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When I was in high school I was loved thrift store shopping. I went through this “hippy” period where I only wore peasant skirts and distressed 501 jeans and BIG earrings and necklaces, so I did a lot of scouring for vintage looking clothing. Plus, I felt really cool driving into Los Angeles and West Hollywood to shop their stores. Right around the time I went to college my obsession will all things vintage ended. For about 20 years there, you couldn’t have paid me to set foot in most thrift stores.
And then suddenly about a year ago, I had this desire to take it up again and I’ve found the greatest collection of vintage skirts and blouses and even jackets. My pencil skirt collection though is enviable though if I do say so myself. Mostly because I picked up every skirt here for under $2 each and every single one is lined and a few are even wool!
Here’s the thing about vintage clothing though. I’ve found that it’s smaller (the waist and arm openings ) than clothing today so it’s kind of fun to find one’s correct “vintage” size, and just to try on old pieces and see how ill fitting they be, or how great they can fit all these years later.
The other day I found this fabulous 40’s skirt at a consignment store. I paid more for it that I normally would $26, but it’s wool and in perfect condition from the 40’s. It has leather detailing in the front and back that I wish you could see in the photo and it’s so cute on. I even found the perfect pair of heels for it. I love being able to imagine someone wearing the skirt 60 years ago. I have to think that whomever owned it loved the skirt enough to keep it around for decades before it landed in the consignment store!
Last year I picked up this leather coat for $20. I’ve loved it ever since. I think it looks really cute on….too bad I can’t get rid of the slight thrift store “stink” on it.
Which of course is one of the pitfalls of buying thrift store items. Sometimes they stink and no amount of intervention takes that smell away. At least in my experience. Not enough of course though, to dissuade me from thrift store shopping. I heart it!
Do you go thrift store shopping? If so, what is your most fabulous thrift store “find”?
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About Angie
The closest I ever get lately to thrift store shopping is the occasional garage sale find 🙂 I can’t even get myself to the mall these days! (And if I do, it is typically to find something for the kids.) Sad to say, but I tend to do a lot of shopping at Target simply as a one stop shop…
With that being said… I absolutely LOVE Once-Upon-a-Child (which is our local gently used children’s cloths store)!
Those are some great finds. I never luck out and find anything good.
And, you look great in the jacket (and I bet the skirts, too…I’m only slightly jealous!)
I LOVE shopping at thrift stores! I can always find something for anyone in my house when I hit them up! Lately I’ve been hitting up Goodwill here because they’ve had a lot of great things from Target!
I really like the 40’s skirt! That is a great find!
It doesn’t surprise me a bit that you are good at finding vintage treasures! You’re always adorable!
Cool vintage finds!
Seeing that flabby coat makes me want to thrift store it up tomorrow! Cute stuff, great prices, green-reuse living! 🙂
Happy Wednesday, Dear Friend!
FABBY coat! Not “flabby!” (I HATE auto-correct!)
Nice collection of skirts!! I love thrifting, and even managed an awesome vintage store in Chicago called Flashy Trash in my early 20’s. There are so many special pieces I have, but this obnoxious 60’s evening coat is probably my fav find. It’s a pink, orange and gold lame polka dot print on white polyester background with 3/4 sleeves and giant buttons. I’m not doing it justice…it’s so cool looking and totally unique and from Bergdorf’s, all for $10!!
And no, you can NEVER get that smell out of leather. That’s just what leather starts to smell like as it ages. Oh well. Your jacket kicks ass!
That leather coat is a cool thrift store find. I don’t usually shop at thrift stores but am a frequent purchaser at yard sales.
Have you tried covering the coat in a plastic bag and also putting inside a cup (or bucket ;)) of vinegar, then leaving it for at least one night? I found this really helps reduce smell in leather (though it will not get rid of it completely).
Oh they are beautiful
What great find! I LOVE thrift store shopping! It’s like a treasure hunt for me. I always fins such great items.
FYI: This weekend for Earth Day, the Goodwill stores in my area are offering 25% off a purchase and if you bring in items to donate, you can receive a free shopping tote.
http://www.goodwill-suncoast.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.earthday
What great finds. Must remember to try some thrift store shopping in my future. 😉
You scored some great finds! I’ll have to ask my hubby what leather conditioner stuff he got for his leather goods – gets rid of old smells and makes it smell like new leather again…might work on that awesome coat!
We did a lot of thrift shopping growing up, but it’s been years since I’ve done that… I’m thinking a trip is in order in the near future. 😉
Creation from a Hunger Games Obsession
Ok, that coat is SMOKIN’!!!! and that skirt is awesome. I bet it looks amazing on you.
I have never been a thrift store shopper but now I am thinking maybe I should be.
You have such a great sense of style.
Angie, I love everything you found!! I am an avid thrift store shopper. I used to thrift store shop a lot more when I had money, but I still love it either way!
I haven’t shopped in the thrift store since my oldest daughter was a toddler, so a good 8+ years. But, honestly, in the past week or so, I’ve felt the familiar urge. She is such a budding fashionista and my wallet can’t keep up with her tastes/desires, even needs vs wants. So. I decided we’ll go to a few this weekend and see what we can find. I used to go with my mother all the time and oh, the things we’d find. I had a leather trench similar to yours that I recently parted with at a yard sale for $15 ($10 more than I paid for it years ago).
I am definitely envious of your pencil skirt collection. Mmmmm linings. It amazes me when places like Banana Republic want me to pay $88 for a wool skirt that’s unlined. Um, no thanks, not paying you that much to be itching all day. A lining can make or break a big purchase for me.
Look at you all sassy in your coat. Love the pencil skirts. My thighs are too thick to wear those. I am a hot mess. I shop thrift and consignment stores occassionally, but I’m usually shopping for vintage Fiestaware or Pyrex. My mom is currently on the hunt for a vintage cake plate with a dome.
I will admit that my halloween costumes come from there 🙂
I used to shop there too when I was in highschool. Now? I actually find that the thriftstore is more expensive than hitting up a sale at the mall. Sure they don’t have the character but…I am cheap…what can I say.
I do love that coat.
Love that jacket!
I used to shop thrift stores alot but have dropped off since kids b/c it takes so much time to actually go through the racks and look.
You know, I’ve been thinking about this A LOT. There are a few thrift stores around us now and I’m not sure how I feel about the whole thing. I’ve been drafting a post in my head, but w/all the kids’ activities and my SD here last week, I just haven’t had the time. I’ll get around to it soon, but I don’t know…I bought some “vintage” bags off of eBay and the smell BUGS me. i haven’t used them because of that and they’re GORGE!!!
PS – Love all of your finds!!!! That coat is to die for!
My crazy sister in law has a jacket like that! But I think hers is original… 🙂
You know I love the DI, but not because I’m into vintage, or anything remotely style-y. Sadly, I’m just cheap.
And my best find? Too many to recall. Thrift store shopping is an adventure, and shopping, all rolled into one.
Oh Angie, I love this! And you look amazing in that leather coat! WOW!
That leather jacket is gorgeous, you totally rock it!
I wish I had the patience to do the thrift store thing. I walk in and am just so overwhelmed by the messiness and the “old” smell usually that I turn right around and walk out. We don’t have any good stores in my area, so its kind of a waste of time anyways. Boo! I think it could be so much find to go through a good store.
LOVE thrift stores! I don’t buy a lot of clothing there unless I’m really needing something. I’ve been losing weight though so I keep picking up some smaller clothes. I mostly look for vintage stuff to resell on Etsy.