uh hum....what are you wearing?

[snowbird]

I would say that 90% of my wardrobe is thrifted, and the other 10% comes from American Eagle which my Mom buys for all of us (Me, my husband, the kids, my Seestor, her husband and her kids) all the time (on sale, of course! She's pretty thrifty, too.). Of course, undergarments are new.

So, today I wore some Levi's, a black, grey printed top (thrifted, new with tag), black swing style sweatshirt/cardigan top, bronze flats...all thrifted.

I've gained weight, so it has become harder to find stuff in my size...I used to need your sizes, SeSo. It's really aggravating, because I find cute (not hookerish, ick) stuff in your size all the time.
 
I have to tell you about my best thrifty clothing find this summer...we were at a flea market set up along with the 127 Yard Sales, and I found this "old lady" caramel coloured cardigan with some cute detailing (looks like it should have come from Anthropologie), priced at .25 cents, I went to try it on and found a quarter in the pocket!

Also, weirdly enough, I found this pullover hooded jacket with a Norwegian flag patch from The J. Peterman Co, which had originally been nearly 80.00, and I got it for ONE DOLLAR, at the same flea market. My ex husband had wanted that jacket for the longest time! I surprised him with it when he brought the kids home from spending the summer with him. He couldn't believe it.

[SeSo_Says_So]

Congrats on all your great wardrobe finds, snowbird! Wow.

Believe me, I completely understand about the weight thing, lol. Completely.

I often think two women of completely different  sizes and tastes should shop together and find stuff for each other

Your sweater sounds adorable. I LOVE vintage (and it was free, too, lol!!)

When I started thrifting back in the 70s, I could thrift fabulous vintage stuff that fit me perfectly. Now that I am older and have a little more money, I can go to a vintage clothing store, but none of the clothes fit me...they are tooooo small! I think nowadays I'd be like a 14 -16 in vintage. Maybe even bigger. I know in vintage Bongos I am a 13...with luck

That Peterman jacket sounds totally amazing. Great score!!!

[snowbird]

Thanks, SeSo. I like your idea...

Yeah, I used to be able to do vintage too and I really miss it, because it gave me a definite sense of style...it's really hard because I am not into much of the trendy stuff that is available today, it makes me look like everyone else. So, mostly I am stuck in jeans and a t-shirt, and a sweater if it's cold. Boring. LOL

Yeah, I totally could not believe I found that Peterman jacket at a flea market in Ohio. It was crazy. I kept meaning to order it for him, back when we were still together, before the Peterman catalog went out of business and I never did. The catalog is back, but I still have not seen that jacket back in it's pages.

[bubbles62]

Most of my clothes are thrifted, I like the more expensive clothes because they fit and wear better but can't afford them any other way. I too am petite (just over 5') and mostly size 6 and have found that large or extra large children's clothes (size 14-16), especially the coats and jackets fit the best, especially the sleeve length. My teenage daughter is the same size as me and is embarrassed when I do this but at her age pretty much everything is embarrassing for her. Some of my best finds have been an ermine cape, a mink lined raincoat and a pair of new LL Bean slip on shoes that are thinsulated and, just found out yesterday when it was raining here, waterproof!

[SplashsMom]

Quick response because things here are totally out of control- I agree with many of you that the majority of my clothes are thrifted or received as gifts.
I used to have problems with all pants/slacks being too long but it seems now there are more people my height contributing to stores I shop at. And pants being made my length to begin with.

My question is why can I never find shoes/boots for the men in my life over size 11. Don't guys with size 12, 13, 14 feet ever give up their footwear?

[Jay2TheRescue]

No, men with big feet never donate shoes because its just too hard to find them!  Because its so hard to find we wear them till they fall apart.

-Jay

[Big Daddy Audio]

I'm finally wearing some thrifted stuff when checking the site.  I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt that was thrifted and a jacket that was thrifted.

What I look for most as far as clothing goes are Stafford (A JCPenney brand) long sleeve or short sleeve shirts (19" neck, at least 37" sleeve for the long sleeve shirts - oxford type cloth with button down collars) and T-Shirts with cool but obscure bands, products, events, or slogans. 

I like the Stafford shirts because they come out of the dryer nice and neat.

I've found a few.

SYNT
BFN

[Mattie]

Most of my clothes are thrifted, I like the more expensive clothes because they fit and wear better but can't afford them any other way. I too am petite (just over 5') and mostly size 6 and have found that large or extra large children's clothes (size 14-16), especially the coats and jackets fit the best, especially the sleeve length. My teenage daughter is the same size as me and is embarrassed when I do this but at her age pretty much everything is embarrassing for her. Some of my best finds have been an ermine cape, a mink lined raincoat and a pair of new LL Bean slip on shoes that are thinsulated and, just found out yesterday when it was raining here, waterproof!

Good idea!  My raincoat is a "Swell-Wear Kids" brand and it fits just fine, but I found it in the adult coats.  I recently got a pair of barely-worn Shaq athletic shoes that are a mens size 3, and they fit me perfectly.  It occurred to me that boys grow so fast, they probably outgrow their shoes before the shoes wear out.  I need to remember to check the kids' section more often.  I have bony little shoulders and have a lot of trouble finding coats/jackets that fit, so I might have better luck in the children's department.

[SplashsMom]

After 6 weeks of no garage sales and 3 days of below zero weather I jumped ship, ran away and hit a "big city" thrift store.
Did actually find some mens shoes in size 14 and 15. Well, one pair of each size. Not that I need shoes that large for my guys, but I have to add that they were absolutely ugly. The bright red pair could have been clown shoes. The black blocky pair might have been worn  by Andre the giant.
However both pair looked in almost new condition!
I did not buy them. A "treasure" for someone else.

[genuineimitation]

i love this thread!

the sweater i have on is not exactly thrifted, but it is at least 35 years old - it is a ridiculous color of mustard/goldenrod. it belonged to my mother, and she finally got tired of it about 10 years ago. it is from greece, really scratchy wool. loosely knit - i've got it over a brown long sleeved tee shirt. i've got three of these, all in wild 70's colors: cobalt blue, the goldenrod, and a BRILLIANT fuschia. they are a bit too small, but i won't throw them away as they always lift my spirits on a gray day. i eve like seeing them in the closet!

[SeSo_Says_So]

i love this thread!

the sweater i have on is not exactly thrifted, but it is at least 35 years old - it is a ridiculous color of mustard/goldenrod. it belonged to my mother, and she finally got tired of it about 10 years ago. it is from greece, really scratchy wool. loosely knit - i've got it over a brown long sleeved tee shirt. i've got three of these, all in wild 70's colors: cobalt blue, the goldenrod, and a BRILLIANT fuschia. they are a bit too small, but i won't throw them away as they always lift my spirits on a gray day. i eve like seeing them in the closet!

Just reading the colors of those sweaters made me happy! 

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

Hmm . . . not my undies, butt . . .
Housecoat (I'm retired!) My favorite Eeyore tee, matching sweat--like shorts. I had my thrifted house shoes on earlier but I turned up the heat. It's like below freezing outside and we don't see this snow in the lower Pacific NW except on the volcanoes. We should have 6" by tomorrow night.

If I could, I would only wear thrifted boutique items. 

dew

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

my size requirements (tall & thin)
There just isn't much out there in thrifts for me as far as shirts or pants are concerned because I have long arms & legs.
-Jay

I can dig it Jay. I am 5'8" and it makes me just borderline for off-the-rack womens' clothing. It is tiring to keep trying on high waters and 3/4 sleeves that aren't supposed to be. I also have a 'high' waist. That makes for weird fits. I have to be in the mood. Mostly I shop the tees. I find them for the kids (aged 39 thru 13.) They like the smart remarks and I've been doing that since mine were their children's ages. (Now 39 and 35.)

Some days there's just an urge to go thru all the racks! LOL!
dew

[daswitzer]

Everything that I'm wearing today came from thrift stores.  We have a thrift store 14 miles from us that sells their clothes for a quarter and it is nice stuff, believe me!  I have on sage colored velvet pants a rust orange colored long sleeve t-shirt and a hoodie that is orange colored with little green leaves on it.  I am toasty warm in my 75 cent outfit!!!!  I have been thrifting clothes for me and my family since 1974.  Most of the things I buy now, are just for myself.  

[SplashsMom]

 I am toasty warm in my 75 cent outfit!!!!  

I love that! Whenever I see the TV shows on recreating expensive outfits and the "cheap" version still comes out to $100 plus shoes, I always say I can do that for less than half.
Most people would not brag about this, but including shoes I can usually dress for under $8,  under $3 if I don't want to impress anyone.