On Tuesday I covered my pre-thrift guidelines that will help prepare you for a successful thrift outing. As I actually thrift the majority of my wardrobe, I’ve discovered which items are reliable finds. It can be easy to feel frustrated about fit in a thrift store, because there is no universal sizing! (I know, you’re thinking… “Is there ever?!”) Sizing in thrift stores is perhaps more complicated because the clothes come from different decades, and sizes have changed over time. But don’t fear! The items I’ve listed below tend to be better stocked (in a variety of sizes/colors/patterns), more withstanding to previous long-term wear, and most likely to look good on a variety of body types.

Pencil Skirts

Usually stocked in tons of colors/sizes. They’ve been a thing throughout the decades so they’re always well stocked (and often have POCKETS). Look for 100% wool. 

My friend S, rocking out on my back stairs. Complete with recycling and pumpkins.

Velvet Pencil Skirt: $2.00 at Village Discount Outlet (Chicago, IL) 
White button down: $1.00 at a yard sale (Oberlin, OH)
Floral/Paisley Scarf: my mother’s 1970s stock of wonder.
Boots: airstreamapparel Etsy shop
Peacoat: Gap (her own; “on sale!” she says)

Short-sleeved Button Downs
Long sleeved shirts are so great, but they’re maybe my least favorite articles of clothing to shop for. If you don’t have the right shoulder/sleeve fit… they can look sloppy. Also they lose their primness after a few years. Most of the thrifty long-sleeved button-ups you’ll find are fairly worn. However! Most thrift stores have short-sleeved button-ups a-plenty. Fewer folks wear them. They’re better stocked. And more likely to fit you. 

My friend Sara

Multi-Colored Button-Up: $4.50 at Goodwill (Cambridge, MA) 

Oversized Sweaters
Need I say more? They’re meant to be cozy, baggy, and just a little goofy. Keep an eye out for cashmere, chunky knits, and handmade products. A particularly good present for a cuddler. 

Sara again, doped out on Starbursts.

Hunter Green Sweater: $3.80 at Village Discount Outlet (Chicago, IL)
Short-Sleeved Button Down: $2.00 Village Discount Outlet (Chicago, IL)
Collar Buttons (actually decorated bobby pins): Modcloth, Gift.

Overalls

Most commercial stores don’t sell overalls anymore. So if you want a pair, thrift stores are your friend. Also. If you’re somewhat small in stature (like me) try looking in the teens/kid’s section (even if you have a donk)… it’s cheaper and often carries cool patterns.

(from bluecollarcatwalk.com, modebaroque.blogspot.com, and urbanbushbabies.com)

Can overalls get any more chic? …I didn’t buy these! But! Unique Thrift in Cleveland has an entire section devoted to overalls… all under $6.00!

Vests

These buddies will last forever and ever. And they generally look better with age. Tip: if it has a clasp in the back, make sure the clasp actually works! Great for layering.

My friend S looking like a hot, queer, female Marlon Brando.

White Shirt: My 16-year-old brother’s closet.
Knit Vest: $1.50 at Unique (Chicago, IL)
Green Flannel: $0.50 at a yard sale (Oberlin, OH)
Jeans: $10.00 at Goodwill (New York, NY) (her own; woaaahhh good find!)
Boots: $12.00 at Goodwill (New York, NY)

Boots

Smaller consignment shops might have a limited selection, but large thrift stores will usually have a variety of lace-ups, rainproof, knee-high, and hiking boots. Make sure the heels are sturdy and in tact/that there are no holes in the bottom of the shoe. Don’t be deterred by ugly or scraggly laces. That’s such an easy fix.

mmmm. I love boots!

 
Dark Brown Boots: $12.00 at Goodwill (New York, NY)
Black Boots: $2.50 at Junior League Thrift House (Evanston, IL)
Tan Boots: $5.00 at Village Discount Outlet (Chicago IL)

Belts, Scarves, & Ties

Just do it. Get those silky smooth pocket squares, kerchiefs, and wrap-arounds. These make fantastic presents. Some stores have grab-bags/boxes full of scarves.

(from: dressresponsiblysj.wordpress.com)

Again, didn’t buy these beauties. I realized that I only had green scarves/ties/belts and was too embarrassed to put a collection of 12 various green shades in one picture. But they usually range from $1.00- $3.00 for scarves and $0.50- $6.00 for ties/belts where I shop.

Hope this helps. Look good, stay cozy, give gifts, and pay your rent on time! Happy snappy thrifting!

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(source: frugaldrmom.blogspot.com)

By Guest Blogger, Sarah B.

I am a somewhat compulsive thrifter. My love of the thrift has grown out of a long-time addiction to tarnished gold/90’s grunge/worn-down wool and financial necessity. Now there’s no going back. While I have a petite, curvy frame, I’ve learned to thrift for a variety of bodies. The culmination of my efforts will soon result in the launch of Prospect, a body-positive online vintage store, this winter. Most of the clothes I’m featuring in part 2 will be sold at Prospect so keepyoureyespeeled. (Sonia adds: I’ll let ya know when the launch happens!) 

Until then, in the spirit of Holiday gift-giving and self-love, I’m going to break down some fashion-thrifty-how-to’s.

PRE-THRIFT GUIDELINES

1. Map out your thriftspectations before entering the store.

What are you looking to find? How much are you willing to spend on one item? How much are you willing to spend total? Don’t be too hard on yourself, but establish guidelines. That way, when you’ve got a cart full of glittery bowties, you’ll be able to step back and say. One. I will take one.

That being said… when you find something splurge-worthy. (if you can afford to…) SPLURGE. It feels so good! Really nice dress shoes. Outerwear. Something that makes you feel incredible. I have a 1950’s tea dress that makes my heart sing. I spent $65.00 on it and I feel no shame.

2. Wear long johns!

Most thrift stores don’t have fitting rooms. Wear an under layer of clothes (undershirt and leggings/gym shorts) so that you can easily try things on in the store. How else will you know if you like it?

3. Be realistic.

Will you wear this item? Will the person you’re buying for wear this item? More than once? Does the item make you feel good, or are you settling?

Understandably, a lot of folks get overwhelmed by the volume of clothes and then look in all the wrong places. I’ve seen many “I’ll- wear-it-for-something?” shrugs from new-to-thrifting friends. I call these finds “joke items.” While I love rainbow astronaut pants as much as the next person, I’m more about reliable and inexpensive day-to-day looks.

Check back Friday 12/14 for thrift items to look out for, modeled by my friends!

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Anonymous asked: My biggest barrier to awesome style by far is ironing! Most of the clothing styles you show seem like they need to look crisp and ironed to look good. I am more likely to iron wrinkles in than out. And oh that thing where you iron the crease down the front of the pants? Mine always end up off center! I can wear dress shirts/pants once - the first time they come home from the store — and after that it’s a disaster. Any tips on ironing / how I can learn how to iron well?!

(source: knitly.com)

A.D. says: Alright, alright. If you have never ironed before in your life, see these Ironing Tips For Bachelors instructions. (My tips don’t include things like how to not burn yourself.) Wrinkle-free clothes are the way to end up with wrinkled clothes, if ya know what I’m saying, wink! wink!… I digress. A few things to know before we get started:

1. First look at the fabric. Cotton and linen can withstand high heat, but polyester, silk, etc., can’t. It’s hella-easy to ruin clothes if you iron on a high temperature. Most irons have settings for different fabrics. If there is no fabric setting, here is a helpful temperature guide.
2. Some textured fabrics, like corduroy, need to get ironed on the wrong side. Otherwise it could ruin the texture. 
3. It’s best to iron when a shirt is still a little bit damp, because it’s easier to reshape.
4. If your clothes have a stain, don’t iron over the stain. It could permanently set it in.

OK Let’s go:

PANTS:
Lay pants flat on board, seams parallel to the board. Iron ‘til mostly wrinkle-free.
Line up the seams of the fabric. Crease pants. Iron front of pants to create crease. DONEZO.

SHIRTS:
Sleeves: Un-button shirt and cuffs. Grab the ends of of the sleeve (where seam of sleeve meets shirt and where seam meets cuff) pull taut, and place on the board. Iron to create a crease. (You may have to iron the back side, and then the front side again.) Repeat for other sleeve.

Sides:
Place right side of shirt over the sleeve of the board (Women’s: holes; Men’s: buttons). Iron from collar to bottom, from the middle outwards. Once a “section” looks good, rotate shirt around, until you’re at the other side. Make sure the bottom hem is ironed well and not rolling up. Iron the side with button-holes extra-well, since that’s the first thing most people will see. Move the tip of the iron around the buttons. Just make sure to iron in the seams and pleats as they were meant to be.

Collar:
Open up the collar and iron flat.

Upper back of shirt:
Square this section with the ironing board.

PRO-TRICKS:
1. Dry cleaning is really bad. It literally removes a layer of your clothes. Try not to take anything to the dry cleaners unless you must.
2. When you’re done ironing your shirt, hang it to cool (OR, if you’re hella-OCD about wrinkles, place it on a flat surface). This will give your shirt time to cool down and “set.”
3. Use the water-sprayer like it’s going out of style. The sprayer helps get the wrinkles out, and preserves your clothes from the crazy-hot iron.
4. Keep the drier half-full at all times to give clothes room to move around and avoid extra wrinkling.