05 Jun Udelco Vintage Warehouse – Stylish Gems on a Dime

Do you know what I did last weekend? If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, then yeah, you already know. I hit up the thrift mecca of Udelco warehouse for some serious vintage shopping.

I previously posted about Udelco about two years ago, but it was time I paid them a visit again and this time my aunt and cousin joined me. For those who attended my last Ready, Set, Thrift! event, you may have seen my aunt. The thrift shopping party was her first time thrifting and I was happy that she and my cousin joined me for another round of thrift therapy.

Based in northern New Jersey, Hawthorne to be exact, Udelco vintage warehouse has affordable, one-of-a-kind clothes. While most vintage wholesalers aren’t open to the public, Udelco opens their doors to anyone looking for a treasure hunt. See what I found, plus a few tips if you ever plan to visit a thrift warehouse.

As mentioned, it had been a few years since my last visit, but nothing changed at Udelco. They still don’t accept cards and clothes were still “organized” in tons of cardboard boxes. I use the word organized loosely because you still have to do serious digging, but each box is meticulously labeled. Categories include 70s prairie skirts, denim overalls, military jackets, hippy tops, 80s blazers, etc.

The great thing about this is if you know what you’re looking for, you can just head to that bin and dig away. The shop owners are great because if you’re looking for something in particular but don’t see it, just tell them and they know exactly what direction to point you in. I’ve never seen an official list of prices, but most pieces seem to average under $10.

I love the treasure hunt aspect of thrift shopping, so I’m all about going through boxes to find a serious gem. I’d much rather put in the work versus going to a vintage boutique and paying a crazy amount of cash for my threads.

Anytime I thrift, but especially when I’m at a shop like this, I seek clothes I normally wouldn’t find anywhere else. That’s exactly what I got when I came across this amazing toga-style jumpsuit from Farouche.

What’s on trend now was hot years ago. I saw at least three boxes of denim overalls. Unfortunately I didn’t find a pair that had a perfect fit.

Thrift Tips: When shopping in a warehouse setting, it’s really best to wear form fitting clothes {i.e. tights or leggings} or a skirt, so you can try pieces on over your clothes. Also, to prevent overspending, have a loose idea of what you’re looking for. Otherwise, you’ll seriously be like a kid in a candy store and spend way more than you anticipated.

For $15, I walked away with my funky jumpsuit and a braided belt, which you’ll see in a style post real soon. And that 15 bucks is the only money I spent on clothes and accessories in May. I clearly came in way under the $50 monthly budget for my Thrifty Threads 365 challenge!

Do you prefer shopping off of racks or digging through bins? What’s your strategy when you hit a warehouse sale?