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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here are mine!

Top: Falconeri Flat-Rib Ultrafine Cashmere Turtleneck (I have this sweater in six colors and wear it at least once per week from September to May)

Bottom: Escada Denim Godet Maxi Skirt (vintage, purchased on Poshmark)

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Green Silk Wrap Dress (vintage, purchased at Secondi)

Jacket/Coat: Cinzia Rocca Chocolate Brown Double-Breasted Wool and Llama Maxi Coat, vintage, purchased at Goodwill)

Shoes: Gucci Black 1953 Horsebit Loafers

Purse: Mark Cross Black Top Handle Bag and Coach Black Willis Bag (both vintage and purchased at Goodwill)

Jewelry: Mejuri Large Diamond Stud Earrings[/quote]

I'd love to hear your top 5 vintage/thrift shopping tips!  [/quote]

Sure, I’m happy to share!

1. Decide on some rules and follow them to save time, energy, and money. Here are mine: 1) nothing outside my color palette, 2) no synthetic materials, including blends, 3) no stains, and 4) nothing that would require an enormous amount of tailoring in order to fit properly. I also have rule 5) no prints, but will occasionally relax that one for a special piece.  Sticking to my rules means I can immediately eliminate 99% of the inventory in any thrift or consignment store, which saves time and allows me to focus on a few specific pieces.

2. Study clothing materials and construction. I can run my hand down a packed rack and pick out the only silk blouse, a handmade mohair sweater, etc. My mother and grandmother passed down knowledge about fabrics, clothing construction, and fit, but I mostly learned on my own. One book I recommend is Secondhand Chic by Christa Weil. Some of the information is outdated, but she does a solid job outlining the “tells” of a high-quality garment.

3. Secondhand shopping is a number game. When thrifting, I visit multiple stores so will plot my route in advance on Google Maps. Once I’m in a store, I visit sections in this specific order: 1) coats & outerwear, 2) blazer & jackets, 3) sweaters, 4) handbags, 5) scarves and belts, and 6) skirts. The rationale behind the order is that I want to maximize the gap between what a thrifted find is worth (because of the materials, construction, and fit) and what I paid for it. For example, I bought a beautiful green Bally wool coat a few years ago for less than $50. Similar coats retail for over $2,000 (out of my budget - I work in education), so that was a great score. On the other hand, buying a thrifted cotton tee for $7 when I could get a new one from Uniqlo for $15 isn’t worth my time, and a Uniqlo tee already fits comfortably within my budget. I prioritize searching through big-ticket items (coats, bags, etc.) to maximize my chance of scoring a deal. I don’t bother looking through jeans or pants because I’m 5’11” and everything is too short, but skirts are relatively easy to tailor. If I have time to kill because my husband is still looking around (he loves to thrift but is much slower than me), then I’ll walk through blouses or dresses.

4. Assemble a team of professionals to call on when a thrifted find needs some TLC. Here’s my team: tailor (Cheryl Lofton), dry cleaner (Parkway for couture, Besson’s for everything else), cobbler (George on U Street), fur cleaning and repair (Miller’s), and leather work (Bedo’s). Minor changes like raising a hemline, swapping out buttons, etc. can make a huge difference. You already saved money shopping secondhand - don’t be afraid to spend a bit more to make a thrifted find perfect for you.

5. Know your measurements! Vintage sizing is wildly different from today’s vanity sizing, but you can thrift online with confidence if you know the dimensions of your body. I use Poshmark, The RealReal, and sometimes eBay. [/quote]

Interesting, I am a dedicated thrifter, and I have a very similar approach, including starting with coats.  I would add: know your stores.  I tend to find my gems in the same places over and over.[/quote]

Thrifted coats for the win! What’s been your best outerwear find?

[/quote]

About a month ago I found a slightly different version of this for $45.  It’s made with Loro Piana fabric.  https://www.nordstrom.com/s/grace-stand-collar-wool-coat-nordstrom-exclusive/8381208

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