“I was brought up in an era when thrift was still considered a virtue.”
~J. Paul Getty
Thriftiquing with a vintage soul and a love for all things that hold the magical patina of time can get you into a lot of trouble, especially if you are someone like me who feels drawn to give orphaned items a new home. I have owned two antique malls, a hat museum and managed a Goodwill boutique store. So Thriftiquing is certainly in my blood. But why not? There are so many good reasons to peruse these shops that fall under so many names such as charity shop, thrift store, second-hand, resale, consignment, or antique shop. But that’s not all! There are myriad ways to find items at garage sales, auctions, antique shows, junk shows… the list goes on and on.
Here are my top eight reasons to go Thriftiquing:
1. Your Individual Wardrobe Style
It took me a while to finally embrace my vintage look. Ever since I can remember, I have shopped at thrift stores for my clothing. That’s not to say at some points in my life I didn’t have the privilege to own designer clothing, but that’s another story. Being able to figure out your style by shopping at thrift stores is a huge help to your budget. Who you thought you were going to be during one stage and fad of your life, eventually fades into another, as it wasn’t quite you. Eventually you will find your groove.
I always knew I loved late Victorian and Edwardian clothes, so I have purchased pieces at thrift stores over many years that would give the illusion of this look. The thing with thrifting for clothing and creating your look is that you need to be patient. Sometimes you will buy a top that is so you, knowing full well that you have nothing to go with it. But the thrifting world will eventually provide, and the perfect jacket will show up.
If you are lucky enough to know a seamstress or can engage one, you can have any number of wonderful pieces of clothing tailored for you. Finding designer clothing and accessories at a fraction of the cost is a win for your pocketbook.
This outfit is 100% thrift! I wore this to Mut Zum Hut, the German hat show.
Another outfit completely put together from thrift store pieces.
2. Going Green
Buying your clothes at a thrift store is the “green” thing to do. The natural resources used to create fabric and clothing, and then transportation of that product around the world only adds to the world’s pollution, so repurposing existing clothing, reduces pollution and adds less to local landfills.
By choosing pre-loved items and giving them a new life over newly-produced pieces, you are keeping it in circulation and shrinking your carbon footprint. This also goes for items for your home. Why go buy new dishes when you can buy a beautiful set for pennies on the dollar. Even at Antique stores I see large, magnificent dinnerware sets for less than a dollar per piece!
I am also trying not to use plastic in my kitchen. There are so many lovely kitchen items that are made of glass or metal. Although do be careful and do your research on vintage items. Some products they used to manufacture items can be toxic due to use of such metals as aluminum. Inspect the finish on some dishes, like Fiestaware for crazing (very fine cracks in the glazed finish). Pass on buying them so that you don’t expose your food to possible toxins.
3. Treasures No Longer Produced
The antiquing side of thrift shopping is my favorite. There are so many things that were great items “back in the day,” which are no longer made, or the newer versions are not made as well. The craftmanship of the older items are a lost art. You especially see this in furniture.
Décor items for the home are my happy downfall. I have collected many beautiful items for my home that give it a one-of-a-kind, old-world feel. This is a way to bring that layered look of time into your home. You see this a lot in European homes that have been curated throughout the generations, with each person adding his or her own chapter to the story of the home. Keep in mind our homes, be they a large estate or a small apartment, tell the stories of who we are and have been during our journey in this world. I love to be surrounded by memories of my family and remembrances of where I have been.
The Hamilton Beach mixer seemed to be on its last leg.
BUT, with a little love and ingenuity....
Voila! Repaired and ready to make some delightful delicacies.
4. Repurpose, Mend or Fix
Often you will find items that need just a bit of love to bring them back to life. Knowing some basic skills to mend a blouse or rewire a small appliance can bring you great treasures and give items a new life. This also makes your carbon footprint smaller and is great for the budget.
Repurposing items allows you to bring out your creative side. With a little ingenuity you can create unique items for your home. There are a million things you could use to create a side table or a coffee table. You are only limited by your imagination and yes, skills, but don’t let that stop you!
5. Your Book Nook
I like to think of it as my English library. I love to spend hours getting project inspiration by leafing through books about interior decorating, English gardens, romantic homes, European travel, cookbooks, vintage clothing and actual antique books.
Establishing a good reference library can be spendy if you buy your books new. Thriftiquing is a wonderful way to create your library without guilt. After all, for me it IS a guilty pleasure! Used books are generally in “like new” condition and heavily discounted from their original prices. I have paid as little as ten cents for beautiful hardbound books. Sometimes at a garage sale they are FREE!
And, as an added plus, books make fabulous gifts!
6. Contributing to Charity
Not all thrift stores are non-profit. But by shopping at thrift stores you are actually supporting a worthy cause. So, your money is doing double duty. Not only do you get to find items for your home, but you have the pleasure of knowing that you are donating to help others.
I heard a lovely story about a family who made it a point to do their Christmas gift shopping at a charity thrift store. Each year they would pick a certain charity such as the Salvation Army to patronize. Everyone in the family needed to find a Salvation Army thrift store to acquire gifts for the holiday. I thought this was a wonderful way to support a charity, recycle, be green, lower one’s carbon footprint and really put some thought into the gift you were going to purchase.
7. Travel Thriftiquing
Yes, believe it or
not, wherever I travel, I can be found in the local thrift shops. I do my research before I go, and have a map of the local stores in the town where I will be staying. Some of my favorite pieces of clothing have come from European thrift stores.
When I was in England visiting the royal homes, I fell in love with small collector plates in the gift shop. But alas I felt they were a bit pricy for my touring budget for such items. Later in the same town of a royal home, I found the exact plates in a charity shop. I saved over 90% off the original price they were asking in the gift shop!
The lesson: Never overlook a charity shop!
8. The Thrill of the Hunt
I will have to admit there is a spring in my step on a day I know I am going to be Thriftiquing. Be it a thrift shop, an antique show or an auction, I feel the anticipation swirling around my heart. What will I find and fall in love with? Will it be an item I have been endlessly searching for? Or perhaps an orphaned item needing a new home. It is such a pleasure to bring an item home and know it truly belongs in the vignette of your life as one feathers the nest.
I am a true convert from conventional shopping. I prefer to spend my time walking the markets and stores that allow me to step back in time and find treasures that allow me to fashion my life into the way my vintage soul wants to live.