Vintage Shopping Demystified + My Favorite Places In L.A

  Thrift stores are filled with 70's tops and high-waist trousers like the one's picture on Solange!

If you're looking for eye catching clothing that makes a statement while easy on the pocketbook; thrift shopping is for you. You can find an array of statement items from funky blazers, to bold jewelry, eccentric accessories, timeless dresses and everything in between. The key to making the best out of your thrifting trip is knowing first what you're looking for, then what type of store to visit to find those items.

Know the difference between Specialty Thrift Shops, Consignment Shops, & major thrift retailers like Goodwill & The Salvation Army:

Specialty Thrift Shops:  Proceeds from the sale of merchandise normally goes to foundations, churches and schools. I have found that the prices are a bit higher than major thrift retailers yet the quality of clothing offered tends to be in great shape. These are the stores I normally get quality items like cashmere sweaters [$10-20], vintage shoes [$10-40], and unique purses [$8-15]. [Genre of clothing most likely found; Early 60's - current]

*Want to find a listing of thrift stores in your area? Check out The Thrift Shopper for a comprehensive list

Consignment Shops/Vintage Shops: Consignment shops are normally higher than both Thrift Shops & major thrift shops, yet can be chock-full of designer goods. Items are usually in great condition and have minimal signs of wear and tear. I have purchased signature Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses [$20-40], Gucci Trousers [$45], Versace Blazers [$65] and Marni wedges [$70]. Consignment shops are a haven for those looking for quality designer items and collectible vintage pieces at a fraction of the cost. [Genre of clothing most likely found; Early 50s - current]

Goodwill & Salvation Army: These stores are the most reasonable out of the bunch, however you have to dig a little more. Major thrift chains usually stock an abundance of 80's pieces like beaded and sequined blazers [$3-10], secretary dresses [$2-8], trousers [$2-8], a variety of tops [$1-5], belts & jewelry [$.25-2.00] and interesting purses and clutches [$1-8]. [Genre of clothing most likely found; Late 60s - current]

 

*Not afraid to get down and dirty? Check out the Goodwill Clearance center in your area to get most clothing for $.50-1.00 a pound. This is the best kept secret in thrifting, as most of the flea market vendors and specialty stores flock to the clearance center in hopes of snagging a few jewels. I scored Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Lanvin & Diane Von Furstenberg for .50 a piece! My favorite clearance center is: 342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031 - Bring a mask and gloves. Seriously.

** For more collectibles, antiques and jewelry [usually the best stuff you won't find in your local Goodwill], check out the Goodwill Auction website.  

**Estate Sales: I find a lot of my best pieces at Estate Sales.  A lot of my vintage collector bathing suits [$.50-5.00], hats [$1.00-3.00], dresses [$.25-5.00], capes [$.50-5.00], jewelry [$.25-5.00] and vintage furs [$50-100]  have all been purchased at Estate Sales for little of nothing. If you like a lot of the items found in Consignment Shops, you will love Estate Sales as that is where most of the merchandise originates. It is not uncommon to run into collectors, consignment shop owners and dealers at these sales. [Genre of clothing most likely found; Late 40's - current]  

**Check out EstateSales.Net for listings on future estate sales in your area.

What to check for when thrifting:

Check the hems of all clothing: This is normally where you find holes, rips and tears

Check the underarms of dresses, shirts, and jackets: Look for holes, rips, and discoloration

Check the zippers: Make sure all zippers are in working condition

Check for missing buttons

Inspect sweaters for holes

How to care for your garments: 

Dry clean the following items:

• Items that are made with two different types of fabric
• Items with lots of embellishments [trim, beads, buttons, sequins]
• Silk, velvet, wool

Other garments can be washed with Dreft or Woolite

Tips For Thrifting: 

Sale Days: Most thrift stores and consignment shops have sale days where merchandise is 40%-75% off. Pick up a calendar from your thrift shop to take notes of these special promotions.

Store Stocking Days: Find out when your local thrift shop stocks their shelves! This is when you can get first dibs on the best merchandise.

Go during the week: Drop in your local store during the week to avoid the crowd and get your hands on a better selection.

Drop in regularly; I usually stop in my local thrift store about 2-3 times a week to scour the racks for new threads. New merchandise is sometimes put out daily.

Set a budget & bring cash: If you bring cash, you are more likely to stay near or under your set budget.

Bring an ipod: I literally comb each rack when vintage shopping, having an ipod with an upbeat playlist will help keep you focused!

Check out stores in towns with a large elderly population: Some good places to check out are Palm Springs, Palos Verdes & Palisades

Be creative: A lot of my most coveted pieces have come from the costume section [lacy dresses and capes] as well as the children's section [rompers and t-shirts].

Dress for the occasion: Some thrift shops may not have dressing rooms, wear a pair of leggings and a fitted top to try on items inside the store.

New to vintage shopping? Keep it simple and stick to blazers, jackets, men and women's trousers, high-waist skirts and dresses until you're familiar with the fit different silhouettes.

Did you find perspiration stains in silk or linen? Skip these items as the chances of removing them from those fibers are slim to none.

Find mildew? I have never been able to successfully remove mildew from any items.

My favorite thrift stores around Los Angeles:

Valley Thrift - Super huge selection of clothing from [$.25-15.00] - 9007 Lankershim Blvd, Sun Valley CA 91352

Goodwill [South Bay, Reseda, Palos Verdes & Canoga Park locations] - These locations have the best selection of vintage and current clothing. -

Salvation Army [Canoga Park, Palos Verdes, South Bay, & Sunset locations] - These locations have the best selection of vintage and current clothing. -

American Way Thrift - 3226 West Magnolia Blvd, Burbank CA 91505

Rodeo Drive Resale - Consignment shop with tons of designer items - 13727 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks CA 91423

[photo source]

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Don't Be Tardy For The Party: My First Boogie Den Experience

This past weekend I attended A&D Vintage's monthly "Boogie Den" in L.A and loved it! Think late night thrifting whilst listening to live music, and sipping on fruity cocktails [open bar]. This isn't like going to your local Goodwill where it's a hit or miss, this is a warehouse chock-full of HAND-PICKED vintage items. They have everything from rompers, to dresses, sweaters, jeans, lingerie, scarves, shoes, and purses! The kicker is that everything on this night is $7 a pound. Yes, $7 a pound. I left that night with a LARGE trash bag full of clothes for $72.

This is how it works; there is a $10 cover to get in, and upon entry you are supplied with a bunch of trash bags to have a place to store your goodies while you dig through bins and bins of clothing for those one of a kind treasures! Everything is categorized to spare you from pulling your hair out [tops in one bin, dresses in another, and so on], and the entire warehouse is yours for the pickin'.

[Found these cool painted doors off to the left of the stage; cool right?]

The warehouse is also open for business by appointment only during the week [between the hours of 8:30am - 4:30pm], however keep in mind that they are wholesalers [they supply a lot of your favorite Etsy & Ebay sellers], so certain restrictions apply in regards to the pricing [see below]. If you want to purchase the clothing at the rate of $7 a pound without any minimum purchase, then attend the Boogie Den on the last Saturday of the month. 

Regular pricing structure is as follows;
$7 pound - 1500lb minimum
$9 pound - 300lb minimum
$11 pound - 50lb minimum

Regular "by the piece" prices are as follows; 
Dresses starting @ $12
Leather Jackets starting @ $18
** She also ships too, so this is perfect for all of you who aren't in the L.A area! Check out her myspace for more details.

Now can you see why it's such a good idea to head out to their monthly party?! If you are in Los Angeles, the next one is June 26th, [from around 8pm - 2am] hopefully I will see you there :D

Wearing:
Silk Top: Thrifted
Harem Pants: Thrifted
Bag: Thrifted 
Booties: Jeffrey Campbell
------ + My outfit was less than $5 guys!! [not including the shoes], these are a couple of pieces I scored at that huge estate sale I went to a couple of weeks back. Be sure to keep checking the Penny Saver, Craigslist, and EstateSales.net for sales in your area!

Another Sunday Morning: Randoms + How to Date Your Vintage Finds

Vintage Beaded Cardi - I believe this still had the tag on the inside!! This is definitely 80s

Wool Dress - This is the sweetest little dress, it has big buttons down the back, and hook & eye closures. Because of the construction; I am guessing this is 50s - to early 60s. Still working on the dating of this dress.

Super random outfit; horseback riding maybe? lol The suspenders are 50s, shirt 80s, shorts 80s.  The belt is vintage as well; but now that I think about it...I never even payed much attention to date it. The hat is pretty old; I haven't taken a gander inside to check out the label..so I am not sure how old.

70s Silk top and 80s shorts. The belt is vintage as well [haven't checked the label yet]. The headband is the one I made from this post.

Another barely worn dress; from the tag I am guessing this is 80s.

Just got this jacket and quirky mink hat; I haven't attempted to date them yet.

Shirt is definitely 70s, shorts are 80s. Belt is also vintage.

Random 80s Navajo style tapestry jacket, and 80s bustier.

Dating your finds is part of the thrill of treasure hunting! I have compiled a very short [but very useful] list of resources that should help take some of the guess work out of dating pieces. I turn to the Vintage Fashion Guild after every haul, not only are those links helpful; but the entire site as well.

Vintage Fashion Guild [Label Resource]
Vintage Fashion Guild [Quick Tips for Dating Vintage]

Adventures In Thrifting: The San Fran Edition

I love checking out the local thrift stores/flea markets/vintage shops when I drop into a new city. Sometimes the finds are reflective of the local culture; and it's always a refreshing change. Vintage shopping never gets boring, but it's nice to see items from the locals closet!


This spotlight features two of my favorite stores! Boneflower's & The Clothes Closet Thrift Store.

1747 Polk St
(between Clay St & Washington St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

(415) 359-0338

Let's start with Boneflower's since they were gracious enough to allow me into their store after hours, for a nice little meet & greet coupled with pics, and a brief history lesson behind each piece.

Boneflower's has a drool-worthy, well curated collection of Victorian pieces, vintage hats, "oddities" and quirky unique pieces from local designers. Those of you familiar with the vintage scene in San Fran may recall this spot being Mascara Vintage at one point. However there is a new sheriff in town now {Jenna, the new owner}, and this store has undergone a major re-haul. It's like walking into your grandma's closet during her "hey day". The prices are also very reasonable, which is a major plus.

Beautiful collection of 50-60s day and evening dresses!

The even have a nice collection of vint items for men items as well!

My hand is on/near the Victorian dresses/shirts. I was so enamored by the collection; I didn't think to pull them out for you to see :-/ They also carry your usual sequin glam attire if you are in to that kinda thing!

They also have a nice collection of vintage jewelry and doodads; they carry handmade Steampunk Jewelry as well.

Overall I would give this place a ten! It's definitely a gem in the city, and a favorite amongst the locals. You are sure to find whatever you are looking for; and often times more than what you bargained for! 
---------------+

1850 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109-3004
(415) 929-8019

Next up; The Town School Clothes Closet; the layout is a little less glamorous for sure...but stellar finds nonetheless. If you are into labels; this is your place to shop; there was Gucci, Chanel, Prada, and Pucci all within eye-shot! The prices are very reasonable; think $20 for a St. John's suit in flawless condition, or $30 for a pair of authentic Chanel Ballet Flats [oftentimes the shoes are 50% off; SCORE]. They also have a nice collection of books, and China as well! - The kicker is that this store is used to help cover tuition for boys who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend Town School due to financial need. Most of the items donated are from the parent's association, and members of the community. So you can feel good when you walk out of that store with a vint Emilio Pucci bikini [scored at a mere $12] just in time for summer!

Yup; those are Prada's.

That was a Chloe' silk mini I was holding up - yup.

This was a Dolce & Gabbana leather skirt - Tip: all of the "high end designer items" are to the left of the store entrance!

The era's run the gamut; from 60's - present. I found a ton of Bianca Jagger-esque pieces [a 'la Studio 54]

My fav section of the store! The little tea cups are adorable!

Estate Sale Shopping Tips

 [a few quick snaps of part of my lil collection]

1.Check your local PennySaver for Estate Sale Listings - Craigslist is also a good source to check.

2.Estate Sales usually last for 3 days [Friday, Sat & Sun] or 2 days [Friday & Saturday]

3.Pricing is FIRM on the first day [unless you are buying a lot; and I do mean a lot] - The staff is usually open to negotiating on the last day of the sale.

4.True Estate/Probate sales usually occur in the unfortunate event that someone has passed, or moved on to a retirement home - In those cases EVERYTHING must go. If you want the cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink; those are for sale [no kidding; there is a regular estate digger that attends just for the cleaning supplies and tools].

5.Show up early if you are looking for antiques or fine jewelry, as dealers will often be the first in line.
Moving sales are NOT estate sales; understand that people will call it that in order to get tons of people to come out!

6.If you hear words such as "contemporary", "ethan allen" "new" in the listing, it is safe to say they aren't selling vintage clothing, or antiquities.

7.Don't ask for a price on a single item; bring ALL of your items to the front; you will get a discount FOR SURE. If all else fails, you can put things back. - The staff that runs the estate sale will more than likely always quote a "outrageous" price when you hold up one item. Your bargaining power increases greatly if you have 5+ items. 

8.Check the armpits [I hate that word] of clothing in search of ripped seams. Also check for moth holes, that dress is no good if the moths got to it before you did. Check the hem of dresses as well.

9.Grab first, ponder later. I learned this the hard way. I was staring at a vintage 1920's flapper dress, and watched in horror as a dealer snatched it right under my sight. - Now, I grab anything that looks REMOTELY interesting, and keep looking for others. I make my final decisions upon checkout.

10.Hand wash all items that say MACHINE WASHABLE in Dreft or Woolite. If in doubt; or there is no care tag, take items to the cleaners!

11. Take good care of your vintage pieces; after-all you worked hard sourcing them. Use wooden or padded hangers, buy cedar to keep the moths at bay. And invest in garment bags. A lot of my things are stored together on garment racks [as pictured above]. - My jackets, furs, and delicate dresses are stored in a closet [with tons of lavender scented moth balls and cedar]

Another Sunday Morning: That 70's Edition

(1) 70s Mod Ethnic Print Maxi Dress - This puppy fits like a glove; I think it's original owner took extra special care of it because she knew it would be passed down to me one day.

(2) 70s Bohemian Style Eyelet Dress - This dress still had the original tag on it; apparently it was purchased in Puerto Vallarta; on a trip perhaps? This is the perfect little dress for the warm summer months. I paired it with a Mexican inspired belt I scored for $1 while thrifting in L.A.

 ...trying it w/a floppy hat!

(3) 70s Bohemian Style Mexican Embroidered Caftan Top - This is one of my favorite finds to date; I love the intricate hand embroidered details on this caftan. This also came with a matching pair of bell bottoms; but to update the look a little, I decided to ditch the pants.

  (4) 70s Nautical Blazer - I love a blazer with a good fit! This little jacket still had the cleaners tag attached! Amazing.

...trying it w/my floppy hat

(5) 70s Nautical Polka Dot Pullover - I am all over anything with a nautical feel! This came with a sweet little pleated skirt which I will wear separately. I wish I had some red high-waist shorts to pair this shirt with with. But unfortunately I don't :-( Anyone know where I can find any?

(6) 70s Bohemian Embroidered Peasant Top - I love the Victorian feel of this shirt!

Another Sunday Morning: I Love The Eighties Edition

I picked up a ton of things while thrifting over the past few weeks, and I wanted to share a few pieces with you. This particular "collection" is very, very eighties; and it was purely happenstance.  Overall though, I have a plethora of pieces from different genres. Some items are very wearable, others are a bit more over-the-top [like the ones pictured below].

Stay tuned, I still have a ton of pictures to take!

 This was actually a two piece; well it had a pair of knit pants to go with it. And together it looked very "Golden Girls", so I just ditched the pants and paired the sweater w/thigh high boots. 

I think the color and insane sleeves is what sold me on this blazer. I like it; it has character. It's a tad big for my liking, so I will have to take in a bit.

I think this blazer is a size 12 - One thing I love about buying older clothes is that I an get away with buying larger sizes and make it work somehow.

This is another one; this jacket is a size 14, however I just belted it.

The beading on this sweater is amazing. There are tiny pearls on the sweater as well [don't know if you can see that in the pics] all of which seem to be in perfect condition.

I also picked up this really cute purse for little of nothing; Don't know the era of this one...70's perhaps?

Another Sunday Morning

 

"Pretty Little Floral Camisole" You can never have too many camisoles. They are perfect to pair with jeans, leather, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Yup.. I am bringing you yet another "thrift haul" - To make it fun, I will post my thrift hauls and then utilize the pieces in my What I Wore photos each week [this week I will be wearing all 4 pieces].   Hopefully it inspires others who are lukewarm to the idea of thrifting to try it just once. 

These items were purchased from Thrift Town in San Fran. 

 

High Waist Leather Skirt - The leather on this skirt is like butter! The length of it makes it super versatile. Pair it with a lace top, or even a funky graphic tee.

 

Beaded Vest - I love it when I find those pieces that look brand new, this was one of them! I have been getting lucky on snagging killer beaded pieces lately.

Knit Harem Style Pants - I love these! They actually came with a sweater. However to update the look a little bit,  I will go sans sweater and pair them with something else.