I stop at thrift stores pretty often. Nothing exciting lately, but some decent clothing for myself. Thrifting and garage sales aren’t as fun as when I had little kids who needed a whole new wardrobe every year. Now I can only buy things that are really great because I don’t really need any more clothes.
In the early 2000s I was an eBay seller, focusing on clothing, and did pretty well. Like I was finding St. John by Marie Gray in Iowa thrift stores. (Still don’t get the appeal of that brand, but for example I bought a cardigan for $1 and sold for $105.) Another time I bought a mens Pendleton sweater because of the brand name, then randomly found out it was the exact same sweater from The Big Lebowski, and Halloween was coming up. Since I knew then to use the Lebowski keywords I sold it for over $200. Or I would purchase secondhand items for my kids, then when outgrown, put together a curated lot and sell them for more than I paid.
I’ve been looking for a MCM credenza with legs for over a year and they get scooped up SO fast!! I don’t want a new reproduction piece, I prefer to have an older piece!
My aunt and uncle built a lovely waterfront home about 15 years ago. Just about the entire kitchen (except flatware and dishes) came from thrift/consignment stores. You would never know it, and she has some lovely stuff. When I “need” something I text her and ask her to look out for me.
Overall I would much rather spend actual I. Store time in a thrift type store than a regular, new merchandise store. I do order new stuff online but don’t love (anymore) going into stores.
I also will buy secondhand online - more casual clothing or shoes that I know will likely work (like a certain brand/model of athletic shoe that is new or nearly
New.
I have never scored “big” at thrift shops, but I also prefer them over new shops. Often, older merchandise is better made (from furniture to clothing); I feel that I’m keeping items out of land-fills; and depending on the store, contributing to a cause. To be honest, it also reduces the choices, which makes decisions easier!
I had a friend who bought expensive clothes who talked me into a St. John black knit pencil skirt in 2008. (I remember why were shopping together, so I remember the year very vividly). It was on its second mark down, but it was still WAY more expensive than I was going to pay for a plain black skirt. She said “if you buy it, you’ll wear it twice a week for 9 months of the year and you’ll never need to buy another black skirt again”.
And it came to pass. I didn’t wear it during Covid. But otherwise, it’s perfect for September-June in my climate, you roll it into a ball into a tote bag if you need to travel for work and then just shake it out in the bathroom of the airport and put it on, take the sweat pants off and stuff them back in the tote. As long as you are wearing a presentable top, you look professional. I’ve worn it with a dressy sweater to a not-formal wedding, and it’s my go-to for funerals. I’ve gained and lost 10-12 lbs but it fits no matter what size I am.
Since then I’ve splurged on a couple of other things (a black and white tweed jacket which is indestructible, goes with everything, fits no matter how fat I get) and I gotta say, it’s a relief not to have to replace the “perfect jacket” from Banana Republic or Ann Taylor that falls apart after two seasons. Even Talbots- the quality has gone way down hill.
My caveat- the “bejeweled” St. John items look a little- matronly? Or like you’re a character from Dynasty (if you remember that show).
But the plain, tailored things- jackets, cardigans, skirts-- they are really indestructible. And if- like me- your size zooms up and down- the stretchy knit is perfect. I also have a silk dress which I bought several years ago for a wedding (third markdown but it was still expensive for me) and I gotta say- no matter the season or occasion, it looks appropriate, elegant, doesn’t wrinkle even though it’s silk. So if you’ve ever despaired at finding something for an event where you don’t need special underwear, or have to be pulling up a too-low neckline, or tugging at sleeves which are too short… that’s one solution.
And pockets, OMG the pockets. A “fancy” dress with pockets? Lipstick and phone in one, reading glasses in the other, bye-bye handbag!
I have struggled to find the cheaper version of St John but it must be out there!
Years (well, decades) ago I was a big LLBean fan. I think they then went through a period where their stuff looked too basic and boring to me and some items seemed not made well. I’ve recently rediscovered them for outerwear. Both of daughters have also bought tried and true outerwear from them the last couple of years that is hugely practical for winters in the Midwest.
I only buy secondhand for home decor. I’m just not a fan of filling my home with the exact same items everyone else found at HomeGoods or IKEA. H and I love to hit up antique shops in Bucks County, PA and upstate NY. We’ve found some great things over the years.
I’m a total convert to buying secondhand when it comes to buying furniture and anything else for the home. The conversion took place when we bought a new home 5 years ago and for reasons of style and space, very little of the furniture from our last house would work in it.
There’s an excellent auction house about an hour away which holds an auction every 2 weeks and attracts dealers from hundreds of miles away. After Covid shut everything down they began holding the auctions exclusively online and I consigned most of the furniture from our former home. I also needed a very substantial storage piece to be used in a very large great room in the new house. I was too late on an incredible credenza that sold for an extremely low price and mourned it for months only to see that exact piece pop up on FB marketplace, priced for 4 times what the seller paid. I still wanted it and immediately agreed to pay the asking price of $525. I discovered that this credenza was still being sold new in retail stores for anywhere between $10k to $14k. I’ve gotten some great deals before but I don’t think I’ll ever top this one.
Jeans were $2/pair at the thrift store on Friday, so I got one pair for me and (OMG) 8 pairs for my daughter. They were all so cute and for $2 she can wear them a few times and toss them.
It will cost me more to mail them to her than the jeans.
My daughter never liked shopping. When she was in high school I used to pick out $2 thrift shop pants that fit me. At home we’d decide if she liked them or not. If yes, she’d keep. If not I’d give them a try and either keep or re-donate.
These days most of my ARC thrift shop purchases are various layers for running (and now pickleball). For example, I have an assortment of sleeveless biking shirts with nice rear pockets, some zippered. Most were about $3 (because I buy on half price days). But I have splurged $5 for great Marmot hooded windbreaker with pit zips & a lovely brand new collared relaxed bike shirt with zipped rear pocket (saving that for future trip with rental bike). Over time, I re-donate items as I find others that I like better.
When son was little, I bought a lot of his clothes in the resale shop in our upscale commuter suburb. I was plus size at the time and also bought most of my nicer clothes there since stores at the time didn’t have a great selection. I also got a number of his toys, especially the larger ones, at yard sales. I couldn’t necessarily keep up with the Joneses, but I could let them spend the big bucks then benefit when they disposed of stuff.
Toys are an excellent thing to secure second hand. And to sell second hand! We have nearly every Fisher Price playset made in probably the 70s and bought them all second hand - and they are still perfect. McDonald’s, the house, the town, the garage, the zoo, the airport… many more!
Just beware. Some second hand and thrift shops will not take those FP sets with the little people as they are a choking risk for young kids. So if you plan to take them…call first!
We got a lot of used toys, and good ones, at tag sales also.
Oh, no way am giving them up! I’m just saying we originally got them all through garage sales, consignment, thrift. Before “the little people” got a bad name.
My best find when my boys were little was a shoebox of Pokémon cards. I was the best Mom ever that week.
One of my sons bought a hockey shirt of a popular bar that had closed at a thrift store in college. Someone offered him $60 for it at another bar. Luckily he was wearing a T-shirt under it so he could make the sale.
How bout 30 hard copy Hardy Boys books…for $5! It was the end of a TG sale weekend. I asked what they wanted for the whole box and they said…make an offer. I asked if $5 was enough.
Both of our kids read them all, and then we passed them on to some cousins who were younger…and they all read them!
My MIL used to buy me all kinds of stuff - mostly junk - at yards sales. But one pair of stretchy nice black pants she bought in 1999 for $0.50. I wore them all the time until 2023-2024. Best $0.50 ever
