What to Buy at Thrift Stores

June 13th, 2012

what to buy at a thrift store

Deciding on  the best things to buy at a thrift store can be like a kid trying to make a decision at a candy store. You’ve got $5 and a big plastic bag just waiting to be filled to the brim — but you can’t decide what selection of sweets are going to satisfy that candy craving.

This analogy applies to thrift store shopping, too. While the selection at your favorite store satisfies any thrifter’s shopping craving, it’s not always what you want that matters most — but what you truly need.

That’s why it’s wise to practice smart shopping:  You should thrift a store for goods that are going to get you the most thrift store savings and practical function when purchased used. Plus, they’ve got to be the goods that suit your personal style and tastes, or else you’re better off buying them new.

You’ve read my tips and tricks to what not to buy at a thrift store. When it comes down to the best purchases that will give you the greatest return on investment, here’s my personal list of the 10 things I always buy used!

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5 Pieces That Defined 1930s Fashion

June 7th, 2012
5 Pieces That Defined 1930s Fashion

Despite being an era of economic struggle, 1930s clothing was inspired by an era of revolutionary style thanks to advancements in clothing production, the popularity of Hollywood cinema as well as the increased resourcefulness of daywear fashion because of the Great Depression. Keep reading after the jump to see 5 iconic pieces from the 1930s and to read how they revolutionized the way American women dressed!

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What Inspires Me About ’50s Dresses

June 3rd, 2012
What Inspires Me About ’50s Dresses

‘50s dresses aren’t my usual stye of choice, but I challenged my creative limits and found that each had a special story to tell. So to show you how fashion goes deeper than surface-level, keep reading after the jump to not only see these 5 vintage dresses from the ’50s but to feel how their styles inspired new thoughts in my mind and love in my heart.

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How to Identify Vintage Clothing Labels in a Thrift Store

May 29th, 2012
How to Identify Vintage Clothing Labels in a Thrift Store

Here’s three easy ways to spot vintage clothing in a thrift store so that no matter your experience level, you can have more confidence knowing that a foreign looking label is that of a vintage clothing garment. For tips on how to spot vintage in a thrift store, keep reading after the jump for insights on vintage clothing union tags, brand designs and Made in USA labels!

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Five ’40s Dresses That Capture the Era

May 24th, 2012
Five ’40s Dresses That Capture the Era

I worked with Hinesite Vintage to model 5 ’40s dresses representative of the era’s trends. From military style to country chic to novelty print design and more, these dresses possess unique attributes that make them quintessential pieces of their time.
Keep reading after the jump to see the 5 styles I think best represent the ’40s, and to see which one best fits your vintage-inspired life!

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10 Memorable ’90s Fashion Trends Shopped from a Thrift Store

May 20th, 2012
10 Memorable ’90s Fashion Trends Shopped from a Thrift Store

1990s fashion has a style all its own that will soon have its place in the canon of fashion history. Since I was a ‘90s child and can remember the trends firsthand, I decided to thrift my favorite ’90s styles for a trip down memory lane at my hometown Salvation Army store. Keep reading after the jump to see the ‘90s fashion trends I thrifted!

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