Thrift Store Advice: Vintage & ’90s Thrift Clothing & Tags

If Friday was about feeling gratitude, then Monday should be about celebrating GOODWILL. Thrift store shopping at Goodwill, that is ;-)

Last week I visited my all-time, hands-down favorite thrift shop in the city — the East Harlem Goodwill on 123rd & 3rd Avenue — to see what was new, what was fresh, and of course, what was VINTAGE!

I haven’t had a chance to shop my hometown thrift shops in Pennsylvania since Thanksgiving — and even then, the holidays got in the way and I was too busy to do much more than shop my ugly holiday sweater, as seen on the episode of Sammy Davis Vintage.

So I admit to you, dear vintage lover & thrift store shopper, that my latest thrifty finds have been few and far between! I’ve become conditioned to pay New York City thrift prices that by most of your personal thrifty standards, are about 3 times the amount a second-hand style should cost.

But no worries! With plans to travel home to the countryside of Pennsylvania end of February — and my upcoming 25th birthday adding some extra money to burn in my pocket — I’m looking forward to returning to the low prices and high style of what thrift store shopping is really all about. Still, I can’t be TOO hard on my local Goodwill — the finds are still fun, and the comparably to other Manhattan retail options, the prices are right.

With help from a trusty changing room mirror, I played with a few of my favorite finds to capture my latest thrifty inspiration. Keep reading after the jump to see what’s inspiring me for upcoming spring thrifting, and to chuckle at a few of the vintage name brands and price tags I found. Nothing beats finding vintage … that’s NEVER EVEN BEEN WORN!Have a fun thrift store find to share? Upload the pic — whether you’re wearing it in the picture or not! — on the Sammy Davis Vintage fan page or send it to me via email! I’d love to see what you found, where you found it and how much it cost. Your thrift store finds are my tools to help learn more about how to make thrifting an affordable style option for all.

If you live in the Northeast, I hope you are staying inside with the warmth of heat, home and happiness today! And if you are anywhere else in the country — no matter the weather! — I hope that the happiness of your heart helps you to reach your full, beautiful potential today.

xx, SD

PLAYFUL POLKA DOT COWGIRL

SEQUIN & SHEER SEDUCTRESS

WOVEN WONDER VEST BY ’90s EXPRESS

LITTLE THRIFTED BLACK SWAN

SILK CUPCAKE

VINTAGE BRAND TAGS: INSPIRATION OF THE ’80s

MALL BRAND TAGS OF THE ’90s: ANN TAYLOR, GAP & THE LIMITED

THRIFT THAT’S NEW: ORIGINAL PRICE TAGS

Thrift Store Shopping Like a Pro

Part 1: Thrift Store Shopping – Research
Part 2: Thrift Store Shopping – Preparation
Part 3: Thrift Store Shopping – Strategy
Part 4: Thrift Store Shopping – Inspection
Part 5: Thrift Store Shopping – Sharing