My 101 on Vintage Thrift Shopping
If you haven't Thrift shopped in a while maybe it is time for you to give it a try once again.
The joys of thrift shopping are many. There is nothing like the delight in finding that amazing skirt or pair of carpi pants in the perfect color of the season. Or having someone come up to you and tell you that your top is beautiful. Not to mention the joy of spending a rainy afternoon looking through isles of color texture and styles.
As a young girl I lived in the same outfits again and again. Since most of my girlfriends had the same 6 t-shirts and 3 pair of jeans all in sizes either too small or just a bit to big occasionally having on favorite pair that fit just right. It never dawned on to me to be sad that I didn't have anything wonderful or new. When I was in the 7th grade I had a couple outfits that I wore each week that were favorites. I had a blue shirt that had "adjustable" sleeves and a pair of jeans passed down from a neighbor.
I also remember having a purple outfit that I bought new. I still remember buying it and being so sad that we had to walk so far to get to the mall then only to find that the $35.00 my mom gave me for back to school clothing didn't go far at all.
When I entered my early 20's I met an older girl that showed me my first thrift store. I had been crying to her about the fact that I still had the same clothing I had when I was in high school. While I watched all my girl friends parade out in various outfits. Living on my own and having to pay all my bills apartment and car insurance didn't allow much left to eat on let alone buy me nice clothing. Becky introduced me to Village Discount Outlet in Norwood Ohio. I can remember walking out of there with two PACKED brown paper bags that I spent a whopping $12.64 cents for the entire lot. I had 4 pair of jeans that tops to last me for days. My happiness knew no bounds.
The happiness wasn't limited to the fact that I had "new clothing." Not only did I have clothing that I LOVED I had some really nice labels in the bunch and the fact that I felt good about me. Plus I couldn't wait to go back.
Things have changed through the years. I have gone to several of that stores sister shops. Only to watch the last of the local ones close just this past winter. The week before Christmas my favorite store in Newport closed its doors. It was a devastating loss to my mother and I as our monthly excursions came abruptly to an end. I spent many years of finding amazing clothing from Hollister shirts for my kids to Pyrex bowls for me. The closing of that beloved store sent me off in search of other places to scout out bargains.
I would like to share with you some of my tips for vintage thrift shopping.
- "Float your own boat" ~ It is really good to know your own style. I am not a blue jean wearer. So finding a pair of jeans in my size if not going do me much good if they are just going to lounge around in my closet. You could find the most amazing dress but if you know for certain you will never wear a dress then it probably is a waste of money.
- Shop off season. Yesterday you could have fried and egg on the sidewalk. It was just that hot. However if I had found that perfect cardigan sweater I certainly wouldn't pass it up. Often thrift stores will have off season items even cheaper the current season.
- Lucky Lust List. Keep a list tucked in your wallet or a document on your phone. List your measurements, as well as the people you shop for. List the items you "Lust" after. If you always wanted that long herringbone skirt for the holidays it is good idea to have that on your list as well as the coral ruffle shirt that the lady that was on that show you were watching last night. Sizes are nice to have marked down if you are shopping for someone else as not having that person with you makes shopping for them difficult.
- SIZE MATTERS/DON'T JUDGE A TOP BY IT'S SIZE TAG~That said I have to say this I have mixed sizes in my closet. I have come home with XL that are too tight and smalls and mediums that are perfect fits. LABELS are varied. Many things can and will vary the sizer of clothing. Companies, Time frames, quality of garments, the care and washing of the garment. If you can try the item on by all means take the time to. We all have things in our closet that we regret buying because the don't fit properly.
- Let's Play Tag! If a garment has a NEW tag on it, the workers at the store will often price it higher. This doesn't always mean it is a good deal. Many Many times I have seen a GAP OLD NAVY BANANA REPUBLIC item with a company tag on it for a high dollar. $38.00 (example) The Thrift store will price the item $18.00 you think you are getting this great deal. WRONG the item sold last season or two seasons ago at the outlet store for .99 cents. I know because I have the exact same shirt at home. If you love it will wear it, buy all means buy it.
- Shopping out of other Peoples Carts~ Just kidding!!!! Don't do that and do not leave your cart unattended. I have had stalkers in the thrift store! If you walk away from your cart expect to have someone else riffling through it. I have had this happen a few times, as well as having people stop me and comment about something in my cart that they covet.
- Daily Deal$~Most Thrift Stores, second hand shops, consignment shops have specials or mark down days. $4.99 for a pair of shoes you love is great $2.50 is even better.
- Be nice!~ Smile and Chat with the sales people as they ring up your items. Sometimes they remember you. I have had a couple shops hold items for me to look at before they put them out on the shelf.
- Why is this here?~I used to sell clothing I had a virtual shop on eBay and I made a ton of money. I know labels. I also know that women buy clothing on a whim. Often the clothing that they spent 100's of dollars on often end up hanging in their closet for a couple seasons and then they donate them because they a) never lost that last 10 pounds. b) never fit in that size after Little Jimmy was born. c) their life changed and they don't have a career or no longer go out in the evening. d) just never found anything to go with it. e) they bought it because it was on sale. f) they bought it for a child and it never fit. g) it was a gift that really wasn't something they would wear.
- Shop Often~Don't assume that just because you don't find a lot of good deals one day that you wont ever. Some times I find very little other times I so much no way I could afford it all.
- Store to store. Just because a Second Hand Shop has a fancy name doesn't mean the clothes are any better. In fact it can be just the opposite. I have been in some Up Scale Resale places that have racks and racks of out dated ugly faded items that are picked over and all you are left with are things that should probably be tossed. Most of the time the items that are donated are much better than items taken to consignment shops which the actual items are taken to the shop buy someone hoping to get a percentage of an item that they own by having the shop owner sell the item for them. The items are marked down a bit each week. Which means they start out at half to three fourths the price of the actual cost of the item. You can find some very nice labels in these shops. However I have found you may not get as much for your money.
- What is it worth? If you pick up a simple plain black top in a thrift shop and you know that that item is usually sold some place like Walmart for $6.88 then if buying it used saving you any money. It could in many cases be a huge savings. If the item is $4.99 at your local Thrift Store and today they have a special on all green tag items and this black top is proudly sporting green... then $2.50 is very nice.
- Kids clothing. I for one have seen baby outfits that have two and three pieces NEW hanging up in Thrift stores for $2.50. Kids grow in the blink of an eye. I used to buy a size larger than my child and roll the cuffs and waist band the first season. The second season they would fit just right the third they would get a wearing or two. USUALLY these clothing items were still PERFECT when I would pass them on to another child or donate them. My kids wore really really nice clothing. They had Gymboree and Children's Place Clothing for a SMALL percentage of what i would have bought new.
- Shopping with Teens. Teens do not realize the value of a dollar. I have one that will spend my last dollar and the house payment too if he could. I have one that is grown now that knows that the good stuff is always in the back of the RETAIL Shops and the Best stuff is always in the thrift stores. Kids lose interest quickly. Many times they find thrift stores unappealing due to the the PRE OWNED idea. I wish I could show them the sweat shops in third world countries and the people that are slaving away to make the clothing that they find at Walmart. However all they need is to find that one outfit that they love and it is game on. My older son was shocked the last time we shopped for ties to see so many teen and college age guys (and girls) shopping second hand. He said while he hadn't expected to see them he was glad to see that they understood about reduce recycle and reuse.
- Price This really factors in for me. Is it half off? Is it usually an item that in a retail store I would be paying a good deal of money for?
- Condition Does it look nice with no rips stains tears missing buttons or zipper issues?
- Use How often will you wear this? Is it a one time shot that you know you will only wear to one function? Is it something you will wear often? Is it something that will co mingle nicely with your other wardrobe items? Will it mix and match with other items? Is it good for more than one season? Can you layer it?
- Care Every single item you purchase from the thrift store needs to be cleaned. BEFORE you wear it. Ideally you need to wash it as soon as you get it home, or you can take your items to a dry cleaner and have them cleaned and pressed before you take them home. Even if you buy something with a "new" tag on it it still needs to be cleaned before wearing. (in this day and age you should also think about washing brand new garments before wearing them since you do not know who tried them on before you or who took them home and returned them.) In general most items have labels on them These days the newer garments have printed tags inside or they have cloth tags located down buy the hem (this was introduced in the last decade to keep the tag from itching your neck) Dry clean only items in some cases can be hand washed in Woolite in some cases, but do your homework research online before trying this trick at home
- Fit If there is a chance you can try this garment on? Many Thrift stores have dressing rooms. If you can try it on and time permits do this. Just because it is your size doesn't mean it is your fit.
I have to add this last little bit. Life is messy. I have had kids leave pens in there pants pocket. RUINING a load of laundry. I personally in my 20s left a tube of lipstick in a pair of pants RUINING a load of laundry. I have gotten pool chlorine on clothing as well as stained things just in daily use. It is a sad day when you have a perfectly beautiful new top and in a split second something happened and it is now only really good for the rag bag. I feel a lot happier when I spend $3.00 on something and I snag it on something then when I spend $16.00 on something. Keep in mind NOTHING IS NEW AFTER YOU WASH IT. In this day and age of not knowing where your clothes come from or who's homes they have been in or what public transportation they were in to get to and from the store... and how many floors they have been on you should wash them when you bring them home no matter if they are coming from a high end retailer, discount or thrift store.
