thrift stores : )

i TOTALLY get this! man, in high school i was definitely one of those people who had no idea of who the hell they were. i know that clothing and hair and whatnot is all just an outward reflection of people, but of course you can tell a lot about people by what they do with themselves.

since discovering thrift stores like three years ago i own way too much vintage jewelry and sew all the time. there's something really satisfying about knowing that no one will ever wear these things the way you do, and you've made them your own.

and as for figuring me out... because of this thrifting/styling obsession of mine i'm now going to college for fashion marketing. funny how clothes can do so much for someone so lost

personally, i always have to look at the yarn/fabric sections, spend a good 1/2 hour humming and hawing over jewelry, check out the entire ladies department in a very quick hanger to hanger strategy, and of course, the bags/scarves/ and hats. so fun! thrifting is definitely a 2 or 3 hour investment for me haha

 

i love thrift stores, goodwill, value village. consignment shops too.

 

I will only buy clothes in thrift shops now. It's so nice getting a pair of jeans that's already broken in and some of the stuff is brand new! We have a huge Salvation Army about a half hour from here and my and my best friend make trips once a month

 

I got a fucking outstanding pair of boots the other day! They are a size too big but I just finished, as in 10 minutes ago, a pair of really thick multi-coloured socks to go with them. Socks made from all left over yarn of course.

 

We have some here in Eugene bigger than grocery stores. I found a little one downtown that I get sweaters and really nice earrings for my "girl" friend--art deco types that are really nice for a buck or two each. If they were in antique stores ,they would be much more I'm sure. And paperbacks galore at 50cents . I think it's where the rich unload their stuff.

 

scratcho, we have a consignment shop like that...they just opened it...its the size of a grocery store and they have such unique things in there. I love the antique tools they sell like old levels and gardening tools that make really neat wall decorations. I can't believe some of the things people get rid of! I'm actually going thrift shopping today...looking for a used desk and possibly some new outfits

 

I know-I found an old skill-saw and some I don't even know what they are--they just look cool. they look very differant than todays tools. Not for using--just admiring. It's crazy to pay 40 bucks for pants,shirts and or 13 bucks for paperbacks. What town are you in?

 

I'm in Mass...fortunately we have thrift stores around here because things are so overpriced in stores...especially household items and decorations. I'm redoing my whole apartment with thrift store finds...more and more thrift and consignment shops are opening up around here because people can't afford the department stores and Pier 1s

 

Reminds me of being a dump diver on Oahu. When work slowed I would go and find the most amazing stuff--I furnished my place with free things like rattan chairs and couches,aquariums,rugs and all kinds of cool stuff .I'd just watch people coming in and look their shit over before they dumped it and no one minded me takin' their stuff. The coolest thing I got for free wasn't at the dump tho--I was walking past a little barbershop and saw the barber chairs were fantastic--really old-porcelin and chrome --they looked like they were designed by Disney in art deco style. I commented to the barber and he said "you want one"? He said I have one at my house I want to get rid of!! So I ended up getting it for free. When I left Hawaii,we had a big garage sale and I sold all my cool stuff and got hundreds for the barber chair. I'm always looking around when I drive,trying to see some cool stuff people don't want any more. Huge fun. I be a pack rat.

 

A lot of surrounding towns around here are starting to open up shops at their landfills where people can bring and take stuff for free. I'm trying to push to open one up in my town because it would be so much better than tossing it into a dumpster or leaving it for trash.

I dump-dived a few times...I found some pretty cool things...nothing as cool as a barber chair, though! Too bad you couldn't keep it! That would be worth a fortune! I found an old meat slicer on the curb once...it had been there a few days so I brought it home and shined it up...good as new! I sold it for $300 at a flea market and some guy said I could have easily gotten a grand for it because it was so old

 

Whoa. Excellant. I think I only got 3 or 4 hundred for it from a doctor. It would probably go for agrand or more also. I have a picture somwhere--I'll get my son to put it up for me sometime.

 

this is a great idea

where i live though, people would just stop bringing things to the dump

 

that's what I fear, too...and my town isn't the greatest, either. We have free pickup since the landfill is in our town, so I think people would stop bringing things since bulk pickup is free.

 

not the problem here - no one would want someone else to get their stuff without paying

expect a massive increase in bad garage sales

 

oh yes, we have that problem, too...the stuff I've seen listed on craigslist, for instance, is extremely overpriced. It drives me insane! All I want is a desk and every one I've seen on craigslist is extremely expensive. People feel that because they bought something for $200 over 20 years ago that they deserve $350 for it because its an antique and is falling apart

 

I've gone dumpster diving here and found wonderful and expensive things but the cops got involved this last year and now say we are "stealing from LAtah County Sanitation"! Can you believe that? If bro and I save something useful from the landfill we are stealing!!!
morons!
peace
Delfynasa

 

I love second hand clothing. You know it's going to hold up and you can't beat the price. We are so lucky to have amazing church consignment sales and garage sales almost year round, and tons of thrift stores.

I started shopping at the salvation army when I was in 11th grade and kept ruining my clothes, as we partied in the woods. I was always thrifty minded, and hated that I was ruining jeans my PARENTS bought me, and loved that I could get name brands for $2 instead of $30 (at that time.) I didn't have to worry about getting drunk and trashing them. My friends did make fun of me and some still do, but it never bothered me.

 

yeah I know a few people who've gone dumpster diving and have got some really legit stuff. an (almost) perfect suit!

 

Thrift stores are fun when you find some particular treasure, great piece of clothing, a good book or some interesting piece of art. You never know. Also you are often helping some charitable cause and recycling and saving yourself some money. Did I leave anything out?

 

my ex works at one. I HATE THRIFT SHOPS & I WILL NEVER SHOP AT ONE EVER AGAIN IN MY FUTURE. HE CAN ALSO SUCK IT.