
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:15 (eleven years ago) link
that is a fascinating dress LL!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:16 (eleven years ago) link
that's one word for it ;)
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:18 (eleven years ago) link
my boyfriend is having lunch with his aunts in newport today and i KNOW he will be visiting a thrift store afterwards so he better bring me back something nice is all i'm sayin
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:19 (eleven years ago) link
daddy needs another tie
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:20 (eleven years ago) link
bring me all of the ties
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:21 (eleven years ago) link
we are friends with another couple who thrifts a lot, it's pretty awesome because we all know what the others like and what they collect so it results in a slow but steady stream of $2 gifts
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:22 (eleven years ago) link
for me it's a really solitary activity, though i do find things for people and give them away all the time.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:24 (eleven years ago) link
haha yeah, i like to do it by myself too, most of the time for me it's about getting rly rly high and patiently going through every object in the store so nothing is missed.
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:27 (eleven years ago) link
Oh see I could probably get behind that pretty quickly.
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
Greetings, thrift clothing shoppers of ilx. My wife likes vintage-y skirts and wrap dresses like this:
http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/P10678860.jpg
but pairs them with what I think is pretty unflattering footwear. When we first met she would often mix flowery skirts and Teva sandals for sort of a hippie college student look. The Tevas finally bit the dust, thankfully, but she has replaced them with something similar to these (if these didn't have a back on them, like a glorified flip-flop:)
http://www.designershoes.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/300x300/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/e/revolve_44487200.jpg
She doesn't really like shoe shopping in thrift stores, hates malls in general, and hasn't shopped much online. I think she kinda just doesn't know what to wear with them. Any recs? She used to have some black oxfords, but wore them til they disintegrated.
― The specifics are these, which is those principles I described (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 19:54 (eleven years ago) link
I am glad she's gotten past the Tevas at least. That's promising!
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 20:00 (eleven years ago) link
There are shoe threads, I think, Dan--this one is specif FOR thrift stores, so maybe your question will get more traffic on another thread?
― purveyor of generations (in orbit), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 20:03 (eleven years ago) link
I do believe it's called "Just got feet, don't got SHOES."
so has anyone tried twice.com? i haven't had the chance to do much recreational thrift store shopping but i'd like some new winter clothes. mine are old and -- i'll admit it -- somewhat decrepit. i do have some plaid wool skirts that i bought when i was in college and STILL WEAR every winter, but i'm interested in some new sweaters.
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 22 October 2012 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
i still can't bring myself to pay retail for sweaters
― these albatrosses have no fear of man (La Lechera), Monday, 22 October 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link
they're so expensive! and most are such shitty quality!
agree! i try not to spend much time in the sweater section but i'll usually run my hand over them as i walk past. i found a nice lambswool pendleton sweater this weekend! it didn't fit me (aw) so i bought it for my boyfriend.
― real men have been preparing manly dishes for centuries (elmo argonaut), Monday, 22 October 2012 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
yessssssssssi can only travel in the summer or winter but i am fully into this idea and not even joking
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 10 January 2019 15:41 (five years ago) link
yknow i have seen online animosity/competitive behavior between kondo-enthusiasts and thrifters -- 1) this is divisive and 2) who cares? don't fight amongst yourselves. keep giving it away/recycling your stuff and everyone's happy, the ecosystem is healthy. it's cooperation not competition!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 10 January 2019 17:40 (five years ago) link
so weird! - the animosity/competitiveness - is it that the kondo-kin think thrifters are hoarders or gluttons in need of discipline or ...?
― sarahell, Thursday, 10 January 2019 19:04 (five years ago) link
idk what they think honestly -- that seems otm based on what i can glean from the snarking i have seen.
to me it just seems like "defending my 'position' means insulting yours" mindset that seems to plague some modern online discourse. unfortunate, imo. i'm sure some people would say "lighten up, it's a joke" but isn't that what people always say to excuse themselves? idk i wish we could celebrate because this is a win-win for everyone.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 10 January 2019 19:26 (five years ago) link
That is so strange! Yeah, it would seem like a mutually beneficial system.
― Yerac, Thursday, 10 January 2019 19:32 (five years ago) link
also there is the shared value of objects providing pleasure, er, joy
― sarahell, Thursday, 10 January 2019 19:47 (five years ago) link
it is symbiosis of the highest order, what's not to like!?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 10 January 2019 22:23 (five years ago) link
also, it's not like I keep all my thrift scores forever -- I let things go when they cease to be useful or there are enough other things that have surpassed it in terms of joy and use value ... granted, I might have more things than some people believe I should, but what can I say ... i have so much love to give
― sarahell, Friday, 11 January 2019 02:14 (five years ago) link
especially when it comes to things that are relatively unique ... like the things I get rid of first are the more generic-looking items that would be easy to replace if I changed my mind
― sarahell, Friday, 11 January 2019 02:16 (five years ago) link
like i said, symbiosis!
“It’s a good time for thrift shopping. I have the people who are purging, and then I have the people that need those things and can have access to them at a lower price. It’s a beautiful, mutual symbiotic relationship,” she said.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/01/11/marie-kondo-has-everyone-tidying-up-and-chicagos-thrift-stores-are-reaping-the-rewards/
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 11 January 2019 15:41 (five years ago) link
i have plenty of things to get rid of too. maybe i should organize a swap. i found the handout i made for aspiring swap organizers for my speech class last semester and i make it sound so easy! maybe it is easier than i think it is.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 11 January 2019 15:42 (five years ago) link
i think you just need a space and willing participants and a plan for what to do with stuff that is left behind ... clothing swaps have always been awkward for me because I'm significantly larger than most of my friends
― sarahell, Friday, 11 January 2019 20:30 (five years ago) link
since we don't have a thread for swaps, i will put my q here in the hope someone can give me a quick answer:
what is the most inclusive language for inviting women + femme people of all stripes ?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 16:30 (five years ago) link
is the swap just for women's clothing? Others I've seen have been "all genders/gender identities welcome" -- but if you want to specify that the clothing to be swapped is gendered, do that separately? Also, you may want to say something about sizes.
― sarahell, Saturday, 9 February 2019 18:15 (five years ago) link
opening it up to men's clothing would open a whole new can of worms that i am not ready to host in a week, so yeah -- just women's + children's at this point. the swaps that i have been to are all women's clothing but there are people of various identities there (not cis het men though)
this is why i haven't hosted before. too complicated!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 19:25 (five years ago) link
i am definitely going to mention that there will be diversity of sizes and style + a changing room w a mirrorit's the invitation process that is giving me hives at this point :-/
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 19:26 (five years ago) link
then i would say, "women's and children's clothing!" "all sizes and gender identities welcome!"
― sarahell, Saturday, 9 February 2019 19:28 (five years ago) link
ok thank you -- that is helpful!!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 19:30 (five years ago) link
let us know how it goes!
― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 9 February 2019 19:37 (five years ago) link
someday i would like to host a monster swap for everyone but not right now. party planning is so hard for me! i get really hung up on things that aren't important and then the stress fritzes me outi also want people to know that even if they don't have stuff to bring or don't want to swap they are still welcome to come over and hang out and meet some new people/talk with me and who knows -- maybe a free accessory or other item may fall into their laps! you never know what you're gonna get at a swap.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 20:07 (five years ago) link
i will def let you know how it goes. it's a week from tomorrow :)
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 9 February 2019 20:08 (five years ago) link
i have since let go some of the items i found at the beginning of this thread almost 7 years ago! wowtime flies!my swap failed btw. i had to cancel it!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Friday, 2 August 2019 23:52 (four years ago) link
It’s 2023 now and I just got home from a trip to hometown, where I visited my hometown first and fave thrift and scored many items to my immense satisfaction. Haul included: 4 nice sweaters, one denim skirt, one pair cords, two blouses for work, one tweed jumper dress, and a pair of shorts to sleep in bc I forgot mine. The thrill is not gone!!
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Saturday, 7 January 2023 22:11 (one year ago) link
yay!!!
a friend on fb who lives in Canada recently posted complaining about how fast fashion is most of what you see anymore in thrift stores ... I do a lot of it online now, and seriously, there is so much of it. I am tempted to suggest to the online thrift site I frequent that it should have a way to filter out certain brands. Like, can I just omit all the Shein, Lularoe, etc. crap?
― sarahell, Sunday, 8 January 2023 00:19 (one year ago) link
I’ve never taken to internet thrifting in spite of years of attempts. Being in the store and being able to hold the items, it makes choosing so much easier for me. I tried on the skirt over my jeans but overall everything I bought fit nicely and I didn’t try anything else on before buying. Part of that is my size, I know. The other part is the eye, which doesn’t work the same way for me on a screen. I’m so relieved to have some fresh work clothes and not have to sweat it or shell out hundreds of clams lol
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Sunday, 8 January 2023 17:54 (one year ago) link