80s alert! I've already sold a few items from 80s cartoon collection, but I'm posting even more. Just added to the Let's Go Thrifting Etsy Store are Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite and Care Bears, oh my!
More items will be added soon.
Have you started Christmas shopping yet? Only 86 days to go!
Vintage Simplicity book, 38 cents from the Care and Share Thrift Shoppe.
Can you feel that 1970s heat? These men are bringing the fire, baby. The contrasting prints, the oversized collars, the intense stares. And that one in the middle with the sweet stache, he bares a certain resemblance to someone...
Let's take a closer look.
"By the beard of Zeus!"
Why, it's.... it's....
It's everyone's favorite Anchorman.
That's right. It's Ron Burgundy. And he thinks that "you are a smelly pirate hooker."
Try as I might, sometimes I can't find beautiful vintage wonders every time I stop at the thrift store. But, behold the miracle of the internet, where anything and everything you could ever dream of can be found with just a few clicks. And since I know many of you are always on the hunt for one-of-kind vintage finds and all sorts of quirky miscellany, I am thrilled to share with you the latest resource for online consignment.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you 27 Perry. The soon-to-launch virtual curated consignment shop will specialize in a broad range of quality goods from home wares and fashion to antiques and sports gear. While the 27 Perry namesake is a homage to a West Village street in New York , the small business is based in Boulder, CO. I love that 27 Perry is a tight-knit team of five who search high and low for brick and mortar shops to feature. And I love, love, love that 27 Perry aims to create an online consignment community in the process.
Travel in style. Vintage style <3
Kelly James, Founder and CEO of 27 Perry, contacted me with the opportunity to review the site prior to the launch and to offer a lovely discount for all you Let's Go Thrifting readers. And let me tell you that I'm liking what I see so far.
27 Perry will officially launch on October 2nd. But if you sign up prior to the site's launch, you will have the opportunity to invite friends and score big discounts... up to $100 off your first purchase!
What began as a means for a heartbroken girl to sell the gifts given to her from her ex-boyfriend, has evolved into a creative consignment venue for vintage-lovers everywhere. And that girl is Kelly James, now a proud CEO of what looks to be a promising business venture. Imagine that!
Now, don't worry. I'll remind everyone of the official launch date so you can get to the shopping. But in the meantime, pop on by the 27 Perry Facebook page and take a look around. I'm sure you'll see something you like. Then mark those calendars. October 2nd...at 27 Perry... and it all can be yours.
All photos, courtesy of Kelly James and Tira Feierstein of 27 Perry.com
Being thrifty means more than shopping secondhand. Let's face it. There are times when you can't find everything you need or even want from the local thrift store. So how do I reconcile retail shopping and staying thrifty? I have two basic maneuvers that I encourage you to practice whenever possible.
Scour the clearance section. While not every retailer will have a section specially for clearance merchandise, many do. It never hurts to look. I've scored clothes, shoes, books, food and much more for far less compared to standard retail prices. Just be sure to check product condition and expiration dates if applicable.
There are certain things I can't typically buy cheaply. Face products and haircare products cost me a pretty penny, since I have sensitive skin and have to be wary of what I use. $3 for a big bottle of my favorite hypoallergenic facial cleanser? Yes, please!
I pillaged the Barnes and Noble clearance section.
Ah yes, clearance books. Nothing like a stack of cheap reads. I usually have no problem finding interesting books at the thrift, but that doesn't mean a visit to Barnes and Noble is a fruitless trip.
Madame Bovary: Regularly priced $5. Clearance price with member discount: $2.25 Ghost Towns Yesterday and Today: Originally $25. Clearance price with member discount: $5.40 M is For Monster: Original price $22. Clearance price with member discount: $2.70
Work the sales and the coupons like a pro. You don't have to be on Extreme Couponing to know a bargain when you see one. Be patient and search sales fliers for deals, then get to the coupon clipping. Want some examples?
Black patent leather wedges, brand spankin' new.
Another expenditure where I can't afford to be too stingy are shoes. I have clown feet, in size 11... size 10 if I'm lucky enough to find certain styles with a wide-width. So when a sale and a coupon can be combined, by George I do it! These shoes are $60 regularly priced. But I also found a lovely button-down top on sale for $15 from the same store. Fortunately for me I had a $25 off a $75 purchase coupon. Original price for shoes and shirt: $90. Sale and coupon price: $50.
The average cost of this can of soup is $3.00
I like canned vegetable soup. Its saves a heck of a lot of time in making lunch. It's not always cheap... but today it was. My supermarket had a one-day only special sale on select varieties of Progresso vegetable classics for just .79 cents a can! But that's not all, folks. I had a coupon for $1.00 off 4 cans of Progresso. Soooo.....
.79 x 4 cans of soup is $3.16 - 1.00 coupon = $2.16
That's $2.16 for 4 cans of soup!
. . . . .
Sure, I love thrifting. I love flea markets and garage sales and thrift stores the size of shopping malls. But sometimes you have to do the retail thing. And you don't have to sacrifice your frugal ways. Trust me. I know how it is. Now, isn't it nice to know you can still be thrifty when it comes to retail with just two simple steps?
How do you stay thrifty outside of the thrift store?
It's that wonderful time of year again. It's time to watch the leaves tumble across the neighborhood in an array of changing colors. It's time to feel the strength of the sun diminish against the chill in the air. And it's time to pile on those layers!
Bust out your cardigans. Dig out those bejeweled sweatshirts and Cosby sweaters. The official start of Fall is soon upon us. And if you're a layer-lover like I am, you'll relish this time of year, when you can wear every single shirt you've ever thrifted...all at the same time.
This woman has gone mad over the possibilities for the Fall fashion season. Mismatching boots, a classic ketchup and mustard combo...topped with a...space helmet. This vintage model from yesteryear has gone intergalactic with her layering. . . . . .
This is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons. The weather, naturally has the top billing. But lest we not forget my favorite nonsecular holiday, Halloween. So many exciting things are on the horizon here at Let's Go Thrifting! I can't wait for share them all with you.
And speaking of sharing, I'd like to take the opportunity to issue a thrifty thanks to the lovely Amber of The Owl's Den. Amber has so graciously offered her blog for free Let's Go Thrifting sponsorship and has even been so kind as to give me a little spotlight bio as well. Amber is quick to share her blog space with other creatives, bloggers and independent business owners. So, everybody go on over to The Owl's Den and show some love.
'Til next time, thrifters. Go grab your favorite thrifted sweater and get yourself a pumpkin spice latte.
In shopping for not one, but two upcoming weddings, I wasn't sure if my basic black cocktail length dress choices had enough oomph. So I decided I'd add some vintage appeal with a little throwback to the 60s. It's all in the details. Ya know?
I just love that shade of Pan Am blue. It was an unexpected departure from the usual classic red nails at evening events. And when I spotted that clutch, I knew I found what my outfit needed. Vintage black sequins and nostalgic blue... paired together. Forget Mad Men. This is about mod women. Namely, me.
Black sequin evening clutch...$6.00 Goodwill East Earl, PA
Revlon Top Speed Polish in First Class...$4.00 exclusively at Target.
...And this is exactly why couples hire professional wedding photographers for their big day. So the bride doesn't look like a Stepford Wife right before the system crashing and the groom doesn't appear...quite so melancholy.
And speaking of crashing, I do believe that man in the middle is making a beeline for the reception, without an invitation. Just remember, guy: "Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion!" You just know he's going to scope out the single ladies and sample the crab cakes.
And in other matrimonial news, I'd like to celebrate my new union. I just met my scanner soulmate. Since my last breakup with the now defunct all-in-one printer/scanner/copier, I was worried I would be woefully single. Without a scanner, how would I ever share my collection of vintage photos with the world!?
I am so beyond excited to have a scanner back in my life. But in addition to scanning the usual photos and documents...I can scan film negatives and slides!! And my new romantic interest even came with Photoshop Elements 9. Oh, the fun we'll have!!
Never again will I wallow in the depths of scanner singledom. And just imagine the possibilities for Vintage Photo Friday.
Okay. The scanner is still being impossible. Maybe it's because I'm into antiquated entertainment and old timey things...but man, when technology is uncooperative I enter full-rage mode.
So, in the interest of not going Hulk all over my dysfunctional printer/copier/scanner/fax machine, I must exhale and just walk away.
This isn't exactly vintage. And it's not a photo. But this video straight-up rules. I was just browsing the charts on iTunes and found what very well may be my new anthem. (My former anthem being "Eye of the Tiger" while sweating it out at the gym. Don't judge). This Friday, I present to you... the music video for "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore Featuring Wanz. The moral of the story? How to be pimp for less, thanks to Goodwill.
It is rather catchy. And as thrifters, I believe it is our sworn duty to make this video go viral. Oh and obligatory disclaimer: Explicit lyrics, biotch.
This was a lovely impulse buy from one of my favorite secondhand stops, The Philly AIDs Thrift. I was patiently waiting at the checkout counter while the woman in front of me was chatting up the cashier. I happened to glance down at the display case. And amidst an arrangement of pin-back buttons and novelty jewelry sat this little beauty. Don't you love the heart shape? Adorable.
While the cashier started tallying my meager stack of discount paperbacks, I eyed the display case for a price. Fearing it was for display only, I asked the cashier if the key was for sale, by chance. She gave it a once-over and said with a smile, "How 'bout a dollar?"
And just then, in finding such a gorgeous skeleton key, so perfectly aged with rust...my heart burst with joy.
As many of you might know, I'm a big fan of horror movies. From cult classics and 70s slashers to the supernatural, I love the adrenaline rush of a good scare. (Or at the very least, a good laugh from an impeccably baaaaaaddddd horror movie. And there are many titles that fall into the latter).
But this weekend, a new horror movie hit the theaters, one which I am really intrigued by and am eager to watch. The Possession is the story of a young girl plagued by demonic spirits after buying a mysterious box. And while I was originally skeptical of the often-used tagline, "Based on a true story," I did my homework. And the described events that inspired The Possession are disturbing.
Now. Before I lose my core readership, let me just point out that in both the backstory of events surrounding the "dibbuk box" and in the inspired movie that resulted...the supernatural experiences were provoked by a...secondhand purchase.
While I try not to let my open-mindedness cloud my better judgment in matters such as these, I have to to admit a personally long-held theory when it comes to shopping secondhand.
I believe relics of the past hold a personal history. They are a token of a time and a place. But I also believe these items have an imprint from the previous owner and that my new ownership is just resuscitating a life that was already lived in that item. I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone other than myself. But, hey! That's me.
But all that being said, is it possible to go to a flea market or a thrift store or an estate sale and bring back more than a memento from the past? Is it possible to bring back something...ominous? Something haunted?
What do you think? Have you ever felt uneasy or even haunted by an item you've bought secondhand?
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