thrifting finds - keep? - YouLookFab Forum

thrifting finds - keep?

Alecia

Hi all -

Had a fun weekend following the hubby around Southern California on a mini-tour. I had a little time to do some thrifting and found a couple things. I'm hoping to get your thoughts on them.

Here's the album:http://s508.photobucket.com/al.....g%20finds/
password - ylf2009

First, I think I found some skinnies. It would be great if they work because they were such a steal. They are a brand I don't know, "wax." They kind of more stretchy than the demin I've been trying before. I like this since I tend to have a hard time finding boots that fit my calves and trying to find boots that would work with chunkier jeans would be REALLY hard. So do you think they work? And also, if they're keepers, do you think I need to get them shortened? It may be hard to tell the latter in these pictures.

Second, is a silk dress I found. Please ignore the wrinkles. I tried it on after taking it out of my suitcase.

Thanks for your input!

17 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from Alecia

Anonymous

http://s508.photobucket.com/al.....0_9237.jpg
(I'm hoping the link will be clickable now)
The skinnies look wonderful on you. I wouldn't shorten them, but am no expert on that.
I WANT that dress!! That print could create curves where there are none. You've inspired me to look for a similar print dress.

17 years ago

Dani

Veteran

Alecia, the pictures of the skinnies are kind of dark, but from what I can see, I think they fit you very well and will work great for you. I think the length looks fine.

I'll refrain from giving an opinion on the dress as I have a personal bias against large patterns like that. Hopefully, others will be able to weigh in with more impartial views

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

The picture is a bit dark, but it looks like the skinnies fit you perfectly!

I'd add some brights to the dress, e.g. red shoes or accessories or a cardi in a color that flatters you especially well; I find the colors a bit muddy.

17 years ago

shell

Active Member

wow - such great finds! you ladies always do so well in thrift shops. i honestly don't even know where there is one where i live...are these like Goodwill stores or something completely different?

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Shell, I do a lot of "thrifting" but at a wide variety of stores.

Some are consignment stores (and you'd find them online by looking for "consignment"), where the prices are (sometimes considerably) higher, but they also tend to have higher quality inventory. A good consignment store owner is very picky about what pieces they take and you won't find anything torn/stained/etc. and also nothing dated in their store. They also have attractive stores and displays and dressing rooms. All that comes at a price. For the Seattleites - examples I like are Fury, Oh Bella, Le Frock. (I call these "boutique-y consignment stores".)

Then there are the thrift stores like Goodwill and Value Village. Much cheaper, but you also have to wade through a lot of "junk" to find your treasures, and the stores are definitely not "pleasant" to shop at (our Goodwill, for instance, is kinda smelly.) That said, though, I've found wonderful things at these stores, including pieces from BR, INC, AT etc. in great shape.

And then there are a lot of stores that are in between Goodwill and the more boutique-y high end consignment store. Prices and shopping experience fall in between those ends. An example in Seattle is "Classic Consignment" in Ballard.

I go to all of these types of thrift and consignment stores and enjoy them all for different reasons. However, I've only started going to Goodwill and the lower end consignment stores recently as I have 1) more time and 2) less disposable income. It definitely takes more time, energy and commitment to find good pieces there than at the higher end boutique-y consignment stores that I've always shopped at, where I know the type of items I might find there and I can breeze in and out in 15 minutes and quickly take stock of their latest inventory.

Hope this helps!

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The skinnies look WONDERFUL, Alecia. Keep and gloat! Do not shorten.

LOVE the retro dress. How about a skinny belt and perhaps a few inches off the hem?

Antje is a thrift store queen! She has loads of luck and finds fabulous treasures for pittance. It really helps if you are between a size 4 and 10. Those are the sizes that seem to be most represented at thrift stores – one of the reasons Antje has such great luck.

17 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

The skinnies fit you perfectly Alecia and I really love the colours (and the pattern) of the dress. You look glamorous and fun!

You ladies have the best luck thrifting!!

17 years ago

Christie

Active Member

Nice skinnies! I couldn't see the dress for some reason.

I love thrifting, and shop by looking for the colors I wear, by feel (touching the item to see what kind of material its made of), and looking at the tag (to confirm size, quality and fibers), and then finally taking the item off the rack to actually look at it.

17 years ago

Alecia

Veteran

Thanks all. Angie, I forgot to ask about the dress length. I was thinking I needed to get it shortened. So you read my mind and answered my question. I'm so excited about both finds.

I sometimes have good luck thrifting. Other times, not so much. The dress I found at an American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. I hadn't known these even existed until recently but I've had luck every time I hit one.

17 years ago

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