Tag Archives: thrift shopping

My Salvation Army Haul — 9 Garments For $32!

Annika HarrisOctober 21, 2011 //
Thrift Store Scoring
We show you how to do it. Read More »
Bad Thrift Smell
And how to get rid of it. Read More »
Vintage Swimsuits
Would you wear one? Read More »

This year I’ve been exploring thrift shopping. Last January, I bought seven coats for only $70 during the Salvation Army coat sale. And in July, I increased my summer wardrobe during one of Housing Works’ Buy-the-Bag Sales. Most recently, I couldn’t pass up the chance to hit the Snellville, GA Salvation Army. There wasn’t a special event going on or anything, but if you’ve visited Snellville, then you know there isn’t much going on there. So I jumped when my cousin offered to drop me off at the Army. After three thrift excursions I’m convinced that I don’t need to spend major dollars on trendy and vintage items to add to my wardrobe.

The Army is one of the easiest places to go thrift shopping because all the clothing is sorted by garment type and color. Plus, they actually have sales! All the items marked with a blue tag were 50 percent off the day I shopped. So if you’re hitting up your local Army, check to see when/if there are sales too. I bought nine pieces for about $32!

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Go “Thrifting” In Your Mom’s Closet

Annika HarrisAugust 28, 2011 //

I loooove getting a bargain! I also loooove to take myself on mini-shopping sprees. But this year has been a bit of a financial doozy, and I forced myself to examine my shopping practices. Gone are the days when I’d drop hundreds of dollars at Gilt Groupe a few times a week. Instead, my equally-shopping-addicted friend and I made a pact — we wouldn’t spend more than $20 on a single item. And that also meant we couldn’t go shopping and buy five items for $20 each — I wasn’t falling into that $100 loophole, either. Keep reading »

Donate To Goodwill And Save At The Gap

Annika HarrisMay 17, 2011 //

It’s spring cleaning time! And if de-cluttering isn’t enough of an incentive to go through your closet and dresser drawers, then how about an awesome shopping discount? Gap and Goodwill have partnered up in support of the Donate Movement, “an effort powered by Goodwill to educate the public on the positive impacts donations can have on both people and the planet.” From May 19 to 29, Gap stores in the U.S. and Canada will accept used clothing donations that will be given to Goodwill Industries. In exchange for their donations, Gap customers will receive 30 percent off regularly-priced and sale merchandise! As any bargain shopper knows, Goodwill sells its donations in stores, but what you might not know is that 84 percent of the revenue generated supports job training programs across the U.S. and Canada. Donating to Goodwill also helps the environment by keeping discarded clothing out of landfills. Don’t you just love being rewarded for things you should do anyway, like helping your community? Keep reading »

I Went Crazy Thrifting And Bought 7 Coats!

Annika HarrisJanuary 10, 2011 //

On Saturday, I went to the Salvation Army coat sale for the first time. It would have been quite an overwhelming experience if my “thrifting coach,” Patrice J. Williams of Living Fly On A Dime, hadn’t given me some pointers before we began shopping. You see, Patrice has challenged herself to purchase only thrifted, second-hand, or vintage clothing and shoes for a year. She’s four months into her challenge and knows a lot about where and how to thrift. Under her tutelage, I found seven coats and jackets and I paid less than $70 total! Keep reading »

Alexa Chung Stars In “Thrift America”

Annika HarrisNovember 29, 2010 //

American TV audiences tuned out when “It’s On with Alexa Chung” was airing on MTV a year ago. They didn’t get her sarcastic and quick wit. But the fashion world, especially style bloggers like us, took notice of her unusual-for-a-TV-personality mix of high and low fashions. And Alexa quickly became an It Girl in the States as a result of her effortlessly chic, quirky, and original style. Many of her fans have tried to replicate her look, and come summer, they’re going to get a helping hand from Alexa herself. Keep reading »

Style Mission: How To Score At A Thrift Store

Winona Dimeo-EdigerSeptember 29, 2010 //

Shopping at thrift stores is a great way to fill your wardrobe with unique pieces, save money, and rack up bragging rights: “Oh, this gorgeous silk scarf? Two bucks at Goodwill!”

Unfortunately, thrifting can also be overwhelming and exhausting. After the jump, a list of the supplies, strategies, and self-affirmations you’ll need to conquer an afternoon of hardcore bargain-hunting. Keep reading »

Get Rid Of That Thrift Store Smell

Catherine StrawnJanuary 12, 2009 //

When we gave you tips for thrift store shopping last month, our experts advised you to stay away from clothes that have a certain stink to them, because the smell probably won’t go away. Well, Janie Bryant, the costume designer for “Mad Men,” says otherwise. Her trick for getting rid of that musty, old-clothes stench is to mix one part vodka with two parts water in a spray bottle and douse the offending article with the mixture. “It works every time—that’s the power of vodka for you,” Bryant said. And we believe anything this woman says. After all, she’s managed to make pen necklaces popular, a feat not accomplished since the TV show “Ghostwriter” in the ’90s. [Valet] Keep reading »

11 Tips For Scoring At Thrift Stores

Catherine StrawnDecember 10, 2008 //

Despite it being shopping season right now, none of us are buying as much we did last year — at least not from regular stores. While the retail industry is in its worst slump in 35 years, resale and thrift shops have reported increases in sales. I have definitely contributed to that rise; Besides a new winter coat (and underwear, of course), I haven’t bought any new new clothes since this summer. I even went to a super fancy wedding in a dress that cost $3! Below, find out how to work the Goodwill racks like a pro from three highly successful thrifters… Keep reading »