So, thrifting huh. Well, as I explained to Fay and Fia, and as Paige now fully knows, my luck at the shops has nothing to do with me having special powers or a special strategy or technique. I simply live in a place that people love to go to, to retire and die. These people bring a life time of loot and it gets deposited regularly. I am probably one of maybe 5 girls in my immediate town that like vintage but maybe the only one that sells (though not much lately) and the vintage aesthetic is not fully embraced among the greater Northern Nevada area so I have plenty of it all to myself. I mean, Ask Paige, the stuff is just sitting there for super cheap, waiting to be plucked! I head out to my local shops (there are two now, one closed since I alone cannot keep all three in business!) every week or 4 days, the shops in the next city (there are 4 pretty good ones) maybe once every two weeks, and the shops in the furthest city (loads of huge ones) once a month ish. So I guess constancy is my trick? I start with boots and shoes, then head to dresses (where I touch EVERY SINGLE piece) then to whatever else. I weed out anything stained or ripped or missing buttons (unless its really freaking great and worth the effort to fix) I never buy things that just create work for myself.
That's it. So sorry to disappoint. If it is any consolation, you guys are the only ones who even care about my thrift stuff! Thats why I keep coming back here! You GET me. To you I am not the "eccentric" girl in the crazy old lady clothes. Well, maybe I am but at least most of you appreciate that!
Dress: vintage thrifted
Shoes: vintage thrifted (Oh, I will probably sell these since they are a tad too tight! When I took them off this evening I decided I had better never put them on again {see Haiku Ambulance's comment from yesterday}. They are 7.5 I think.. the brand is Bandits. I wear an 8, 8.5 so that explains the discomfort.)
belt, purse: vintage thrifted
Scarf: thrifted
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36 comments:
Christina, if you left that truck with no mud or stain on your dress, then congratulations to you!!! :)
I know if we had any vintage shops here -we have no! some celebrities open some vintage shops now but, well they are not the ones that I can afford!- I would be going there like 3-4 times a week! But we have nice outlet shops, that's my consolation prize!
And oh sorry, your dress looks wonderful with those browwn accessories and your tanned skin!!! :)
For some reason you look so beach ready to me. I love how white looks on you and those heels are gorgeous! Can I have them please ? :)
I read your blog on a daily basis and everyday I think to myself, "Man this girl is gorgeous!!" I can't say I'm one for the vintage stuff, but I think you're opening my mind to the possibilities of it!
You make thrifted clothes look brand new and designer... total knockout!
love all the color tones in this look!! you look amazingggggggg!!
xo, Kim www.eatsleepwear.com
Such a chic outfit for summer. :) It's a consolation to know about your thrifting though, where I live everything seems to get plucked the second it reaches the racks and most of the shops close before I finish work. No fun I tell you. :)
your style is really amazing, xoxo
What a lovely summer look! And before I even read your post, I sighed with longing for your shoes - hope I'm quick enough to snap them up if they go in the shop! Sounds like my thrift strategy is pretty similar - I go about every two weeks, and always in order: shoes, then belts, then dresses, then linens/fabric to make into dresses and skirts. Unfortunately there's only one thrift shop near here (central NJ), and their prices are sometimes preposterously steep considering the mixed lots they have on offer - mostly cheap, synthetic mall brand stuff from five years ago. Fortunately there are usually one or two little treasures hiding amongst the polyester blends :) And I definitely have the bad habit of buying things I intend to alter and then jut letting those projects accumulate, I'm impressed with your discipline!
Your shoes are fantastic
um, hello, how gorgeous are you?! the answer is very, in case you were wondering.
What a bummer about the shoes. And I totally know what Haiku Ambulance/Zoe is/was (ok enough slashes) saying. And I find this applies to cheap mall shoes too. Wow you got them on sale for 20$ but you wear them once and they hurt and then they sit there all year collecting dust but you can't bring yourself to throw them out because you bought them new... and wore them once... and what if you dress as a sexy robot for halloween one year and need shiny silvers shoes!!
I agree that thrifting is really not about luck. It's just um luck? that makes no sense. I think it's a combination of "luck" more of being at the right place at the right time and also strategy oh and patience. those nasty smelly, grimy racks arent gonna sift themselves out! You live in an abundant treasure zone, you are lucky! I think there are too many fashionble people in Montreal so it's not always easy to find a good find but going back to the places on a regular basis helps. if you go a couple of times a year and find nothing and give up, you can't be a successful thrifter. Ok I'm going on and on here. I say the trick is just to go out and spend a few hours and keep an open mind. [or maybe stalk Christina and grab something right before she reaches for it? :-)]
Haiku Ambulance hit the nail on the head with the ill-fitting shoes remarks. I've been guilty of ugly-stepsistering my feet into plenty of painful glass slippers. And why? Greed disguised as thrift, perhaps?
It really is too bad about those shoes, though, because they ARE so lovely *sigh*
crazy old lady clothes?!?! no way! you have a good eye and the persistence to keep going back, good for you! here in chicago, everything gets picked through like CRAZY, so i have to drive out to the outer edges (read: bad neighborhoods) to find some decent thrifts. you're super lucky.
and, btw, LOVE that dress!
Love your look - you've inspired me to thrift more and combine it with my sewing design.
Love your writing sytle ;)
I'm truly very jealous of your thrifting excursions. The cool thing about Nashville is that there are tons (I mean TONS) of great vintage and thrift. Those old biddies sure do hoard some great stuff.
Great back drop ;) and jealous that you've got the thrifting gods on your side.
KeepItFvncy,
M.E.
Love the bag and the shoes. Both are great for punching up any light summer frock (especially white and sandy colors...)
You have such a good eye for vintage and you can definitely tell from your shop. It was always the nicest things. And you style them up so well! I only wish I had the same amount of time to go thrifting. That would be my dream. How does your little boy like the thrifting?
I love that bag. I was just looking at some very similar ones at Urban the other day, but the are $250.00, stupid.
I live in a similar place in Florida! Lots of stylish resort-types and retirees that bring lots of designer frocks to thrift stores, and not many people shop in them.
I just love this outfit. It's so pretty and feminine, and I adore this dress shape.
I would totally buy those shoes! I'm a 7.5! Except I'm practically broke right now so that's probably a horrible idea.
I love the city of Portland, but unfortunately it's full of young hipsters who love vintage as much, or more, than I do, and there aren't enough old people hoarding their old clothes to support all of us. I've taking to buying the gigantic and hideous stuff that will take a bit of work and then altering it. I like gigantic men's shirts, they're the best.
ahhhh! which one closed??? and yes, the thrifting with you was ridic. you know! i was like...shocked! mouth hanging open. i still have yet to wear those amazing navy blue pants that you wanted to kill me for. ;) i can't wait to come back and visit. and not just for the thrifting. :)
Love your style! Thrifting is such a relaxing treat, I'm jealous you get to do it so often and are so fruitful. Maybe I need to take a trip to Oldville, NV...
Tamia
TheStyleSample
Those shoes are great! I love the stitching and details.
You have now motivated me to trawl the thrift stores next time I go to Reno! I thinking thrifting is a lot like shopping at places like H&M. You have to go early and often and be willing to dig.
I'm a little disappointed that your luck is based on location. My local vintage stores run the gamut from cheap + crappy to wayyy overpriced. Maybe I just haven't found the right store yet. Also, I'm loving this stash of really interesting unique handbags that you've been dipping into lately. This one is just as amazing as the carpet bag. Color me jealous!
Love these pictures. You've come such a far way from posing in the Etsy room! I actually love to see how much you've grown to love your new camera as well.
I wish we had thrifting like that here.
www.morganandlua.blogspot.com
I am IN LOVE with that purse! I mean, seriously in love! My town can be somewhat the same. Not so much because there are a lot of old people but because people generally donate (to feel good about themselves) but don't buy second hand (because they feel they are above it financially even if they are not). So I deal more with the attitudes of my neighbors than their age. People here just feel like second hand some how equates to being poor which is obviously not the case. I love going to their garage sales because they pawn off leather designer purses due to pen marks or it being "so last year" all for a measly $12 or something. I find it sort of sad, actually. The only BAD place to thrift is at the Goodwill and it is only because it is generally very busy. Good turn over but, never anything good. People here tend to donate to the religious organizations and churches...not the Goodwill (there's that "feel good" thing again). Church garage sales are a treasure trove!
I lived in norther Nevada up until just a year ago, and visit it frequently. My friends and I all agree whole heartedly that the Reno area has THE BEST thrift stores. Not a visit went by where we all didn't lieave with something new in our hands. I miss the thrift stores there immensley.I live in San Diego now, and I don't know if i'm just going to the wrong places or what, but the thrift stores here are very disappointing.
I can't wait until my next trip back!
I love the landscape in all your pictures. Where abouts in N. Nevada do you live, if you don't mind my asking? It's beautiful, and while I LOVE the ocean and city life, I do miss the mountains and the lake!
Cheers,
Kelly
these pictures remind me of a Ralph Lauren add. I love them!
Some of my most favorite pieces are thrifted. A lot of my most complimented pieces are thrifted. And a lot of my most "expensive" hard to get pieces are thrifted. A lot of people still aren't keen on the idea of buying something twice worn -- which is a shame. But then again, it's kinda cool cause we can keep all those treasures to ourselves! Thanks for the insider tips. I tend to do the same thing in my area as well.
-Cris
http://www.bisouonline.com
I love these pictures! That dress is super cute, too.
Love this look!
these photos are so lovely dear! i love the contrast between the blue sky and the gold-ness of pretty much everything else :) your scarf is the perfect touch of color!
See what I mean???!! The shoes changed. Because I bet they fit you initially or else you wouldn't have bought them.
Also, I'm sorry, but this comment has to be cut short because for some reason I am having intense deja vu right now. I need to deal with that.
.Haiku
Sorry, I'm back.
That was weird. It almost made me dizzy.
ANYWAY.
I was going to say that I hate you because I was like, "No, Zoe- you don't need those Toms wedges."
Just like that time I was like, "No, Zoe- you don't need an Erin Wasson ring."
And then a voice cries inside me, "Yes. You do. And even if you don't, Christina may- so that makes it all okay. Justify yourself through other people."
And then I was like, "Shut up voice, you make absolutely no sense. But thanks for talk, I will get the wedges."
I also wanted to say that the I had somehow missed the title of yesterday's post- which is actually Monday's post. I went ahead and took it as a Paul Simon reference, which it totally may or may not be.
But if it is, I just have to say that fewer things give me deeper chills than,
"Dolores, I live in fear.
My love for you is so overpowering
I'm afraid that I will
disapp e a r."
Even typing it gives me chills.
Ok, I'm going to email you now.
.Haiku
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