New City, Used Things

When it comes to thrifting, you will find places that you love and regularly visit, but it is also important and really fun to find new places as well. This weekend, Easter weekend, I am heading to Philadelphia with some friends instead of going home. And I thought, what better way to explore the city than to find new thrift stores I have never been to, full of things I have never seen.  I don't know anything about what places are good from anyone I know, but the internet is pretty handy when it comes to things like this. Before I go on my quest of new thrift stores this weekend, I decided to look up the best places and their descriptions. Some of these places are more consignment, while others are more thrift (I like a balance of both). When I was doing this research, I got the impression that many of the vintage consignment shops are more expensive in general, so I chose a balance of shops that seemed most interesting to me. 

1) Tucker's Dig's
                  This is an antique shop full of vintage jewelry, art, clothing, furniture, and has 5 stars on Yelp. It also has extremely low prices, and everyone raves about the array of items and the friendliness and helpfulness of the employees. 

611 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

2) Retrospect
                   This is a similar store, more of a consignment store than thrift. It is vintage based, from magazines to clothes to kitchen supplies. Someone that left a review online even found a Christian Dior trench coat! It has a high rating of 4 stars, and everyone has great things to say about the store!

508 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

3) Philly AIDS Thrift
                     This store is more of thrift store full of all kinds of things, not just vintage. I found out that they have separate rooms for different objects, like a Christmas room, or the "Dollar Land" room where everything is a dollar. It is big and full of things to dig through, and a great aspect is that the profits go to local organizations involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. 

710 S 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

4) Repo Records
                     This is a different kind of shop, focused on music, including records, CDs, DVDs, and other forms of music. They also have band shirts, ranging in how old they are and the prices, but in general the music selection is very cheap. 

538 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

These are just a few of the ones that really stood out to me as places to check out, but this is definitely not a full list! And while these places seem to be successful and full of treasures online, it could be completely different for me if I go. Remember, when going about thrifting, sometimes you have to just try it out, and it might not work out immediately and it might not work out at all, but it is fun anyway. I haven't been to Philadelphia before, and I haven't been to a new string of thrift stores in a long long time, so this should be fun! 

Reading Up On Saving

If any of you are readers, then you know the struggle of how to get ahold of books. For me, I hate buying them because they are so expensive, but if I go to the library and find a great book, it's a bummer to give it back in case I want to read it again, which I usually do. The solution? Thrifting of course! Finding books at insane prices, as low as $1, is a great way to stock up. When shopping for books at thrift stores or consignment shops, there are a couple things to keep in mind. It is not a library and therefore is not in any sort of order besides genre (hopefully). This makes it a bit difficult to find books, especially if you are looking for something in particular, it's like looking for a needle in  a haystack. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a large array of books, meaning that you can get exactly what you want or nothing at all. You could come across the whole Twilight collection, but won't be able to find one Harry Potter book. It is the luck of the draw, depending on the store, day, time, and other factors.

                                                                       source

From all my past experience, I have found that thrift stores have a better book collection compared to consignment stores; they are bigger and generally a little more organized, like a department store. The first step when book shopping is to find the store you want to scavenge; for me, I find Salvation Army and definitely Savers to be by far the best. Savers, a huge, organized, thrift store that has a warehouse department store feel to it, has rows of bookshelves, with a range of genres. Savers is also huge on sales, and books is no exception. Normally when I am there, their prices are usually something like "buy 4 books, get one free" and they base their price on the previous price; if the cover price was up to $8 before, then the price now is around $1 or $2. Books are more expensive than one might think, so this is a great way to save!

I am a big reader, and I always will be. Summer is my time to read read read; at the beach, at night, by the pool, in the morning, whenever. I have so much free time and to me reading outside by the ocean or under the sun is the greatest feeling. My book collection is extensive, but will continue to grow as I read about 6 books a summer and need new material often. There are many that I read and loved and many I haven't been able to touch at all since I bought them; Under the Tuscan Sun, Life of Pi, Gift from the Sea, False Mermaid, A Year by the Sea, The Lovely Bones, Pride and Prejudice and many more are just some I have purchased.

My favorite book, White Oleander, is one of these books I stumbled upon in a thrift store, but this time I was actually looking for it. I had seen the movie at the request of my mother, and she has great taste in books and movies, being a big reader herself. She told me that it was a book first, but the movie was fantastic as well, with Michelle Pfieffer and Renee Zellweger. After watching the movie, I was hooked, and I made it a goal to keep my eyes peeled for a copy of the book, and I found it the very next time I went to Savers strange enough. It was quite crazy actually, and I loved the book even more than the movie.

Again, this is a super cheap and resourceful way to get books, both new and old. If you are like me then going to the book section is something to look forward to, because I know I will never leave empty handed because of the prices and the array of books.

The Vintage Bazaar

This week I found myself having trouble finding something to write about, until Professor Kramer asked me about garage sales in class. Sure I love thrifting and finding hidden stores full of treasures, but garage sales are more my mom's style. However, the garage sale idea got me thinking about an event I attended in the fall of junior year of high school, that was a mixture of a garage sale, consignment shop, and barbecue party into one, called The Vintage Bazaar. The Vintage Bazaar is a New England event that runs twice a year during the spring and fall, and sells anything every thrifter and antique seeker could ever want, with over 170 venders. It contains independent artisans, resellers, food trucks, live music, and family activities. Did I mention this is all held outside, on a beautiful farm?

I went with my mom, and although we didn't buy much, it was fun regardless. We went on a beautiful September Sunday, and marveled at the salvaged furniture, vintage clothes, and homemade crafts and jewelry. The stands went on for ages, and we could constantly hear the welcoming music and smell the heavenly scent of food trucks. The entire area was decorated as well, with lights, flowers, pumpkins and straw, and garden decor. There was even a giant garden and plant area, where you could get lost in a small magical world that felt like the Secret Garden in real life, or be normal and buy a plant or two. We explored for hours, drank homemade lemonade, bought dainty earrings and stared in awe at the amount of incredible finds people had, ranging from mugs to rugs and vanities and dresses and paintings and photographs.

These kinds of events are everywhere, you just have to look a little for them. My mom had always gone with a couple of her friends, and decided to take me one time. They moved their location from a farm on Massachusetts' north shore to a farm in Southern Maine, but I don't doubt that it is just as incredible. If this is the kind of event that you think you would enjoy, I recommend googling "antique fairs" "flea markets" anything along those lines. However, these things can be hard to find, or only happen a couple times a year for a weekend.

This particular event requires purchasing a ticket, either beforehand or at the door. While this is a place that had a multitude of things being sold, some old and reused, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be super cheap. This was the kind of place that was just as much about the experience as it was about the commodities being sold. Just looking at the variety and uniqueness of everything with my mom was fun and inspiring. It was something we had never done before, and I definitely plan on going back some time. Although I know none of you are from Massachusetts or Maine, more information on this event is below, if you are interested or want to know more about an antique fair in general in case there are similar ones near your homes.





http://www.mybazaarlife.com/#&panel1-1
all images from website

Thrifting from the Other Side

As you all know by now, shopping at thrift stores means shopping for things that aren't new necessarily, objects that could have been used a hundred times before, or clothes that could have been someones favorite shirt before they outgrew it. I'm sure many of you clean out your closets and rooms once in a while, to get out the old to make room for new, or to just de clutter.

Now that I have become such an avid and frequent thrifter, I started to think about all the times I gave clothes and books and objects away to good will. My parents have been doing it their whole lives with our things we don't need anymore, and they end up being in nearby places. Sometimes when I am out thrifting I run across a sweatshirt or shirt that has my town name on it, and I wonder who's it used to be. When I thrift and make something old into something new, I imagine what it was used for before it became mine. For instance, the kind of person that went to the Bruce Springsteen concert or Dave Matthews concert and gave their shirt to Salvation Army. Or the cool vintage Penn State clothes I have, how long ago were they students? Who owned the unique wave necklace, and why did they give it away? Maybe I am just crazy and over think, but I find it to be so interesting to think about. So when considering my own donations, I always wonder who will get it next.

Thrifting is a fun past time, and one that to me never gets old. But donating is a key aspect of this. Not just clothes either, but anything you would throw away otherwise (besides actual trash). For example, I love to find books and even shoes or bags at thrift stores, so I always make sure to find books I am done with or shoes that don't fit and give them away in case someone like me comes along later. Even pieces of furniture or decorations that are just taking up space, try to bring them somewhere that they will be used and appreciated again all over.

Some of my favorite articles of clothing are from thrift stores, and an old article of mine could be someone else favorite thing too. It is a strange cycle to think about, but a rewarding one. Nothing is going to waste, in more ways than one. Make sure that if you do end up thrifting one day, consider cleaning out your room for things you don't use or need anyone, you will probably surprise yourself with how much you can get rid of. Ask yourself, when was the last time I used this? Will I need it in the near future? Do I even like it anymore? Does it look good? After these questions, many things end up going in the donation pile. These are just more reasons why thrifting is beneficial in so many ways; things are not going to waste, you can be directly helping someone else with your donation, and you get to clean out your closet to make room for whatever you want to fill it with.

                                          source
When it comes to donating, keep an eye out for bins placed near churches and other community oriented places to drop bags off inside, or you can bring the objects directly to the place you wish.

Finding a Beauty

Children love many things; playing outside, eating candy, getting piggyback rides, and of course, fun shows and movies, like Disney movies. I grew up watching princess movies with my cousins, wishing I could live under the sea like Ariel or go to a ball like Cinderella, and while it might seem silly, it is something I always hold close to me.

While on break last week, of course I went thrifting with my mom, 1) because it's a fun way to spend time together, and 2) she's the greatest thrifter on earth. We went to the Salvation Army across the border in New Hampshire, our favorite place, which is huge and very organized, making it easy to find great things. So as we began to shop, I quickly went through the mens shirts, women's jeans, and sweatshirts and ended up with a decent amount of clothes. However, my mom takes forever, looking at dish sets and furniture, so I decided to look around a little more. It was then I realized I had never looked at the movie section at Salvation Army. I always check the books, but I never checked the movies, which is strange of me to do. Going through the books, I didn't find anything that stood out to me surprisingly, but when I got to the movies section I was blown away. They had so many options ranging from romance to horror, and everything in between. Suddenly I stumbled upon something amazing; a Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast no less.  If you don't know a lot about Disney and their movies, they only release a movie for a small amount of time, and then that movie goes back in the "vault", meaning they are unable to purchase for a while. Basically it is impossible to get Disney movies anywhere unless they are released for a particular reason, and even then you have to act fast.

                                            (sorry for the glare, dorm room lighting is rough)
I have been collecting Disney movies for a couple years now, and my mom managed to find a couple on eBay and what not. Yes it seems nerdy, but Disney movies were my childhood, and I'm sure many of you can relate. The Little Mermaid is my absolute favorite, so I had to get that when it came out, and I also own many others like Aladdin, Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Lion King, The Jungle Book, and a couple others. So, when I stumbled across a good quality Beauty and the Beast DVD for only $2.99, I snatched it right up. I was also super excited about this because the new Beauty and the Beast that is coming out reminded me of how I hadn't seen the original version for years. Basically this was a complete treasure to find. Thrift stores can give you these objects that you would never find at a regular shop like Target or Walmart. It was like a blast from the past; I could remember watching Disney movies with my cousins all squished on the couch, singing along to the music. I could do it all again, for only $2.99!

Moral of the story, thrifting has the potential to surprise you, as it surprised me. It gave me a piece of my childhood back, so I can always have it now. In my opinion, you can never be too old to watch Disney movies, and from now on thrift stores are my first place to check to find more.

Spring Break Survival Guide

Thrifting can be a confusing process for many people. Now that spring break is upon us, I hope some of you will try it out! I think everyone could use a survival guide of some sort on how to go about a thrifting experience.

1) Like I mentioned in a previous post, find someplace to go! It can be locally near your home, or if you are going on vacation look around you! Sometimes thrift stores in vacation spots have incredible stuff from people that live there, and often times it is full of expensive or higher end objects. Thrift stores and consignment shops are everywhere, and some are better than others, so don't get discouraged if you go to one and it isn't what you hoped for, or nothing there appeals to you. Try somewhere else, sometimes it just takes a little bit to find the best!

2) Next is obvious: shop around! A good thing to know is that thrift stores are usually bigger, and  somewhat resemble a Marshall's or something of the sort. A consignment shop is usually smaller, and has more unique things like jewelry or records. Once you are in whatever place you end up, start looking around for whatever you are interested in. For me, I look at jeans, t shirts, sweatshirts/sweaters, and books mainly. Some bigger places, like Savers, have huge book collections and shelves full of household items that are always unique. Big thrift stores are full of everything, but a good example of how to differentiate between thrifts and consignment is that thrifts are usually are stocked with things like team apparel, whereas consignment stores might have more funky stuff, like the necklace I described earlier or this cool shirt that ended up in Maine from Santa Barbara. However, this isn't something that is set in stone; thrifting is always surprising and unexpected!

3) Look at the prices! While everything at these places is discounted, some places are more expensive than others. For example, I have found that consignment stores are more expensive than thrift stores, and Savers is more expensive than Salvation Army. Every time I go thrifting, there is almost always a sale of some sort going on, usually by tags. For example, some days yellow tags are half off, or pink tags are $3, and so on. This is another major way to save money!

4) Make sure you also look at the quality of something. Sometimes I grab a plain t shirt, just to see it's a brand Target sells for pretty cheap anyway, so I would rather pay just a little bit more for something I can get brand new. Thrifting is kind of a guess and check system in that way. Check thing for rips, holes, stains, and other things that could potentially ruin the object. Also, when you look at the things you are potentially buying, sometimes you can find extremely nice things, like high end purses, nice jackets, high quality jeans, and vintage clothes that aren't made anymore. My mom loves collecting unique finds that aren't made anymore that are high value.

5) When you go thrift shopping, make sure you bring cash with you, because some places only take cash. Another thing to consider bringing with you is a bag of things you want to donate to the store, and sometimes the store gives a discount to those who do!

While these steps are things I find basically necessary to thrift, it is completely up to you! If you have a way that works for you, or once you go you find that something works better, please share! I am always open to new ways.

Happy thrifting!

Tragic to Magic

To begin my blog this week is a tragic story. The story of a how my favorite pair of jeans became destroyed. This weekend, on the beautiful Saturday we just experienced, my friends and I decided to go downtown to enjoy the day. However, as I was getting dressed, my favorite pair of jeans, aka my boyfriend jeans, decided to rip to the point of no repair. I now have a hole that extends down half my leg!

I was so depressed about it, and when I was looking for another pair of jeans to wear, I found a pair I had bought from a thrift store for $6 that I forgot about! They were purchased from Salvation Army over the summer, and I hadn't done anything to them so they were pretty plain. I was pumped, not only because I now had another pair of boyfriend jeans, but that I could do one of my favorite things, which was distressing them. One of my favorite things to do is to buy old pairs of jeans, and make them into shorts or more interesting jeans. Now you might be wondering, how do you make a pair of jeans into better ones? Well, let me explain. It is a simple process, but takes some practice.

My first pair I did this too was back in the eighth grade, and since then I have perfected the practice. To create your own pair of ripped jeans, the first thing is to find a pair. You can either use a pair you already own that you want to spice up, or you can go to your local thrift store or consignment shop and find a pair, which is what I do. One of the perks of doing this is that if you mess up, t's ok because they were super cheap anyway. So the next thing to do is to find a pair of scissors you don't mind using on denim, as sometimes the scissors can take a beating from the thickness of the fabric. You will also need a good surface to do this on,  like an sturdy table or stool.

                                          finished rips once they have gone through the wash

Next, decide how distressed you want your pants to be, just keep in mind they will become more distressed over time, the more you wear them and wash them. I find the easiest way to begin the cut your pants is to pinch them, and begin the cut there, and then unfold. Continue doing this for a little until you have the desired length of that particular area of rips. You can alternate lengths of cuts, so it looks more natural and asymmetrical. You can also do this on the pockets, both front and back. To make these cuts more rugged, you can run your scissors along the cuts, and don't be afraid to be tough on it, it's not supposed to look perfect! The final step is to run your new pants through the wash, this will really make them look newly distressed. I hope this small run through helps anyone interested in doing this! It saves you a bunch of money, gives you a fun hobby, and you can proudly tell people that you created your jeans yourself when they ask where you got them from.