Goodwill Hunting

[Fierce Critter]

Did some Goodwill shopping over the past few days and found some really nice stuff to help me ease back into a 24-7 alternative wardrobe.

Got a really nice tight, black knit ankle-length skirt with a band of lace at the calf and a gauzy handkerchief hem. I can hike it up to my knees if I want a shorter look, too.

Also got a pleated, plaid skirt in shades of red & black - one of my favorite looks.

Found a nice jersey-knit skirt that I'll be cutting down to knee-length to replace my much-worn one that I just put my finger through a couple weeks ago. Bonus: This one has seam pockets, so I can actually carry things into clubs without having to carry a purse or make Jon carry everything in his pockets.

An unusual item I picked up is a really pretty gauzy, purple dress with a multi-layered skirt that's sorta airy-fairy. It's too tight by a couple inches, but I intend to crop off the top part and use the extra material to put in a dart inset so I can wear it as a skirt with a gauzy black top or something.

I was happy to find a black, cotton-mesh shirt in rare good condition, and more than big enough to fit me. I wear these to the point where they look like your grandma's knitting basket and have to throw them out (or just keep wearing them for a REALLY trashy punk look).

There were some nice velvet skirts & some other things I could have picked up, but I have to budget myself. As it is, I got all of that for about $20. I have to alter/dye some of it, but it's worth it for that kind of wardrobe boosting.

I miss Michigan thrift store shopping, though. Have to suck down a lot of gas to get from one to the other down here, otherwise I could have bought a few more pieces.

I remarked to my husband that if you're in the market for black skirts, you really don't need to look any further than one of these stores. I could have had my pick from a few dozen of those pencil-straight, knit ones with variations on length, slit, etc. And the great thing about those is, if you're plus-sized and don't mind wearing a blouse or shirt over the top, even some size smalls will fit.

[Brenda Starrr]

I love Goodwill! We have several near us, but the one in Belair is the best one. That's the one where I found my wrought iron candelabra. We also have a chain called Village Thrift. You can find some of the coolest stuff, if you look hard enough. Since most of the shoppers are in search of trendier items, I have barely any issue with finding items to suit my tastes. I hope to find cool thrift stores in MI. I love thrift stores much more than retail stores anyday!

[SpidersMoment]

I'm fucking CRAZY about thrift stores. Since this Saturday is hte first saturday of the month, Salvation Army is having a "half off day" so my dad and i are taking the day to go here, there and all over Ann Arbor.

and Our goodwill used to suck. Their prices were so why. 5 bucls for a sweater or whatever. It was bad for a goodwill.

[DisturbedMania]

Oh, the excitement. Salvation Army after work on Sat. then!

[Ginevra]

FC, when I first saw the title of this thread, I was about ready to movie it to Movies, Computers and Gaming because I thought it was a thread about a movie

I've almost always found my best buys at second hand stores. The best second hand store sale I ever went to was when a local one in Minnesota was clearing out their racks BIG time. They had a half off of half off sale. It was *spectacular*!

[Hermine]

Yayness for thrift finds! There's a great one in my neighborhood run by a small local charity. You have too do a lot of culling to find the good items but, when you do, everything costs $1, $3, or $5. The latter for one rack of high-end formals or suits only :woot: Most everything is $3, lingerie items (e.g. camisoles and nighties--I don't generally buy secondhand panties for some reason *deadpan emoticon would go here*), ties, scarves, and other accessories, are $1 (or even 50 cents). Shoe prices vary, but mostly $2 or $3.

Happy me!

For prices, Salvation Army is my fave widespread one. There's another store in my town called Value Village, and that one's about on par with Goodwill prices or a bit lower. The more expensive thrift shops tend to have a better selection, but they also tend to be more expensive.

I love the thrill of the hunt, and have more time than money right now (it's one or the other, innit?) so I like going to the really cheap ones.

Edit to add; though I can't resist the specialized vintage shops either, I just can't afford much in most of them.

[gothicmom]

*rubs hands together in anticipation*

Can't wait for the yard sales to start up. Our last few years have been so tight I haven't been garage salen in a few years. Not sure what I like about scavaging through someones old junk but I do!

[SpidersMoment]

grr i was so mad this morning. My dad and i went to SA this morning and when i walked in i saw the sign displaying the sales and it said the half off days are on the first friday's now. Why didnt they tell me this before?

Oh well..the wedding dress i wanted to recontruct was still there, had to pay the WHOLE 20 DOLLARS. Thats the most i've ever spent at SA.

[Brenda Starrr]

I just got back from Village Thrift, where I bought the coolest 3-D Jesus in a frame. My daughter just got those Dansko shoes (the ones that sell for $130.00 in Nordstrom) for $2.48. My son got a couple of computer items for no more than $3.50 total.

[Hermine]

Can't wait for the yard sales to start up.

Amen to that!

The neighborhood I grew up in has an annual yard sale all on the same day; which I absolutely love.

I ended up with almost all of my parents' next door neighbor's old hats (she had all these kickass vintage hats for under $5) Elderly neighbors' yard sales rock if they saved their clothes.

[gothicmom]

YES!! I love going to yard sales that are a "clean out the house" kind of thing.

[Nienna]

The Heritage Hill yardsale here is GR is awesome! (Though don't ask me when it is right now... ) I've found real Art Deco lamps, estate jewelery and tons of awesome reandom stuff. Alot of the stuff is antique and in great condition!

[gothicmom]

The Heritage Hill yardsale here is GR is awesome! (Though don't ask me when it is right now...

Where do they advertise? I don't get the paper, usually don't read the free one either!