Too late for Link Love - YouLookFab Forum

Indigoprint

I saw that article too. I thrift frequently and have noticed this trend a bit, but I still manage to score a great find frequently. I only thrift for myself tho, not to re-sell.

3 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I saw it too. I volunteer at a thrift store and we got a ton of great household things during the pandemic. I’ve pretty much stopped buying thrifted clothes. Because things were inexpensive, I set the bar way too low with respect to fit, color, etc. One time, when I got the urge to purge, I filled seven huge trash bags with almost entirely thrifted clothes. So for me, it makes more sense to be picky and just pay retail.

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Anyone want to summarize for the paywall rejects?

3 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I've definitely noticed this, especially over the past two years. I do very little in-person thrifting for clothing because a) there are so many other ways I'd rather spend my time these days than inside a store, and b) the overall quality has declined and prices, at least where I am, are higher than I'm willing to spend for what's available (think lots of lower-end mall brands like Old Navy, and all the in-house Target/Walmart labels).

I also don't donate as much as I used to. There's been such a proliferation of online platforms -- brands that do buybacks or offer resale platforms, social media B/S/T groups, plus Mercari/Ebay/Poshmark/etc -- that not many of my castoffs make it to the local thrift store anymore. The local places still receive more donations than they have the capacity to sort, and we've had a couple new thrift stores open in the past year, so clearly there's still a lot of demand.

3 years ago

Carla

Veteran

I’ve had quite a bit of luck with second hand/thrifted items. My finds are an interesting mix of classic items and wildcards, and a few are even HEWIs that I couldn’t find at retail.

https://youlookfab.com/finds/c.....tion=11516

The town I live in has a reputation as a tourist stop with a picturesque downtown. In addition to two charity run thrift shops and two consignment shops (one low end, and one very high end/designer) there are now 4 shops that carry curated second hand clothes along with new clothes and household/lifestyle items. One of the 4 does up-cycling with visible mending or remaking of the garment, and one has a lot of children’s items. All of them carry lots of denim - jackets and jeans.

3 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh I saw this article and had lots of thoughts! First off, yes it is a lot of work sorting through everyone's trash, and although a charity shop needs to be grateful for donations, it would be lovely if more people paid attention to what the shop is actually taking. I could go on...
Secondly, interestingly our best sellers are often exactly the unworn fast fashion that we get (Shein is BIG here). It does look pristine longer being made of plastic.
Thirdly, there are still gems to be found, but it is not the golden days of thrifting, that is true. I think it is more competition as much as less quality clothing. We still regularly get good vintage and some higher quality pieces but they don't last long in the shop.
Finally, from the point of view of the thrifter, what you lose from competition from resellers you gain because platforms like ebay, poshmark, TheRealReal, etc. make it easier than ever to buy second hand wardrobes, that are still far less expensive than retail, even if not as cheap as they once were.

3 years ago

Jules

Veteran

I like your third point Jaime - I’m personally happy to buy ‘curated’ second hand items that while not
cheap are often better quality than what’s readily available today. I don’t put a lot of time into it nor am I counting on anything, but because my kids are interested I find myself at vintage markets etc and have a couple of favourite finds.
I do feel for my low income artist friend who relies on thrifting for much of her wardrobe - prices went up but her income did not. It’s not purely a hobby for some.

3 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

When I was a teen, clothing from the 50s and 60s were still in the shops. They were fabulous. They don’t seem to come up anymore, I noticed that a long time ago… perhaps they’ve all bitten the dust by now?

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Rachylou, isn’t that spot taken by clothes from the 80s & 90s? A moving target, with stuff from 20-30 years ago?

3 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Well, as I’m new to thrifting, up not new to donating, I’m not sure if the premise of this is correct, but as a veteran of off price, outlet stores and the original Filenes basement, I will concede that finding a well made high quality bargain locally is harder these days, but, nodding with Jaime, the rise of on line sites have made it, at least for me easier.

3 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

I can't read the article but I got the gist that I am way behind the times!! If you'd asked me 4 y ago I had no thrifted items in my wardrobe. Post pandemic health/wellness/exercise kick I'm down a size so I had to try and rebuy and source my same pieces in a size down. This meant therealreal, poshmark and ebay. That lead me down the dark side of buying NWT and pristine pieces I had missed at retail. So I've acquired several VB jackets at about 1/4-1/3 price for new or almost new. Also I was able to source too expensive for me pieces at a fraction of original cost. I only buy brands that I know well that I feel are quality and where I know pretty much the exact sizing. But so funny I'm embracing and finding quality in places I never looked before. Guess my place is the "trailing edge"!

3 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I'll save the link for the next post in 2 weeks time, suntiger!

3 years ago

kkards

Veteran

gyrfinn...expect for the wellness/exercise kick part, i could have said everything you did..

3 years ago

Anonymous

It won't let me look at it again, but the gist is that all the fast fashion had made it's way into the thrift shops- so it's hard to find the nicer pieces.

It's a big issue in the shops here, most of the things are outlet mall stuff, especially cause some of the shops will only take things within 2-3 years old. I've done ok the last 2 years cause I'm only looking at the more timeless pieces, particularly in neutrals. I barely even try on anything anymore, maybe 2 or 3 pieces, in any type of shop- when I used to take 10+ in to the fitting room.

Online thrifting, excepting a couple things from Etsy, scares me TBH. I buy retail online, but that's cause I can return the things if they don't work.

3 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

Not that this is the kind of thing you would be looking for but I finally went to a small Goodwill that my friend had been urging me to visit for quite a while. Everything I like: small, dingy, unpopular, bunch of uninteresting stuff so that nice fabrics stand out.

Bought an Edwardian double face wool smoking jacket. Burgundy on outside and the inside and lapels, cuffs are burgundy plaid. Silk braid trim. Closes with frogs. Plan to wear it just as a lightweight jacket in fall.
Could tell it was old when I got it home because I looked up the version of the union label. Probably a hundred years old. Completely undamaged.

You can see the same kind of thing here in a different colorway.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/6.....ing-jacket

3 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

I also found there a Jones New York light camel linen button up midi shirt waist dress, a Harve Benard wool and cashmere blend jacket - fits perfectly and in perfect condition - in a mulberry shade that goes with pants I have and a Jos Bank men's wool and cashmere bomber/harrington jacket that may be black or may be that ultra-dark navy shade. That one's a size or so big but feels so cuddly when I put it on. The latter two items were half price so I got all this for $24.

3 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Vildy thanks for sharing! Amazing finds! Lesson: there are still treasures to be found, but don't expect them to be served up on a platter.

3 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I am so fussy now for what I buy that I’m very hesitant with any online thrifting, and a well known site here called Designer Wardrobe won’t let me look or search unless I put in my email and make myself a login, which I don’t really want to do, I hoped to have a snoop around first?
The last 4 things I have thrifted from stores have not been unqualified successes, one $14 top unworn from 2 years ago, one pair $7 leggings worn 6 times, one $4 summer top that I was excited about only worn 4 times last summer, and a recent soft wool $15 blazer only twice so far, slightly tighter in the sleeves than it felt when I tried it on before buying. The only good thing is that if I decide they’re not really right then I don’t feel unsustainable by donating them back at under #30 wears, and the price for the lot was only $40.
I somewhat enjoy the hunt but most of what is in the charity thrift stores is tat, and in consignment stores is still expensive. So not a huge success for me. I clearly don’t have Jaime’s skill!

3 years ago

judy

Veteran

I've noticed this trend too, the decline of quality clothes in thrift and charity shops. I don't donate as much as I used to, preferring to keep for the sake of sustainability...and even mend!... and also the result of having made fewer and wiser purchases. Good quality clothes I've invested in and loved but no longer fit, I recently gifted to various friends and family. It was so exciting to go the post office with many "presents'. So satisfying to see that they all fit and were being newly loved.

3 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

About a year ago, my friend spotted this in my size at a tiny church thrift we visit regularly. She opined to the volunteer at the cash that it should have had a skirt with it but didn't. I got this for $4. Ralph Lauren russian collection '93. Pictures are runway and print campaign.

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3 years ago

nuancedream

Veteran

Echoing what has already been said, finding quality items in thrift and consignment stores has become more challenging lately. One of the consignment stores I frequent will not accept items from Shein, Target, Forever 21, Old Navy, and Costco's Kirkland brand. Nonetheless, I am able, on occasion, to find a really special item like my Celine pantsuit or a Fuzzi skirt. More often than not, I walk away empty-handed and I am perfectly fine with that. An overflowing closet with wardrobe orphans stresses me out. I am fortunate I have a wardrobe that works for me and makes me happy.

3 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

This article I just read made me curious as to why Fabbers vintage/thrift shop. I just plain enjoy clothes and experimenting with my style at bottom dollar cost but in this article about the success of curated vintage shops they mention a whole lot of other reasons.
"

People love vintage because, when done right, it offers a powerful combination of authenticity and scarcity."
"

I like the idea of cherrypicking things that have some cultural relevance.”

“We’re looking for niche places that we can step into and experience a whole vibe and ambience. A space that has been created like an installation is inherently gratifying. It’s a community where you meet like-minded people.”

None of that is me. You?

https://www.theguardian.com/fa.....ts-turn-to

3 years ago

Anonymous

No, not me either. For me it's "leave no stone unturned" - cause they're some of the few B&M options we have here. Plus they're not agressive like retail, pushing credit cards, sales, and several emails a day. They let me look round in peace.
I generally take more things to the shops than buy from them though!

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Vildly, that’s an awesome jacket!
The reason I think I should go to thrift shops is that it’s more sustainable/better for the environment. But I can scarcely get myself into shops at all; thrift shops are even tougher. Maybe that’s just because they are new to me.

3 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I got paywalled too, but think I've got the rough outline ... I have no luck with thrifting, I think because I am a very targeted shopper ... Like generally when I shop, I have very very specific items on the brain, often I've pre-vetted online, which is hard to find/do at thrift. We also have two types of thrift shop in my town .. it's either the one where people were cleaning out the closet and it's a mishmash of mostly fast fashion used up stuff as per the article, OR it's a bougie second-hand reseller (Louis Vuitton handbag, gently used, only $500!). Neither of these makes sense for me. I think alot depends of one's personal style too. IL love seeing Jaime's flair with thrifted items! I'm way too boring ha! My input into thrift is to donate gently used items in great condition to Goodwill (or some schools will ask for good quality winter gear for kids that don't have it), and the dodgy stuff I donate to the textile recycling depot to be made into furniture stuffing. And try not to buy too much!

3 years ago

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