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By now you guys know I’m a proud thriftaholic. I’ve been scouring the racks of thrift and vintage stores for about 8 or 9 years now. One of the first pieces I ever thrifted was a straw DKNY bag. It came from a store in Philly {i forget the name but it was on Broad and Girard} and it was love at first sight.
The wooden tag says it was made in 1989 so that technically defines it as vintage! I believe I paid less than 10 bucks for it! I can’t wait to whip her out again once the warm weather finally returns.
Peep the short video below to see how I found this gem. And I also drop another handy thrift shopping tip!
And be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more thrift shopping tips, haul videos and DIY projects.
As you know, I was in Los Angeles last week for a taping of Oprah’s post Oscars show and of course I had to get some thrift shopping in. During my last visit to LA, I hit up Out of the Closet and a Goodwill and this time around I ventured to another Goodwill and a little thrift store in Burbank.
I was amazed at how many thrift stores are in LA, ranging from the big chains to mom and pop shops. On Magnolia Boulevard alone, my cheap chic eyes saw about a half dozen thrift options.
During the first day of my trip we just drove around and to my delight, we spotted a Goodwill and an In-N- Out across the street from one another. Goodwill always makes my eyes light up and I’m a true east coast girl so I was excited to finally try the burgers at In-N-Out {sidenote: I didn’t think the food was that great. *shrug*}.
We checked out the Goodwill {342 San Fernando Road} and it was pretty massive and organized, like most locations. It had tons of clothing, accessories and furniture.
The day that I visited, yellow tag items were 50 percent off, so I clearly started looking for pieces with a yellow tag. I didn’t find a ton of stuff until I made my way to the dress rack which was an entire wall of frocks. I found a few pieces and ultimately chose a free flowing Asos dress. I don’t typically like anything with butterflies on them but this backless, halter style is going to be perfect for spring and summer.
{it didn’t have a yellow tag so I paid the “full” price of $7.99.}
If you guys follow me on Twitter (@FlyonaDime), then you may occasionally read my tweets while I’m thrift shopping. I had a few people ask what my top thrift store tips are since I always seem to find great items. Ttrust me, I don’t always find great stuff but below are a few of my tips to thrift store shopping.
I like to shop alone, but when I thrift, I tend to have company. A friend can tell you how a jacket really looks on you if there’s no mirror around and you can help each other shop. If you’re searching for a particular item, tell your buddy and she can grab anything that might fit what you want {and you do the same for her as well}. Two sets of eyes and hands are always better than one.
When you’re digging through bins of clothing, it’s easy to get overwhelmed so try to focus on colors and/or patterns that catch your eye. I once found a great Banana Republic trench coat at Goodwill because I noticed part of it hanging out of a bin. I had no idea what it was {I just saw a sleeve} but the cobalt blue color struck me and now it’s one of my favorite items in my closet.
I can’t stress this enough. The inventory at a thrift store is never certain so some days you’ll find a cart full of great clothes and other days you may walk away empty handed. If you start to get too frustrated that you’re not finding anything, then you’ll probably continue to find nothing because you’re focused more on your frustration than snagging a hidden treasure. The more you go thrifting, the more patient you’ll become.
Check back next week for a few more tips. I may just start offering a new thrifting tip each week! If you have specific questions feel free to hit me up. Or if you have your own tips you’d like to share, leave them in the comments.
In lieu of Living Fly on a Dime’s one year anniversary, I wanted to embark on a major project. Check out the brief video below on Thrifty Threads 365.
Who: Me (Patrice)
What: Thrifty Threads 365, a year long endeavor where I will not purchase any new clothing or accessories. I can only buy second-hand items from thrift stores or flea markets. The only new goods I can purchase are underwear and I can utilize gift cards that have been given to me (via promotional items, presents, etc).
Why: I’ve always enjoyed thrifting but I really want to demonstrate that no matter what your budget is, you can have a fly wardrobe that suits your style. This is also a great way to save money.
When: September 1, 2010 (the official one year anniversary of Living Fly on a Dime) to September 1, 2011.
I know this is a lofty endeavor to take on, but I’m really excited. Thrifty Threads 365 is also open to any readers who want to join me in the challenge. Maybe you don’t want to give up shopping for a year, but maybe just a few months.
What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without shopping? Any tips for my challenge? Interested in joining in on the challenge?
