Comments on: Thrift store shopping

By: Sandy Peterson

Sandy Peterson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:56:22 +0000

I hate the mall, I hate the thrift store, I hate all kinds of shopping, EXCEPT the flee market!! But I don’t look for clothes there either. I wish I could just wake up to a closet full of clothes that I have made for myself. I love to sew and love to learn!!

I’m heading out right now to do some errands, and I am going to stop and look for a jacket.

Hum, why is it that every thrift store that I have ever been to……..um………why do they all have the same smell??

Thanks for all you do Kathleen!!

Hey, I don’t know if you have been asked this before, but have you thought about turning your blog into a book with cross references to the links in each article? I don’t know how long it would take, but I could help you do that if you would like? Or, if you wanted, you wouldn’t have to do it at all, you could just keep writing and I could do it for you. Just an idea.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:46:06 +0000

I love to go to thrift stores when I’m looking for something in particular. I do costuming for our theatre group and am always visiting several stores per show. While I’m there, I usually do look to see if there’s anything unusual that I might need at a later date and I always look for jackets for myself, especially vintage ones. You can go down a long line of clothing and visually pick out the vintage fabrics. For my middle son, I bought a vintage satin trimmed tuxedo jacket that he wore to his senior prom and was crowned King of the Prom in. Some other kids’ moms told me how much they spent on rentals for their sons’ tuxedos and I could only laugh and say that I’d bought Alex’s for $3 at the thrift store and that he was crowned King! My oldest son borrowed a vintage tux that I’d purchased for my theatre to his prom and my youngest son had his first dance last year and told me that he’d need me to purchase one from the thrift store for him to wear. His was a great bargain @ $2.

By: Theresa in Tucson

Theresa in Tucson — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:31:26 +0000

I’m taking an Alternations class right now and have been to the thrift store three times in the past two weeks. I’ve found items to modify into something else; some stuff either I or the offspring can wear so I don’t have to sew it; items to practice alterations on; and several items for tear-downs. My best find was a pair of expensive shoes in a “to die for” red. They were a size too large for me but flew back to Vermont with my sister at the end of her visit last week. For her they were a perfect fit.

I’ve even talked to the sorter in the back room so she will save me some items that need repair for the upcoming mending class. I promised to donate them back if the repair was successful. And like Stormy, I’m in the process of copying an item that fits me well, but is not wearable in public.

Thrift stores rock!

Happy Anniversary Fashion Incubator!

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:27:10 +0000

All the ladies in my community are always bragging about their thrift store finds. I laugh! I just go through my drawers and closet and find things older than Moses and continue to wear them. If I gave this stuff away I would be forced to go out shopping too.

By: Stormy

Stormy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:53:47 +0000

Congratulations on the 5 year anniversary, Kathleen, and thanks for sharing some of your older posts. I also hate going shopping for new clothes, but I have been a thrifter for years. I have a lot of reasons for doing this: cost, re-use, love of quality, and the ability to find something unique all play into it, as well as the enjoyment I get from hunt and reward.

Using thrifting as an opportunity to learn isn’t something I’ve ever done intentionally. But, I have gone through the process you describe – more out of want of something that fits properly, than with technique as a primary goal. Most recent find: a moth-eaten wool skirt with a high waist and a bias cut. Fit me gorgeously, but was beyond repair. I had no problem ripping it apart and using it as a pattern and a construction guide. Point taken, though: a lot can be learned from others’ work.

By: Snoo

Snoo — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:57:41 +0000

Interesting article. Love … absoutely love shopping at local thrift stores. It is a challenge to bring used clothing to life again with new trim or buttons, a soak in Oxy-clean, and a good washing. I sew for our local theatre and love it when our thrift shop has 50 cent Friday with each garment costing only 50 cents. This summer we turned about 75 thrift shop dresses into Thoroughly Modern Millie costumes for 43 girls. It’s such fun to turn a red skirt and red/white polka dot blouse into a flapper dress with a polka dot sash and collar.

By: Leslie Hanes

Leslie Hanes — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:29:35 +0000

I hate clothes shopping too. Pretty much everything I wear is an advertisement, but it’s for me, not for Calvin Klein. I own 2 businesses, so I either wear outerwear from Discovery Trekking (comfortable! fashionable? pretty nice but mostly functional.) OR I wear something that says
Curves…because I also have a Curves franchise. When I have to go out somewhere nice, I usually borrow something from my daughter, otherwise I look like I’m in a time warp from the 80’s.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:33:21 +0000

Love your articles!! This one was fun to read, and since I am a recently-new reader, didn’t get that far back in the archives yet! (Yes, life is busy). I am a freelance Designer…for Y-E-A-R-S and have recently started a small business with Designer/BF using clothes from thrift stores and regenerating them into new pieces to wear now. ReDewin.com love finding beautiful fabrics and turning them into fun new garments. Problem is very time-consuming and then getting others to appreciate also. Also difficult time to have a new biz, need a better outlet and to work on our PR for sure!
Keep up the good work, love reading your stuff!

By: Lois

Lois — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:57:17 +0000

Middle of the night and I am poring over your blog. From the very beginning!

I love clothes but have never had time for them. Just too many decisions to make!

So I adopt a uniform…My favorite one was in the early seventies, cover-alls…I used to call them Overhauls….until my son laughed at me and told me that was what you did to your car and you wore over-alls while doing it.

Any way it was overhauls with handmade cowboy shirts (tore apart old lady cotton dresses) and clogs on my feet.

Thanks for the sweet trip down memory lane

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:36:22 +0000

Actually, I think the Navy uses steel cables on aircraft carriers. I know the Air Force doesn't use carriers. Former Navy Seabee, and the closest I ever got to a carrier was taking a tour of the Nimitz, but I did walk on the flight deck. I don't personally boycott the industry, but I loathe the idea spending money on clothes with logos emblazoned on them. Read Pattern Recognition by William Gibson for an idea of this. Basically, I don't want to spend money on someone else's advertising. I usually end up shopping at TJ Maxx for clothes (no thrift shops in my area) with small logos or none at all.