^^ I LOVE that idea - all navy blue bridesmaid dresses. As an artist, my dad has always said that blues all harmonize with each other; more than any other color. What a great gift to the bridesmaid!
@thumper1 that is a fabulous tradition especially considering your volunteer gig. My family would love that! Very fun.
DH got all his Harris Tweed jackets via thrift. Originally, his friend’s mother, a vol, would spot for him. Later, he’d check a local prep’s annual clothing sale for them- the last two days, something like $10/shopping bag. When I lived in LA, I had a local Salvation Ary that sold a lot of vintage beauties (dresses, some handmade,) that I decided must have been from films. A-yup. Unfortunately, my current local SA is so dusty, I drop stuff off and don’t want to go in. And it’s not fun clothing. Also, yes to beautiful party dresses when the kids were little.
I watched an Antique Roadshow program where a girl had an entire collection of either dinnerware or silverware (can’t remember which) and the guy was amazed and said “Where did you get this?!!!”
Worth a LOT.
She admitted that she had acquired it through e-bay and consignment to put the set together.
I’m a thrifter from childhood on-I used to post regularly on the “Good Buy of the Day” thread of my finds. I shop for all of the reasons listed, and I do quite well. We have supposedly the largest Goodwill in the US in my city, and every fall they have a “Glitter Sale” with all kinds of top brand formal wear, designer shoes, etc. D and I used to go every year, but now that she’s away at school it’s just me. It’s so popular you need tickets to get in and if you go early there’s a line down the lock. This year I scored an Adrianna Pappell dress for D to wear for church or other formal function and it’s gotten raves from everyone who seas it. When she was home on break we found a $400 down Canadian parka for less than $20. D has a whole collection of top brand clothes for work, presentations at school, and of course everyday wear. I am less successful since I am short and round, but I do ok. I get the most use these day from a pair of Lucky brand jeans that are $100 in the stores but cost me $1.79 on a Monday “tag of the day” sale. I also made 4 cake stands for D’s HS graduation with some pretty white plates and candle holders glued together (there are tutorials online).
The downside to all of this is that I have…too many clothes and need to donate often!
I’ve lost 69 lbs since October 2017. I’ve bought and sold things at our local high-end consignment shop as well as thredup.com, swap.com and Poshmark. I always shop “new with tags” or “like new” and have gotten some great things very reasonably. I get tons of compliments so I must be doing something right.
After I said I never find anything much at Goodwill, we went today in this snowy afternoon. I found an adorable Chicos’s turquise spring sweater for .99, love it! And a loft soft yellow top for $4.49
I was very, very late to even stepping into thrift stores. It seemed easier to go to the mall and get everything I needed in one fell swoop. (I blame my mother who hates to shop, lol.)
Then two things happened: one, a pennypinching friend insisted she explore local thrift stores when visiting me from out of the country. I saw the cool things she found and jaw droppingly low prices.
And then I stumbled upon a vintage/antique dinnerware store that benefits Children’s Hospital. It was filled with wonderful bone china; heavy, old silverware; every kind of wine, champagne and liqueur glass imaginable; crystal, linens; tea sets – a wealth of treasures reasonably priced that instantly addicted me. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t discovered this store because there’s a limit (certainly a physical limit in my downsized household) to how much you need. But boy was it fun to discover, admire and, yes, occasionally shop there.
I adore garage sales, St. Vinnies in my neighborhood, Goodwill and the like. Economic necessity has played a bit part in it, but the thrill of the hunt gives me probably more personal pleasure than it should. These days, clothing quality plays a big part in buying used, as I adore quality cotton, linen and wool as well as well thought out design, and certainly cannot afford what that costs new. I have a personal mantra-“everything I need in life will be given to me at garage sales”. Though I buy new far more these days for specific reasons-see wedding thread.
Visiting S here in San Diego right now, I found a nice wool zip up sweater from Buffalo Exchange, a west coast used clothing chain that was a favorite in my 20s in Arizona. Ds and I go every chance we get, when visiting a city that has one.
Katliamom, dishes are a personal downfall. I have far too many lovely items, but try to cycle them through and out the door when something better comes along.