Thrift Shopping Savvy!

I thought this video was really neat, even if it might have been a tiny bit over the top…  I’m so not bringing “batteries in various sizes” anywhere!

Before I moved to MA, I knew where all my local thrift stores were, and where to go for what.  Shopping second-hand has always been my favorite form of retail therapy; you can go a little crazy without putting a huge dent in your checking account!  Plus, it’s crazy easy to find really great pieces- as long as you’re willing to invest some time and effort.  Unless you’re shopping at one of those chic boutiques, where the employees act like their second hand merch is better than anything you’ve ever paid full price for, you’re not going to find the good stuff right there on display.

Also, unless you truly are crafty AND have plenty of free time, it’s a total waste to buy “fixer uppers.”  You know, pieces with non-working zippers, missing buttons, stains, torn hems- unless it’s Valentino and you’ve got a tailor on speed dial, skip the mess!  I’ve bought way too many super cute pieces that needed work, yet never gotten around to giving them the TLC they deserve- which means I totally wasted my money.

Jewelry is really my thrift store fave.  I think my favorite find this year was a whole pile of beautiful faux-pearl necklaces in a variety of creams and coppers.  I bought one short strand and three different shades of the long ones and have found about a thousand outfits to layer and mix them with.  Love it!  Oh, and the best part?  They were like $3 each.  I actually try to only buy jewelry when I’m on vacation, and a lot of it comes from thrift stores- local pieces of flair get discarded  there when natives of the area move on to new trends, but coming back to the East Coast with West Coast accessories still has a totally new feel.

AND, don’t forget to take your unwanted shoes, clothes, accessories, etc. to sell!  I’m actually looking for somewhere to take my stuff in MA, but I used to do it all the time in VT.  Right at the beginning of a new season is the best time, especially because you’ll either get cash or store credit to spend on pieces for your own wardrobe transition…  And even if you can’t find the season’s big IT item second hand, you might be able to save enough money going thrift that you actually can afford that big ticket item brand new!

If you want to find out more, or locate some awesome thrift stores near you, check out The Thrift Store Directory!  It’s an amazing resource, especially if you’re new to the second-hand scene!

Have you scored any fab thrift store finds?  Have any shop recommendations?  I’d love to know!