This weekend my friend Jessica and I hit up the Goodwill Outlet store I so frequently talk about. They have everything from clothing to shoes to records and books and all clothing is priced by the pound (from $1.49 to $1.69 per pound). Jessica was looking to add colorful, feminine pieces to her wardrobe and what better (and economical) way to do so than at a thrift store.
Check out the video below to see what goodies we rounded up as well as some tips for thrifting. And check back next week for a followup video where I’ll show Jess how to incorporate her new finds into her existing wardrobe.
Thanks to Jessica for being such a good sport and for the catchy, Goodwill Hunting title.
P.S. I’m new to video editing, but I promise I’ll get better and bring you fun, informative video posts.
What tips do you have for thrift store shopping? Have you ever found a designer item for next to nothing?
I blog endlessly about the joys of thrifting at Housing Works (like here and here), but if you’re not in the New York City area, you can still get the goods through their online auction. They offer clothing, accessories and even unique furniture! And every penny goes to homeless in NYC with HIV and AIDS.
Here are some of the items currently up for auction (Alexis Bittar cuff, Catherine Malandrino dress, Jill Stuart purse, McGuire Furniture chairs)
If you don’t have the time or patience to place bids, Housing Works also has buy now items you can purchase immediately, usually starting at $15 or $20.
I know it’s been a minute since I’ve shown you some of my thrift store wears. It’s one thing to purchase the items but it’s another to actually show you how I incorporate them into my wardrobe. I knew I wanted to wear the 98¢ Ann Taylor blazer from Goodwill, but I didn’t want to wear it with boring dress pants or skinny jeans. I reached into the depths of my closet and pulled out a black lace dress I purchased freshman year in college. Aside from the fact I’m happy I can still fit it, it only costs $8 on clearance at Wet Seal! I think the blazer (slightly?) tones down the sexiness of the dress.
And my accessories were just as hot and cheap. My trusty $29 Nine West stilettos elongated my legs and the black opaque tights had a bit of a surprise in the back (see the picture below). I added hints of color with my bold earrings ($5 at a flea market) and bracelets (the gold one was a gift and the coral one was $5, from my trip in Belize). So what do you think?
Last week I told you how I was on the hunt for an oversized cardigan but I came up empty handed at Housing Works. So I went to my tried and true Goodwill Outlet in Long Island City where items are priced by the pound. I found two cardis: a ruffled one from Zara and a button down from H&M. And…here’s what else I purchased in addition to the cardigans:
Theory pants
Silence + Noise tank
Ann Taylor blazer
Gap sweats
scarf
Tops: Express, Club Monaco, Zara, French Connection
H&M and Zara cardigans
Club Monaco and Zara tops
And how much did all of this set me back? $10.18. That’s not including a 39¢ yummy smelling candle. At $10.18 for 11 items, each piece averaged 93 cents! With a busy week of holiday parties ahead of me, I’ll be integrating these goodies into my wardrobe. God bless thrift stores.
Posted by Fly on a Dime on Dec 7, 2009 in Thrift Stores
So what did I decide to do this weekend as the frigid temps in NYC were mixed with rain and snow? I decided to go thrifting of course, as I’m on a serious hunt for a long, over-sized cardigan.
Though I’m a Housing Works warehouse pro, I rarely go to their other locations in the city. But I decided to make my way to the SoHo location and I feel in love.
The store’s pretty frickin’ small but it packs a punch. The cramped space was littered with Valentino, Ungaro, Ferragamo, Chanel and pretty much every other label I would normally never be able to afford. Unfortunately I didn’t find my coveted cardigan, but here are some of the other great items I stumbled upon.
I’m a sucker for high heels and this store sucked me right in. This pair of Stuart Weitzman pumps ($70 or $75, I forget) with a raffia heel and patent Theory pumps ($60) are lust-worthy. The prices at the stores are higher than the warehouse location, but the items are also more high end, in great condition and you don’t have to dig in bins. Even a cheapie like myself can appreciate designer heels under $100. The racks also had selections from Prada, Manolo and Valentino.
The photo doesn’t do this Jill Stuart dress ($70) any justice. I loved the structure of the bodice. And this Tocca dress ($110) was to die for, or maybe I just loved the soft mohair. There were tons of other dresses so this would be a great place to find an outfit for a formal occasion.
They even had a few pieces of furniture. The sofa was only $225, cheaper than what you’d find at Ikea! And the wardrobe chest ($375) was a little steep for my taste but it had a unique, vintage-y feel that would add character to any apartment.
I realized I haven’t posted pics of any of my recent thrift store finds in a while. I copped this Express dress a few months ago for $2 and I finally plan to wear it next week. The fiery color and ruffles at the bodice are oh so cute. It came with a red belt but I swapped that out for a multicolor one, also a thrift store find. It kinda has a posh, “Mad Men” like feel, but can be spiced up with some funky stilettos. What do you think?
Posted by Fly on a Dime on Nov 16, 2009 in Thrift Stores
My L.A. visit last week was fabulous and you know I couldn’t visit the City of Angels without hitting up a few thrift stores. I really hadn’t planned on doing so but I randomly stumbled across a Goodwill location. And then on the next block, I saw two more thrift stores. I stepped into a cheap girl’s heaven.
Goodwill (7919 Beverly Blvd.)
The store was large, organized and some racks were color coordinated. Yes, yes and yes. However, I didn’t find any clothing I absolutely had to have. There was a pair of leopard pumps that caught my eye but alas, they were too small for my size 9s. The clothes didn’t wow me, but there were tons of electronics and items to decorate your home with. I fell in love with a pair of elephant statues ($15 each) but they would have been too heavy to lug through LAX.
Out of the Closet (360 N. Fairfax Ave.)
After Goodwill, I strolled around the corner to Out of the Closet, a chain in California that benefits those living with HIV and AIDS. I didn’t have much time to browse but I immediately saw tons of artwork, funky couches and desks and even a gorgeous wedding dress. I noticed a printed dress ($10) I really wanted but it didn’t fit properly and a cute Steve Madden coat but it had a few stains on it.
I barely touched the tip of the iceberg as I saw at least two other thrift stores on the same block. Next time I’m in L.A., I’ll be sure to make Fairfax my first stop so I can enjoy a full morning of thrifting!
*Check back tomorrow when I give you the full deets on the trip and how I did it all (lodging, dining and entertainment) while staying on a tight budget.
and bring you fun, informative video posts.
