Smart Thrifters Still "Look for the Union Label"

SOURCE

 I haven't really felt like posting lately. There is so much going on in the world right now: uprisings in the Middle East, unions fighting for their right to bargain collectively in the Midwest, the battle over the federal budget *sigh*. It makes posting pictures of what I'm wearing seem a little, I don't know, pointless?

 I have pretty strong opinions about what's happening, but this is a personal style/thrifting blog, and I'm no expert on politics. I don't want to argue the issues, or try to persuade my readers one way or the other. Instead, I want post about something vintage hounds (regardless of their political leanings) LOVE to find, and that's clothing bearing the the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) label.

Thrift Tips #6: Thrift Early, Thrift Often

photo by ChicagoGeek via creative commons licence 

Q: What do you do if you search a thrift store and find nothing?

A: Come back next week.

As I have mentioned before, thrifting is 95% luck. You can't predict what the shop will have on any given day. But you can increase your chances of finding treasure. One of the simplest ways to do this is to visit your favorite shops regularly. That way, when something good comes along, you have a better chance of seeing it first and snatching it up.

Obviously, some thrift stores are better than others. If you consistently strike out at a certain store, it might be time to move on. But don't give up after one bad visit.

The best thing to do is use the colored tag sales to determine the best day to thrift, and then stop by the store weekly on that day. If your store doesn't use colored tags to control inventory, just pick a day and become a regular. 

This is going to be my last regularly scheduled Thrift Tips post. I have covered a lot of ground in 6 weeks. Hopefully, you have learned something from my ramblings.  If I think of anything useful, I will post another tip, but I won't be doing it weekly. It will be a happy, random occurrence. 

Thanks for reading

xo

D.

Thrift Tips #5: Get in Where you Fit In

The hardest part of buying second hand clothing is finding the right size. You might find the perfect vintage blouse, but there is no seeing it in a small. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit.  On top of that, a lot of thrift shops don't have fitting rooms. And don't even think about taking something back if it doesn't look good on you. Returns and exchanges are almost unheard of.

So what can you do?

Well, I don't usually admit this because it is slightly embarrassing but, when I go to a thrift shop that doesn't have a dressing room, I wear a long-er loose-ish skirt so I can try pants and other skirts on under neath it. I know, I know. I have no shame.

If you don't feel comfortable trying stuff on in public like a crazy lady. Don't worry. Just get to know your measurements and keep a cloth tape measure in your purse. When you see that form fitting wiggle dress, do a quick measurement of  the bust, waist and hips. You'll  have a pretty good idea weather or not it will fit.

The final option is to alter the clothing to fit you. You don't have to be a seamstress. You can have your second hand stuff professionally tailored. If you pay an extra 20-30 bucks for alterations on a pair of pants that cost 5, you still paid  less than you would for a new pair of new pants. But I don't recommend this unless you've found something that you absolutely can not live without. And remember, it's a lot easier to take things in than it is to let them out. So you should pass on stuff thats way too small.

There is a lack of size variety in vintage and second had clothing. It's sad, but true. Whatever you do don't get discouraged. The Gods of thrift will lead you to the clothes that you were meant to have. If it doesn't fit you, it simply wasn't meant to be.

Thrift Tips #4: Don't follow Trends, Let The Trends Follow You

I had a wonderful adventure in the snow today. I stumbled on to a thrift store, that I didn't even know about, a mile and half from my house. And I went to the multi-story fortress of photography known as Helix to get some more film for my Polaroid. Anywhoo, on to Thrift tips!

photo courtesy of Sally Jane Vintage

Once upon a time, in the late 90s, all the thrift shops in the land were absolutely filled with low heeled boots from the 80s that nobody wanted.

Then one magical day, a fashion-forward girl (or girls) decided she liked the cast off boots. She bought them and wore them, despite that fact that everybody else in the world thought they were ugly and outdated.

Suddenly, the world saw how awesome the boots looked on her. Next thing you know, other hip girls started buying them. Then Urban  Outfitter's Urban Renewal brand started buying them. Pretty soon, Designers even started making new versions of them.

Viola! A trend was born.

The moral of the story: Some trends are started by visionary thrifters who embrace "ugly" cast off items and make them chic again.So don't be afraid to embrace items from the thrift store that others wouldn't look twice at. Who knows? You may start a trend. Can you think of any other trends that started as a thrift shop cast off? I can... (COUGH!highwaistedpleatedshortsCOUGH!)

Thrift Tips #3: Vintage Shmintage

Its Tuesday  and time for more Thrift Tips. This week, I want to talk about the non-vintage side of thrifting. Yeah, we all want to find that perfect vintage dress but sometimes the best finds are relatively current items.

For example, check out these two secondhand outfits: Both have vintage elements but they feature modern blouses...

Thrift Tips #2: Colored Tag Sales

 Welcome to another weekly installment of thrift tips. Today, I am going to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about colored tag sales. I'm sure you've seen the signs that say "all  items with pink tags 50% off." But did you know that thrift shop managers use colored tags to control their inventory? You can  use your favorite store's color cycle to determine the best days to shop and I'll tell you how...

Thrift Tips #1: My Three Basic Rules of Thrifting

              

As promised, I give you the first installment of Thrift Tip Tuesday:

I'm not gonna lie, finding gold at thrift stores is mostly luck. But, like black jack, there are strategies that will tip the odds in your favor. Every Tuesday I will share my strategies, superstitions, and secrets of thrifting. This week I give you the three rules I always follow when I thrift...