Thrifty Things #1
An intro to my thrifting life
Welcome to my new, probably occasional, series I’m calling “Thrifty Things” (working title — please suggest alternatives in the comments below). Since my last newsletter was so heavy, I thought it was time for some lighter fare. So, without further ado, here’s why I love thifting, my tips for starting your own thrifting journey, and some of my recent finds. Here’s hoping I impart a little bit of wisdom learned over a lifetime of loving vintage, antiques, second-hand, and general “old” things.
(Note: If you’re reading from email, you might have to click through to read on the web or the Substack app to see the full post.)
I don’t remember the first time my mom and grandma brought me shopping with them to an antique mall, but I do remember the first thing I bought at one with my own allowance money. It was a tiny, ceramic figurine of a cat…??? My family was really into antiquing. Like, really into it. Anywhere we traveled, my mom, grandma, and aunt were guaranteed to find the local antique mall in which to get lost for an afternoon (and this was before the internet!). Because antique stores aren’t exactly the most thrilling places in the world for 7-year-olds, my mom encouraged me to find something to collect. And lo and behold, I picked ceramic animal figurines. I wish I could figure out if those are still packed away somewhere in my parents’ basement.
As a grew older, antiquing lost its luster for me. I stopped being excited by the “malls” stuffed with eclectic collections of glassware, furniture, linens, and art. For years, I still accompanied my mom on antique store trips, but I was less enthused. I would hear people talk about thrifting clothes, but I always seemed to come out of Goodwill empty-handed.
Then, gradually, my love of old things and shopping second-hand has been reawakened.
Why I love thrifting
1. It’s a real, live treasure hunt
The majority of the time I step foot into Goodwill, I don’t walk out with much, but when it’s good, it’s really freaking good.
2. It’s taught me patience
I’m not a patient person. I hate slow walkers and waiting in line. But I love wasting an afternoon pouring over racks at a thrift store with methodical precision.
3. It provides an opportunity to try trends without breaking the bank
As someone who is interested in fashion, I often want to try new trends, but it can feel silly to spend $890 on something like a mesh ballet flat1 when it will only be “on trend” for a season or two. Thrifting allows you to dip your toe into new styles and silhouettes without spending a bajillion dollars. Take this season’s ubiquitous Barn Jacket.
A quick Google search garners hundreds of hits, the least expensive is from Old Navy at $59.99. But a search on eBay generates a ton of listings for anywhere between $25 and $50. And if you have really good luck at the thrift store, you could probably find one for roughly 7-10 bucks. And, bonus—it’ll likely be higher quality and already broken in.
4. It’s a less expensive way to shop sustainably and ethically
Listen. I love shopping. I love fashion. I love clicking influencer links (more than I would like to admit). But as we continue to learn more about the considerable harm the fashion industry, and in particular fast fashion, is doing to our environment2, as well as the questionable labor practices of many of the world’s fast fashion companies3, I want to be thoughtful about where my clothes are coming from. The most sustainable clothes are the ones already hanging in your closet. The next most sustainable are those you buy second-hand. Particularly since having my son, thrifting has also been an easy way to ensure he has enough clothes for daycare where they’re inevitably going to get trashed and not feel bad I’m throwing money down the drain.
5. It’s a way to slay the capitalist monster
I get very fed up when people don’t think influencers have real jobs. It is incredibly clear to me that content creators, particularly women, are making very legitimate incomes, and I think dismissing them is a phenomenon rooted in the dismissal of women’s interests and I’m not here for that. However, I do think that in our world of seeking dopamine hits a la “little treat” culture, alongside the constant churn of fashion trends, particularly online, replete with a whole genre of content for women my age to update their millennial outfits, it all starts to feel a bit, well, gross. The nonstop drive for what’s new, what’s next, what’s in, what’s out is exhausting—a ploy just to make us all buy more so we can continue to enrich Jeff Bezos. To buy something second-hand that’s had a whole other life before it came to you feels a little counter-cultural in this way, and it’s part of what makes this way of shopping so special.
Handy hints: A non-exhaustive lists of tips for beginning your thrift journey
If large thrift stores overwhelm you, try a local consignment store, resale shop, vintage, or antique store first. These smaller stores will often have more handpicked, curated items available that are easier to find. You may pay a premium, but you won’t have to dig as much.
I seem to have better luck with non-chain thrift stores than large chain ones (i.e., Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army Family Store, etc.), but in Indianapolis, there are very few independent shops, so I take what I can get. If you have a more independent store in your area, I suggest going there.
Arrive early. As thrifting has become more popular in recent years, there may be shoppers who are there for their own resale business or who are just really good at it. Getting there close to store opening will open up the best selection.
Practice, practice, practice. It may sound silly, but the more you do it, the better you get. You’ll begin to know what brands to look for, what you gravitate towards, what size men’s vintage Levi’s are sure to fit you (most thrift stores in my area don’t have dressing rooms, but they do have a 2-week return policy), etc. But just like anything, it’s a muscle you have to build. If you don’t have luck the first time, go back a week later and try again.
Beeline for the men’s section. I mean it. I always start there. Men’s button-downs, jackets, sweaters, and jeans are the racks where true gems are found. Pay attention to the labels—Ralph Lauren, Lands End, Brooks Brothers, LL Bean. Always buy the crisp white shirt or the denim jacket. I don’t make the rules. I have a growing collection of vintage denim button-downs and jackets. Do I need more? Don’t answer that.
My current collection of denim shirts and denim jackets The best place to find a “new” coat is second-hand. I’m serious. The best-selling wool coat on Artizia’s site retails for $260-$375. And department stores are, in some cases, more. However, I’ve found stunning coats, from trenches to puffers, for a fraction of the cost. And again, because they are often vintage, they will be better made with better materials.
Some favorite vintage coats Thrift store home sections can be kind of a slog, but there are a few things I always keep an eye out for—fun mugs (there are so many dang mugs at thrift stores and as a coffee mug connoisseur, I’m always looking for interesting ones to add to my collection for cheap), vases (flowers need a place to go and you can never have too many), seasonal florals (you need never pay upwards of $30-50 on faux fall florals again—trust me!), lamps (these can be more hit or miss, but if you can find anything that’s solid brass, go for it).
Kids’ clothes and toys are such good deals at thrift stores. I’ve found so many things for dirt cheap—less than Target, I promise you! Plus, if you bring your toddler with you, he can have something to play with while you browse.
Don’t forget the book section. I’ve found so very many books—both for me and for my son—for stupid cheap at thrift stores.
Recent thrifted (and Little Free Library) finds for my TBR Don’t get discouraged. I walk out of thrift, antique, or vintage stores empty-handed…sometimes. That doesn’t mean the trip was a waste of time. If anything, it’s a fun way to spend a morning or an afternoon.
My fave thrift follows
Following people who are good at thrifting will help you become better at it, too. Below are a few of my favorites.
Karla Reed: I’ve been following Karla for years, and have watched as her style has evolved and she has rediscovered her love of vintage clothing. Her relaxed, classic style with a hint of menswear sophistication has always inspired me. Recently, she started selling some of her finds via local pop-ups in her hometown, and just this week, launched KR Vintage, her online vintage clothing shop, to share the love with the rest of us. She has the keenest eye, and I find so much inspiration from her.
Krista Lavrusik: Krista is one of my most fun follows on Instagram for a variety of reasons, but I especially love when she takes her followers thrifting with her and shares her thrift hauls afterward. Not only is she entertaining, but she is also an expert on “vibes.” I now pick things up at the thrift store that I never would have considered because she sold me on it. I will never bypass a sweater tank ever again! Also, she likes to theme the seasons—ladies and gentlemen, we are entering “Ralph Lauren Fall.”
Gwen Hefner (The Makerista’s Thrift Club): Gwen, better known as The Makerista, is a blogger, designer, and expert second-hand shopper, and for $35/year, you can join her @thriftwithmakerista club, which gives you access to a member’s only IG page, Facebook Group, and sellers’ and swap group on Facebook. Gwen takes her club members along on her thrifting trips, and her knowledge, coupled with the knowledge of the community has taught me so much, particularly around home decor.
A few recent thrift finds
Much of what I’m wearing in this video
Sweater tank: Talbot’s via Goodwill
Schoolboy blazer: Mel Trotter Thrift Store in Grand Rapids, MI, where I spent a morning while visiting my BIL and SIL a couple of weeks ago
Pleated chino shorts: Vintage Lands’ End via Goodwill
Necklace: Two-sided vintage 1992 Team USA pendant via Nuova Vita Vintage
The other items I’m wearing are linked below:
Madame President Hat — Look up your voter registration HERE, register to vote, and make a plan…deadlines are fast approaching and soon, we’ll be in early voting season 4
This absolutely insane Sag Harbor tapestry jacket
I actually saw that Karla Reed had found one and I promptly went hunting on Poshmark.
THE(e) Amazon Coat
Couldn’t believe my luck when I found this coat that retails for over $150 now for just $45 at Mel Trotter Thrift in Grand Rapids. I’ve been in the market for a new puffer coat, and the thrift gods smiled on me last week.
This amazing patchwork jacket (and a vintage brown suede blazer)
The gals at Lux and Ivy, a local curated vintage shop in Indy, posted about this patchwork jacket in their Instagram stories a few weeks ago, and I immediately messaged them saying I had to have it. I also came home with the most perfect oversized brown suede blazer…are you sensing a theme?
This collection of fun antique finds
I collect antique and vintage Christmas decor, particularly that of the Mid-Century Modern variety, and I will never pass up an opportunity to add to my stash. At Sunset Bay Antiques in Ludington, Michigan (where I was spending time with my in-laws and where I wrote the other week’s heavy essay on grief), I found:
Door hanger with bells
Two seemingly handmade drum ornaments
A festive salt-and-pepper shaker set
A table runner
A wood carved wall hanging of two children for my son’s room
I hope this has been a fun glimpse into what I look for while thrifting…tell me what you end up finding on your treasure hunts below!
What else I can’t let go of right now
The absolutely wild week in the Trump campaign following the former President’s disastrous debate performance. A non-exhaustive, exhausting list below:
Everyone wondering who the heck Laura Loomer is and why someone so vile is traveling with the campaign
JD Vance doubling down on the absolute lies about the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, OH and his live TV admission that he “creates stories”…???
Donald Trump sending an all-caps Truth(?) Tweet(?) that he hates Taylor Swift on Sunday. Swifties and the rest of the internet had a predictable (and hilarious) field day. “Alexa, play ‘The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.’”
A second assassination attempt on the former President’s life. Please do not misunderstand me. This is not good, and I’m very concerned. It also just happens to be the cherry on top of a particularly insane week.
College Girl, Missing by Shawn Cohen
I devoured this book on audio last week and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. As someone who was in Bloomington during the summer of 2011, Lauren Spierer’s story has lived rent-free in my head for far too long. I really appreciated Cohen’s thoughtful re-examination of the case and was shocked to find out he spoke to two of the men who lawyered up quickly following her disappearance. All I truly hope is that her parents get some closure at some point. I gave is 3.5/5 stars, but think it’s worth picking up, especially if you’re interested in the case or you went to IU.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
I’m not a typical reality TV watcher. I watched The Bachelor/Bachelorette for many seasons, but had to bow out a few years ago after the Rachel Lindsey/Chris Harrison scandal and because I no longer felt I could dedicate 2-4 hours per week to the same show. That said, I binged the hell out of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I was only tangentially familiar with the Mormon #MomTok swinging scandal due to
’s coverage over the years, but I simply couldn’t get enough. Beyond the usual reality TV fare (grown women with too much fake hair and fake boobs and Botox married to husbands who seem exceptionally mid fighting with each other about the most inane topics on earth and need therapy and not cameras following their every move), it scratches the surface of so many issues conservative religions and how those within them, particularly women, are affected (read: harmed) by them. My favorite line by far was when, in the last episode, Demi said, “It’s kind of a theme with our Church, though, and kind of what the problem is. Everyone is getting married before their brains even develop.” So. Much. To. Unpack. Luckily, I have the new Be There In Five episode waiting for me for the full breakdown.You didn’t really think I’d make a whole post without mentioning the election now, did you?
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Thank you for writing all of this out! I've been following your thrifting on Instagram and I'm ready to dip my toes in. Appreciate your tips and insights!