29 Jun Spotlight: Udelco Vintage Warehouse

Last weekend I finally checked out Udelco in Hawthorne, New Jersey. The massive vintage clothing distributor is open to the public and nothing’s over $20. Besides the affordability, I was looking forward to falling in love with the 60s, 70s and 80s apparel.

Like I stated, Udelco is a warehouse and most of the clothing is stacked on shelves in cardboard boxes. Though some people are turned off or intimidated by digging through tons of clothing, I love it. There’s nothing better than searching for a vintage, affordable treasure.

I spent two hours at the Udelco and I was in absolute heaven. Check out the pieces I found below as well as some tips on how to thrift in a warehouse location.

When you first enter the warehouse, some clothing, including dresses, pants and jumpsuits are on easy to navigate racks and shoes are nearly arranged.

{tons of vintage cowboy boots}

{i loved this sequin top but it was ripped pretty badly}

{midi print skirts and dresses}

A row of four or five boxes lined the wall of the entrance.

Once you go further in to the warehouse, that’s where the real fun begins. You’re surrounded by boxes, stacked about 10 feet high.

Each box is descriptively labeled, such as hippy skirts, 70s bell bottoms, 80s dresses, etc. I was surprised to find that everything was super organized. A box of 80s dresses really was full of 80s dresses. And the owner was super helpful and when I was looking for specific items like rompers and concert t-shirts, she knew exactly where to direct me.

{garth brooks concert tee}

{i loved this envelope style clutch but it had a lot of wear and tear at the edges}

{three boxes were full of military jackets}

This is the type of place you can easily spend hours in and like I wrote, I was there for two hours. Here’s what I ended up purchasing.

Of course I had to get this military jacket. It fit like a glove and I can’t wait to wear it on a chilly night with skinny jeans or a LBD. Vintage and thrift shops are perfect destinations if you want to embrace the military trend.

{only $8}

Of course I had to find some girly pieces as well. This bright silk accordion skirt was one of the first pieces I picked up.

I’m really in to long skirts for summer and I picked up an awesome green and gold number in the “hippy skirt” box. I had to try it on as soon as I got home. I’m. In. Love.

I really do feel like a hippy in this floor grazing beauty. I can see myself wearing this on a relaxing day spent in Brooklyn at Habana Outpost and the flea market or taking in some music at Central Park’s Summerstage.

My three items totaled $21. Thrift store score! Udelco really is a hidden treasure. It’s in such an unassuming location {it really just looks like a random warehouse} but if you’re in or near northern New Jersey, it’s worth stopping by. I think I’m going to make this a monthly shopping trip.

If you decide to hit up Udelco, here are a few things to keep in mind:
-Leave the debit card at home. The store is cash only.
-There aren’t any carts, so bring a shoulder bag to throw your items in while shopping.

While shopping, just be patient and you’re sure to find something. Bring along a friend for some fun or if you’re flying solo, just pop in your earbuds.

And be sure to dress comfortably as you’ll be doing a lot of bending and lifting boxes off of shelves. I kept my look simple with  a tee, fitted jeans, cross body bag and flats. Actually, the outfit I went thrift shopping in was thrifted!

{this awesome, creepy statue at Udelco’s entrance}