What's Your Thrifting Strategy?

[ChrisMiss]

I think the speed thrifting is done by those who have a time limit such as lunch hour, or who are looking for certain items only.  Also, if you shop the same thrift stores all the time you get to know what's in there and where to look for the new stuff that you're interested in.

I can speed shop when I'm on a time limit, I hate to though.  I feel like I'm going to miss some hidden treasure, such as the Chanel purse I found.  If I had been on a time limit I would not have found it buried as it was in with a bunch of other purses.

I too like to graze the clothing section.  I have a list of sizes for family members that I shop for. 

Do you ever get embarrassed about what you're buying for others?  Do you feel that you need to say "This is for my mother".  Some of stuff I buy for her is definitely what I call "old women clothes", polyester, knit pants, etc.  But that's what she wants.  Sometimes I feel like saying this isn't for me, I don't dress like that!

[Jay2TheRescue]

I speed thrift because when I'm in a town I want to hit as many stores as possible.  I do make a point to go down every aisle though.

-Jay

I think the speed thrifting is done by those who have a time limit such as lunch hour, or who are looking for certain items only.  Also, if you shop the same thrift stores all the time you get to know what's in there and where to look for the new stuff that you're interested in.

I can speed shop when I'm on a time limit, I hate to though.  I feel like I'm going to miss some hidden treasure, such as the Chanel purse I found.  If I had been on a time limit I would not have found it buried as it was in with a bunch of other purses.

I too like to graze the clothing section.  I have a list of sizes for family members that I shop for. 

Do you ever get embarrassed about what you're buying for others?  Do you feel that you need to say "This is for my mother".  Some of stuff I buy for her is definitely what I call "old women clothes", polyester, knit pants, etc.  But that's what she wants.  Sometimes I feel like saying this isn't for me, I don't dress like that!

[TNSOUTHERNER]

I'm a creature of habit - it takes about 20 minutes - I hit the men's shirts large, then medium, then men's polo shirts, then shorts, then tees.  I'll glance at the shoes, pants and coats and occasionally look at baseball hats, robes, sweats & PJs - stopping if I see anything interesting.  I'll check belts - got a great lizard skin one the other day - and then on to housewares and decorative stuff - I take a quick glance at the display cases, pictures and furniture - but they seem to love that stuff so much they don't price it to sell.  I will look at books every few weeks - I have more at home than I can read in the next year anyway.  I very quickly flip through every shirt in my size and scan the labels - if it's Brooks Brothers or some other highend brand I'll consider a color I might not in a store.  For $3.99 I can try purple and black stripes without considering it a financial risk...

[ChrisMiss]

- if it's Brooks Brothers or some other highend brand I'll consider a color I might not in a store.  For $3.99 I can try purple and black stripes without considering it a financial risk...

That's that greatest thing about thrift stores isn't it.  Not a lot of money spent.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

I have been monitoring myself when I go thrifting now and I have discovered that my thrifting strategy is (drum roll, please):

that I don't have a thrifting strategy.

After careful observation and consideration, I came up with several factors that influence me greatly. These are: 

 1.Mood. What do my senses crave today? Am I tactile, visual, aduial (is that a word?)

 2. Intuition. Where does my gut lead me?  Sometimes to places I might not look or would look last.

3.  Desire (see Mood) What I am desiring *before* I thrift?  I am always on the lookout for art moderne/mid-century modern. Sometimes, it can a longing, an itch that never seems sufficiently scratched. Also known as the "Hunger" and "Passion" (see number 5)

4.  Need. Never a good one. Because as a thrifter, I can NEVER find what I need when I need it. But I may find something that I want.  Take today, for example:
Hot.  Sticky. White heat.  Was I looking for that minty 100% cashmere sweater in a heavenly shade of violet-blue that makes my skin glow with pinky-copper undertones? No, actually, I was looking for something in orange (to match a skirt) that can be worn in August in the Deep South where temps are close to 100 degrees and we haven't had rain forever. At this time of year in the South a girl's summer wadrobe is just plumb tuckered out from  being worn since the heat began in mid-April.   But there was nothing in orange to be had. So, I got the sweater. For 3.69 plus tax, it will serve me well on those chilly Southern evenings and matches perfectly the wild Givenchy (signed) 60s vintage minty scarf I found last week for $2.   

5.  Passion. Sometimes when thrifting, I am seized with a passion for something that I didn't even know I wanted (see my entry on "What would you buy ONLY at a thrift?) and realize I MUST have it when I see it.  It's a fascinating sensation to have this happen.  I can't explain it--it just hits me and Wham!

My example of how these factors worked occured today in my one other purchase:  It is now pretty much the dead season here in thriftland. Donations are slow, it's hotter than Hades, school will be starting soon, hurricane season is upon us.  Whatever the reason is, I haven't found toooo much in the past several weeks that really zings the strings of my heart.

I was at a thrift that was just picked over and low-stocked.I circled the counters and shelves fillled with the dollar-store, "Made in China" extravagaza junk that plagues so many of the thrifts here, once/twice/three times, because something told me I was missing that *one* special piece. And, then I saw it: 

A wonderful piece of pottery from Italy. It's a spoonrest in the shape of a rooster...on acid.  No, it's not a Desimone piece, but it harmonizes beautifully with the piece I posted two months ago. It's in mint condition, marked Italy, and was only a buck (no tax).  I was triumphant. The volunteer told me she had just put the piece out earlier in this morning.

So, for less than $5, I am sated...for now.  I will repeat the process, but it's never the same process. And that, I feel, is what keeps me going back again and again again...

SeSo

[Scott]

Wow, SecondhandSophisticate. That was downright poetic!

And I'd love to see a photo or two of that new trippy rooster spoonrest. I have a soft spot in my heart for Italian art pottery (as we've already discussed!).

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Merci du compliement, mon ami!

I'll try to get a pic up this weekend.  I figured you'd be one who'd appreciate it.

There's another pic I want to share you. About 20 years ago, my sister and I went to the annual Trinity Church sale in tony Southport, Connecitcut. It was well-known throughout Fairfield county because a lot of rich people live in Southport and donate all kinds of great stuff, which one could buy (if one could get in the joint, lol) for mere pennies on the dollar.  My husband got his bicycle there.

As a gift for me turning on sis to the sale, she bought me the most incredible cookie jar there.  It's just so 60s art, I think you will love it. It had a silver sticker on in that gave the name of the designer  and the country of origin (Italy, of course, dahling!), but since it was old at the time I got it, the sticker has since fallen off. I kept it in my kitchen when we bought our house, and them put it away. I recently found it again, and plan to put it back out (along with my Desimone cat and my Italian rooster on acid) once the remodeling of our kitchen is done (which hopefully will be before my Social Security kicks in)   

BTW, have you ever heard of the Eichler houses?  I researched them to get ideas about my kitchen redesign.

I check your blog which I love, as you know, and I congratulate you on your latest finds!  How SWEET it is!

Re:  the Vera book you mentioned:  I was at the Wadsworth a few weeks ago for the exhibit "From Picasso to Pop" (which was like entering another world---the "real" world, for me, anyway) and there was a Vera book at the gift shop. I think it may have been that one.  I sank right down on the floor with the courtesty copy and drank it all in to my heart's delight. I love Vera!   

SeSo

[Scott]

Excellent! I'd love to see photos of both!

Yes, I am familiar with Eichler homes. Our new house, in fact, is of the same period and style -- a very modern ranch. We love it.

And just so I don't derail this thread any further ... as far as thrifting strategies go, I agree that once can't be too rigid about how they go about the hunt. Yesterday I took a "thrifting lunch" with the sole purpose of looking for some Vera scarves for my wife. I normally don't go to a thrift with a particular goal in mind since it has been my experience that this method is highly unsuccessful, but ever since we found this new(ish) Vera reference book we have become increasingly excited about our Vera collection. In any case, instead of following the method I normally follow when searching a thrift (which I outlined earlier in this thread), I dove straight into the scarf rack ... and success! Not fantastic success, but success nonetheless.

The thrifting gods must have been smiling on me lately!

[fifihex]

My strategy from yesterday at my favourite thrift store. First the knick knacks as you call them. Then in my face there was the plates, cups and other kitchen stuff. Then skimmed through books, I never buy books but yesterday found one about exotic Australian animals with the cutest weird mouse on the front page, which I had to buy. Then my favourite section with bags and clothes. Yesterday I bought 50-50 of things for my house and fashion items.