I have a thing for bargains. The best places to shop are TJMaxx (remember Zana’s tantrum?), Marshall’s, and eBay. My love affair with discount shopping began in high school, when I starved my way through lunch so I could save $10 a week to spend on clothes. My weekly shopping budget has increased (slightly) over time, and so has my love of great deals.
Lately, thrift stores are my favorite. It all started one day after the girls’ dance class on H Street… which just happens to be on the same block as a Salvation Army. Wasting a little time before Zana’s nap, I decided to stop in for a quick look. Within 5 minutes I found a pair of like-new Tory Burch wedges and some Citizens of Humanity jeans. Total price tag? $13!
I was so excited by the rows of disorganized racks of clothing that I barely noticed the disapproving stares while the girls played hide-and-seek around the store. I took them home, had my own personal fashion show, and realized neither the jeans nor the shoes fit well. Not to worry: I sold them on eBay and came out $120 richer!
That was only the beginning. Now, I stop by that Salvation Army store every Saturday and rarely walk out empty handed. I did some cleaning over the weekend and had a few boxes of things to give away. My favorite spot doesn’t take donations, which made it the perfect excuse for me to discover a new thrift store. I ended up at the Goodwill on South Dakota Ave in NE, and it was so much fun! Plenty of space, and the dressing rooms were spacious and clean. In fact, it was a much better experience than my nightmarish trip to Burlington Coat Factory earlier in the day (picture a mom giving her kid nebulizer treatments while waiting in line to buy a Baby Phat romper. Son pukes Hawaiian Punch everywhere and she’s annoyed at him. Don’t worry, she still bought the romper.) But back to Goodwill… I spent $17 and left with 3 treasures: a green, dolman-sleeve sweater, a double-wrap belt, and a hot pink, Ann Taylor “Miracle Dress” (with tags still attached). Can you believe people just give this stuff away?! (says the lady who just dropped off a bag of like-new shoes that didn’t fit quite right).
Anyway, here’s what the dress looks like on the Ann Taylor website:
I’ll post an updated pic of me wearing it when I get around to it (probably tomorrow).
Until then, I leave you with a few tips for thrift store shopping:
1. Know your labels. Why were those Tory Burch shoes just sitting there untouched? Because people don’t know these things!
2. Try things on. Don’t count on the sizing label; often times clothing is altered. Of course, if you plan to resell your finds then it doesn’t matter.
3. Keep an open mind. You will have to rummage through dozens of blouses that someone’s grandma wore in 1937 before you find that gem.
4. Have fun! If you don’t enjoy the journey, don’t even bother. You may find nothing! If that bothers you, stick to the department stores. Or bring a friend and enjoy a latte while you shop– you may accidentally find something.
Discount divas, did I miss anything? And where are your favorite places to shop for bargains?
There’s a huge thrift store here Falls Church called Unique. It’s like a target of used goods. Let me know when you want to hit it up!
Ok! That sounds like a dream. Is this a lunch date type of trip, or will we need hours to peruse the racks?
You have the eye for good bargains for sure. Btw if you come acrossacross TB shoes/bags and you don’t like please keep me in mind, I will probably be willing to pay some $ $ for theme. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a new jem.
If I thought those shoes would have fit you, they would have been yours! I will def keep an eye out for TB anything for you. We’ve come a long way since Rave. Not really-ha!
Ha! I love this post! I’m a total cheapskate and hate spending money on clothes. The only problem is that I am also not knowledgeable about fashion. For some reason I love watching Top Model and I NEVER know the designers they talk about. Any advise for a fashion illiterate like me? Is there maybe a list of names I could print out and take with me? LOL!
I should totally start working on a list! I’m a sucker for a good brand. It makes me like things that I would normally think are ugly.
Should you decide to make the trip to the Unique Thrift Store in Falls Church (which by the way is a for profit operation, not a charity), I invite you to stop by our two Goodwill stores in Falls Church while you’re there. One is on Annandale Road near the intersection with Rt. 50 and the other is in the Willston II Shopping Center just east of Seven Corners. On your way back into the city, you may also want to hit up our most popular store at 10 South Glebe Road in Arlington, which is right off of Rt. 50. I think you’ll like what you see. And thanks for visiting and mentioning our store on South Dakota Avenue. I’m glad it was a good experience for you.
Brendan Hurley
Chief Marketing Officer
Goodwill of Greater Washington
You sold those TBs for $120? Awesome!! I need to start buying brand name stuff and then reselling them! I usually hope they fit me but never thought about selling them! I like to buy “ugly” stuff at thrift store, Salvation Army near me, and then DIY them into something wearable. That’s a project still in progress/hasn’t started. And then my $6 ON blazer I wore for a work-talk — amazing! I’m hooked on thrifting!
I’m not crafty enough for that. I keep Pinning things like I would actually ever be able to do them. I saw your $6 blazer. Loved it!