What would you ONLY buy at a thrift store (or used)?

[Other People s Junk]

I think that within another ten years, you won't see these doilies at thrifts -- and they will be very pricey at vintage stores.  Now's the time to get them -- before they are gone!

Oh, it is so sad to think about what won't be in the thrifts in 10 years!  I can already see a difference from when I first started thrifting and now.  It is also getting that way with estate sales...

[thriftyjane]

I buy dishes, mugs, glasses, cookware, baking stuff, decorations (most of my framed art) from thrift stores. Clothes, as well, as far as all of my casual stuff and some of my work clothes. Sometimes, I just have to go to department stores to find nice work clothes, but I've found some great stuff from thrift stores nonetheless. I also refuse to spend who knows what on framed art from a high-end store. I'm also just getting into collecting old tins, which you obviously can't find at target, walmart, etc.

[secondhandnation]

Everything kitchen related I buy at thrift stores.  Cups, bowls, glasses, plates, utensils.  (No cutting boards, though!)

I buy most of my clothes at thrift stores.  I buy items at Target new only if they are on clearance at comparable thrift prices.  It is hard to find men's clothes for my husband at thrift shops, though - the sizing is always wrong and the styles are often terrible (pleated pants, etc.)

I bought all of my daughter's baby gear and bedroom items at thrift stores, including some cloth diaper covers, which are really expensive new, and bottles, bottle liners, etc.  I wouldn't buy a breast pump from a thrift store, though, and have seen them before. 

I haven't bought a package of coffee filters new in the last decade - I always seem to find half a package of filters for nothing at my local Savers or Value Village.

I don't buy any decorative items new, unless I'm at an art fair.  I can't stand that prepackaged art at IKEA and Target!  I'd rather have a bullfighter on black velvet than those phony French bistro posters. 

[alexandra]

I am so with you on the art thing!  I have a growing collection of OPA (Other People's Art) -- And I love making my own pieces from thrift store finds.  I have been on a party hat making kick recently.  One of my favorite backgrounds to use, is sheet music.  I particularly like the song "Doe a Dear"  from the Sound of Music -- I found the score really cheaply.  I don't want to actually damage it -- so I photocopy it.

I find my craft books at the thrifts too.  I got a great one on lace craft a few weeks back, one on decoupage yesterday (and a sewing encyclopedia).

I'm going to post an entry on my blog this week with a project I just did with some damaged lace/embroidery.  But I'll post the pictures here first...

I will buy reasonably priced lace or embroidery items even if they are not perfect -- as I sew them into larger products.  I took two burlap sacks which rice from Walmart came in. I then embroidered each bag with a piece of linen that had bad edging (I fixed it), and also used a lace doily missing a few stitches (which I also fixed).  Each one was sewn over the front of a bag (masking the printed label).  Now I have a couple of nice little pouches.

I buy bags of old lace, ric-rack, etc. for projects too.

I'll post the latest ones in the gallery!

Thriftily,
Alexandra

[secondhandnation]

Crafts are perfect to get at thrift stores!  Especially if you are looking for supplies for kids to use.

I used to process all the craft stuff we got in at the stores and it was so much fun.  It was amazing to see what people donated - bottles of usable paint, beads and jewelry making supplies, yarn by the truck load, knitting needles, vintage buttons...

One of my favorite references is the Reader's Digest Guide to Needlecrafts, which I bought at a thrift store for 2 bucks.  It's fabulous and shows in detail all sorts of stitches. 

[Marion]

I would buy, ONLY in a thrift store, pretty much all the great stuff that I have.  I COULDN'T AFFORD to buy it anywhere else.  E.g., I could never, therefore WOULD never, buy that Comme des Garcon jacket in a non-thrift store, nor the Issey Miyake wool top.  Nor -- thinking off the top of my head now -- those red leather boots (no particular brand, just perfect and perfect-fitting), or Stuart Weitzman shoes.  Etc.

It also just occured to me that my daughter will buy leather items ONLY in a thrift store; she's a vegetarian who wears "vegetarian clothes" (meaning, in particular, non-leather), but she figures the thrift-stores leather shoes and bags have already been used (and the animals already killed).  (I say, people still SEE you in leather, but nobody's perfectly politically (or vegetably) correct...  And I wear leather shoes and bags (bought, of course, in thrift stores).

Also, I'm rather tall (5'9") AND I like long skirts and dresses, and the 70's skirts and dresses tend to by long.  So it's thrift for that reason also.

And of course it goes w/o saying that I buy pretty much EVERYTHING ONLY in thrift stores, for reasons we all know -- it's less expensive, and the offerings are more "random", less predictable (and more often unique).
And they make for better stories.
-- Marion

[ChrisMiss]

It also just occured to me that my daughter will buy leather items ONLY in a thrift store; she's a vegetarian who wears "vegetarian clothes" (meaning, in particular, non-leather), but she figures the thrift-stores leather shoes and bags have already been used (and the animals already killed).  (I say, people still SEE you in leather, but nobody's perfectly politically (or vegetably) correct...  And I wear leather shoes and bags (bought, of course, in thrift stores).
-- Marion

My thought is that the "animal" was killed for the meat and the leather is a byproduct from that.  Buying new shoes, jacket, purse, etc. isn't causing more animals to be "killed" to make these products.  But buying the items at a thrift store is of course better for the environment since they're being used instead of being dumped in a landfill. 

[Jay2TheRescue]

It also just occured to me that my daughter will buy leather items ONLY in a thrift store; she's a vegetarian who wears "vegetarian clothes" (meaning, in particular, non-leather), but she figures the thrift-stores leather shoes and bags have already been used (and the animals already killed).  (I say, people still SEE you in leather, but nobody's perfectly politically (or vegetably) correct...  And I wear leather shoes and bags (bought, of course, in thrift stores).
-- Marion

My thought is that the "animal" was killed for the meat and the leather is a byproduct from that.  Buying new shoes, jacket, purse, etc. isn't causing more animals to be "killed" to make these products.  But buying the items at a thrift store is of course better for the environment since they're being used instead of being dumped in a landfill. 

My sister and I had a very similar discussion yesterday, and we both agreed that leather was OK as long as it came from an animal used as food, so cow, pig, ostrich, and alligator were acceptable.  Animals raised solely for fur or leather were not acceptable.  Mink was a good example of that.

-Jay

[SecondhandSophisticate]

I am also a vegetarian and like the idea of buying leather only in thrifts, which is probably why I have so many funky handbags.

Alas, I cannot do that with shoes, I must buy them new for fit and health reasons. But I don't buy too many pairs...I mainly wear Birkenstocks, about 90% of the time.

Now, fur is an interesting subject to me.  I have always been against wearing fur, as an animal lover and non-meat eater, FOR MYSELF-this was NOT a judgement of others. Recently though, I had a fur experience:

I found a vintage Canadian Lynx coat in a thrift store last summer. It was in MINT condition, but a small size and being sold here in Florida, which is probably why it was on the rack  and hadn't been snapped up immediately.  The thrift wanted $75  for it. I see furs all the time in thrifts here,  mostly vintage, for under $100. I've never been tempted to own one. But this Lynx coat took my breath away. The sheer beauty of it was astounding. It was made by that pricey store up in Canada--Canada's Neiman-Marcus, if you will. I believe the store's name is Holt-Renfew.  The coat dates from the late 60s to early 70s.

I purchased the coat. I gave the thrift every cent I had on me that day--$71. The thrift volunteers know me there, so they accepted the $71.  It fit me perfectly and looks gorgeous on. It was 94 degrees the day I purchased it, but I wore it out of the store and the drive home with the air conditioning dropped down to 65.  It is STUNNING. There is nothing like fur against the skin. Though I can't wear the coat here, I do use it as a backdrop on my couch in "the winter" or lay on it when watching TV. Just to touch it is a very sensuous experience.

The point of this:  It was vintage, no animal had to be killed for me to have it. I feel as though I am the keeper of the spirit of the animals in this coat. I have great reverence and respect for this.  I never thought I would own a fur coat, but now I do.   

YMMV, of course. This is merely my experience.

Ciao, SeSo

[TNSOUTHERNER]

Shirts and printed tee shirts - I saw a Lucky Brand tee for $40 in a store - which I would never pay - since I buy them for $2.  Same for casual shirts - Polo for $3.99 instead of $65 - Brooks Brother long sleeve dress and casual shirts for $3.99 instead of $80, etc. 

On the fur/leather issue, I go with the "if you eat the whole thing" group.  I grew up around farm people and I have no illusions about where my dinner comes from.  I love animals, but some of them just because they're delicious...

[SecondhandSophisticate]

TNSoutherner, you are so funny!  :)Welcome to the board.

I craved a Brooks Brothers shirt for the longest time, a vintage one made of worn Oxford cloth with a button-down collar, made in the USA, of the softest worn cotton that feels almost like silk against the skin, in a 14.5-15/32, in white. The only BB I found in years of searching fit most of the above description except it was a dull yellow pinstripe, which I would have gotten away, BUT it had a a huge hole in the middle of the pocket and the thrift was selling it anyway  (albeit for 49 cents).  Icky-poo.

I did finally find my dream white BB etc. shirt. The previous owner sent it to be laundered (it was still in the bag on a hanger when I purchased it;  he liked "light starch"); it cost me $4.  But it's perfect.  Guys have some of the BEST clothes!

SeSo

[fifihex]

I thrift as well as buy retail, I think 50-50 is a good guess.

My all time favourite thrift buys are bags, shoes and jewelry!!! Clothes if I can find something special, mostly party clothes. That's my problem as well, my closet has such weard stuff it's hard to combine together. I try to make myself look less rediculous by combining the glitter with some modern t-shirts or jeans I buy at retail or costumise myself.

Lately I've been buying vintge hats and gloves from thrifters in England through ebay. Yesterday I found 2 adorable 50s-60s lady hats in local thrift store to my surprise!!! Which is rare for the Netherlands! Ow yes earlier this week an adorable 50's fur hat with huge pompoms, like a kids design for adults.