How adorable is this?! An oh-so-petite hedgehog sweater vest!(It may look big in my photo, but it's tiny...size 3 months! Can you say "precious"?!) It's from Gymboree, one of my favorite children's shops, although the prices aren't always in my budget. I didn't get this little gem at Gymboree though.
Nope.
I got it at a thrift store. For $1.99. (And it doesn't appear to have ever been worn!) Oh, I just can't wait to see the little man in this sweet vest.
Here's the thing- I used to be a yard sale snob. Mmm hmm, I was. Really. (You don't believe me? Well, it's true.)
I yard saled each Saturday, but would never look at the clothes. (What?! Wear some strangers used clothes? Eeeewe!) It was forbidden territory in my mind. Furniture, absolutely. Old ("vintage"...such a charming word!) linens, dishes and accessories? For sure! But clothing? That just seemed far too dicey, even if I did wash them.
One Saturday, I think it was in 2001 or so, in a nice upscale neighborhood we came upon a yard sale that was organized like a Nordstroms department store. While near the clothing department, which was color coordinated and hung on a long professional rack, I spied a winter white (Cream? Ecru?) cashmere dress coat, still in the dry cleaner bag, and with the tag from the dry cleaner still pinned on it. Dare I take a peek? Hmmm.. the lining was cream and mocha pinstriped and it even had an interior pocket.(See it pictured above, behind the little man's vest) I'm telling you, this was a nice coat, people! I consulted my yard sale buddy and decided to try it on.
It. Was. Heaven. (and apparently mis-marked, because it said SMALL in the collar, and I am anything but...oh! This made me want it even more, so I could lay it on someone's sofa with the little "S" tag showing in the chic lining!) I will tell you that every time I wear this coat (It's a classic timeless style and I still wear it to this day!) people comment on what a gorgeous coat it is. Really.
Long story short- I bought it, for a fast $20. It was clearly originally a $300-$400 coat. Yes, I am here to tell you that life changed for me that hot July day at about 8:00 am, when the light went on and I realized that there are incredible deals to be had, not only on household goods, but clothing too.
A couple of months ago at a thrift shop (for $10) I scored the most darling black velour long coat with black faux fur collar and cuffs (Okay, I may be describing it poorly and you're thinking it sounds like 1982, but trust me here, it's cute and hip and looks fabulous with a cream colored cami and a pair of dressy jeans and my stiletto heeled black boots.) It's cut in such a way that adds a nice curve at my waist and I feel like a million bucks in it.
Now that I'm a Gramma, I never leave a thrift shop without scanning the baby section. I'm here to tell you folks that people donate all the darling designer clothes that originally cost a small fortune, and many, many times these items have not even been worn. Some still have tags on them. They're all there- Osh-kosh, Gmboree, The Children's Place, GAP kids, Levi...you name it. And for pennies on the dollar.
Do you buy clothes at thrift shops or yard sales? (I'd like to know if I was the only one one out there back in the day,thinking it was taboo) If you do thrift, but you never look at clothing, look again. It's the ultimate in recycling and "green" thinking.
And you can save a pretty penny.
