Category: Thrifting

Tales From The Thrift: July Encore

Another month, another round-up of thrift finds, with bonus Calgary stuff thrown into the mix. I had pretty good luck this month, and spotted a bunch of cute-but-not-for-me pieces as well. Vacation thrifting was a bit of a bust, but the hometown scene more than makes up for that. Plus, at the end of this month I’ll be heading to Vancouver again, so I’ll get another chance to treasure hunt in new grounds.

We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

spotted not thrifted #1
spotted not thrifted #1
spotted not thrifted #2
spotted not thrifted #2

I like doing these collages because it gives you a sense of the spectrum of brands you can find in our local thrift stores. Basically, it’s anything and everything.

Left: Club Monaco; right: Iris Setlawke
Left: Club Monaco; right: Iris Setlawke

Two cute dresses, both passes for me. I adored the colour of the Club Monaco dress on the left, but it fit very poorly around the hips. The colour of the dress on the left does nothing for me, and the style is not really my thing either, but it’s a dress that would be fantastic on the right person. The brand is made in Canada, and sells for $$$ at Blu’s, so keep an eye out for it, ladies.

Talula blazer
Talula blazer

I love the cut of the Talula Kent blazer, but this one was too tight in the shoulders.

Vanessa Virginia blouse
Vanessa Virginia blouse

I have been searching high and low for a particular Vanessa Virginia blouse, but no luck. This one was cute but no cigar.

Teenflo suit
Teenflo suit

A beautiful cut skirt suit, but sadly a couple of sizes too big for me. Also, my work dress code is about to become a lot more casual, so a full suit is not something I really need these days. For $8, I hope someone picked this up.

French Connection pumps
French Connection pumps

Cute pumps in like-new condition, but too small for me.

Dex jacket
Dex jacket

This is not my current style, but I loved all the details. Very old skool Anthro-esque.

Talula blazer #2
Talula blazer #2

Another too-small Talula Kent blazer. The colour, while beautiful, is also not within my colour palette.

Nanette Lepore coat
Nanette Lepore coat

Cute coat but too gamine a style for me.

Knitted & Knotted sweater
Knitted & Knotted sweater

I loved this sweater so, so much, but the colour – gah! It makes me look green around the gills.

J. Crew dress
J. Crew dress

This dress was NWT, if I recall correctly, and I can see why. The fit … oof. I have no idea what body type this would flatter, but it ain’t mine.

Edme & Esyllte dress
Edme & Esyllte dress

Cute dress, not my thang. Still had the tags on. $168 seems ridiculously high for this.

Plenty by TracyReese dress
Plenty by TracyReese dress

Another cute dress which did my hips no favours.

J. Crew dress
J. Crew dress

Cute dress, but that flounce is not my (current) cup of tea.

Bob Mackie dress
Bob Mackie dress

Does anyone else remember the outfits that Bob Mackie used to design for Cher? This might as well be a nun outfit by comparison, but it was cool to see this retro callback.

Left: Jeoffrey Caoc; right: Ett Twa (??)
Left: Jeoffrey Caoc; right: Ett Twa (??)

A couple of cute tops I passed on. See, I DO have some self-restraint.

Maeve dress
Maeve dress

Remember my old no-Anthro-left-behind motto? Those were the good old days of … um … 2016. I left this behind; too “girly” for my current style.

Left: Charlie Jade; right: French Connection
Left: Charlie Jade; right: French Connection

These tops were also cute but not memorable enough to make up for the fact they were polyester.

Joie sweater
Joie sweater

Snakeprint is a no-go for me; otherwise this Joie sweater would have been a winner. Can’t have too many sweaters.

Cartonnier blazer
Cartonnier blazer

Leopard print is another no-go for me. It’s always a sad day when I have to pass on a Cartonnier blazer.

Rebecca Taylor jacket
Rebecca Taylor jacket

This Rebecca Taylor jacket was a bit more worn than I like, plus I wasn’t sure I could easily incorporate it into my wardrobe so I passed.

Zara top
Zara top

I was intrigued by this top. It had interesting design details, some of which looked expensive, but the hand-feel wasn’t right. All the tags had been cut off, but I googled it out of curiosity. It’s a Zara piece. The quality makes a lot of sense, knowing that.

Kate Spade Saturday dress
Kate Spade Saturday dress

Oh, to be a few years younger and/or a lot cooler! I have nowhere to wear a dress this funky and short, so I left it behind. Someone else will give it a good time, I’m sure.

Left: Hei Hei; right: J. Brand
Left: Hei Hei; right: J. Brand

I passed on the J Brand skinnies on the right because, although the colour was perfect, I have enough. Yes, you read that right. I didn’t buy something because I decided I had enough of a particular thing. Mark this one down for the history books.

I did buy the Hei Hei pants because they’re technically *not* sweatpants but sure feel like it. I am sure they will come in very handy one of these weekends.

T Babaton top
T Babaton top

Gah, I loved this top so, so much. I had been wanting a “marigold” top for ages, and I would have bought this in a heartbeat (even with the sheer-ish back), but the neckline was too low in the front. I was pretty bummed out about it, but my restraint was ultimately rewarded … to be continued below.

From top left (clockwise): J. Crew skirt; Pleione top; Deletta top; Cartonnier jacket
From top left (clockwise): J. Crew skirt; Pleione top; Deletta top; Cartonnier jacket

A few Calgary thrift hits. The only thing I bought from the above was the ivory Cartonnier jacket.

T Babaton sweater
T Babaton sweater

Yep, my consolation prize. Same brand, but a slightly different style. It’s kind of annoying that you can see my bra in the back, but I can live with it; the sweater is quite lightweight, so I can layer it under blazers for work if need be. Also, with a nude bra, it’s not at all see-through, I promise.

H&M top
H&M top

I don’t normally bother with H&M, but this colour is hard to find, and I liked the plainness of the top, so I bought it. It will be a nice complement to some of my statement (print) pieces.

Oak & Fort coat
Oak & Fort coat

I also love the simplicity of this Oak & Fort coat, which you have already seen in action. It’s a nice grey, and it will be perfect for early fall (and cooler summer mornings).

Keen as Mustard

Coat, Oak & Fort (thrifted); sweater, Babaton (thrifted); jeans, Pilcro (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew Factory; bag, Coach (swap)
Coat, Oak & Fort (thrifted); sweater, Babaton (thrifted); jeans, Pilcro (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew Factory; bag, Coach (swap)

Oh hey, it’s the same coat from yesterday. It’s my first Oak & Fort piece, and I quite like it. The material is neoprene-like, and very lightweight, which makes it a nice coat for the warmer months. The cocoon shape is very Adina 2017, as is the medium grey colour. It pairs nicely with my colour palette, including mustard yellow. Speaking of which, I need a better descriptor because “mustard” ain’t cutting it. Back to the coat, its tag says “One Size” which … mmkay. It’s roomy enough for me, but I am a size 4-6. Does Oak & Fort not conceive of sizes above, say, 10? I had a quick peek at their website, though, and I like the aesthetic, which seems similar to Aritzia. Don’t get me started on how weird it feels to realize that my aesthetic is more Aritzia than Anthropologie these days. [Though, to be honest, Anthropologie now is not the same as Anthropologie circa 2010 or so, which is when most of my old fave thrifted pieces were made.]

mustard & patches
mustard & patches
mmm, cocoon-y
mmm, cocoon-y

Let’s talk about the sweater for a moment too. I am not a “Law of Attraction” devotee, but I’ve been trying out the whole visualize-what-you-want thing in my thrifting, hoping to fill some very specific wardrobe holes. One was a mustard yellow top. I had found a nice silk one from Aritzia, but it was too low cut for my work environment, so it was a no-go. And then, a few days later, I found this lightweight sweater, also an Aritzia brand. It’s a bit too low cut in the back, but I can live with that more easily than the reverse. I wish it wasn’t a knit, but … thrifters can’t be too choosy. I will eventually find a silk or crepe top, and in the meantime, I can enjoy this sweater. Luckily, even our summers are not all that hot so I can get plenty of wear out of it.

Speaking of wardrobe holes, another thing I really want to find is a plain, olive camisole or sleeveless top (dressy not casual). No luck so far. I am also looking for a specific Anthro top that is selling for a bazillion dollars on eBay (le sigh). Also no luck. Honestly, this whole Law of Attraction thing is kind of a bust. Bah!

simple, simple
simple, simple

Takes From The Thrift: The Mega Haul

The past few weeks have been more stressful than usual, so it should come as no surprise that this period coincided with an uptick in my thrifting trips. To be perfectly honest, I have come to enjoy the (solo) drive to and from the thrift store — on warm, sunny summer evenings, with the AC and the radio cranked high — almost as much as the visit itself. Sneaking in an hour here and there? Forget therapy; it’s my cardio these days.

And yeah, I have a ton of stuff to share in this recap. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, we`re gonna be a while.

spotted not thrifted
spotted not thrifted
spotted not thrifted #2
spotted not thrifted #2

I’ve started seeing more and more designer stuff again. Coincidence? I think not. I have said it before, and will repeat myself again: the more you go, the more stuff you find. So much so that I usually don’t have time to properly photograph all of my “misses”. But here is (lazy) proof of the abundant bounty to be found.

Nathalie Lete dress
Nathalie Lete dress

It’s always funny to run into a piece you already own … especially one you previously thrifted. I was tempted to buy and flip this pretty frock, but I reminded myself that I don’t have time to sell my own purged pieces, much less new stuff.

Nine West flats
Nine West flats

Go home, Value Village, you’re drunk. Fifty dollars for a pair of Nine West flats? I mean, yes, we’re talking Canadian dollars here (so, like, a step above Monopoly money, value-wise, for any Americans in the audience) but still. And this wasn’t the only over-priced pair that I’ve seen recently. There was another $40 pair at the same location, though at least that one had both shoes out on the rack. I have no idea what VV is thinking, but it’s beyond ridiculous.

Richard Tyler sandals
Richard Tyler sandals

Does anyone else remember Richard Tyler? Talk about 90s flashbacks. These sandals were quite pretty, but they were too small for me, and not something I’d get much use from.

Fossil bag
Fossil bag

I love Fossil bags, but not the VV prices on Fossil bags. Considering the condition, $40 was way too much to be asking.

Coquille jacket
Coquille jacket

I recognized this formerly mystery label (it’s Anthro, natch), and was very proud of myself. The style didn’t work for me, though, so I passed.

ducks!!
ducks!!

These things were adorable, but I wasn’t sure what they were supposed to be used for, and I am trying to be good about (not) buying tchotchkes. I am sure that my husband appreciates my restraint.

Nanette Lepore dress
Nanette Lepore dress

Very cute dress. terrible condition. I do wish places like VV, which charge as much as they do, would do a better job of weeding out clothes that are basically unwearable.

BCBG dress
BCBG dress

Another cute dress, but I don’t do wrap dresses anymore. I’m sure it found a good home.

Steve Madden sandals
Steve Madden sandals

I think these are the Stuart Weitzman Nudist lookalikes that were quite popular last year. I tried them on, and found them super uncomfortable. Passed, because I have no need for strappy sandals in my life, especially the uncomfortable variety.

Temperance dress
Temperance dress

Another dress I used to own. I’m pretty sure it’s not *my* actual dress, but it’s possible, because I recently purged mine.

Stuart Weitzman pumps
Stuart Weitzman pumps

Stuart Weitzman is usually an auto-buy brand in my books, but these pumps/booties were not my style so I passed.

Club Monaco cardigan
Club Monaco cardigan

I was tempted by the cashmere, but this style of cardigan is on my no-buy list. Decent condition, very decent price, because it was Goodwill. Goodwill is my jam these days.

Aquascutum trench
Aquascutum trench

Vintage Aquascutum.

Pleione top
Pleione top

Cute colour, cute pleat detail, too bad this Pleione top was several sizes too big. And why so sheer?

RW&Co top
RW&Co top

Similar idea, and non-sheer this time. I didn`t think I`d get a ton of wear out of it, so I passed.

BDG & DVF
BDG & DVF

Also passed on these pants. I liked the colour of these BDG skinnies (left), but there was a rip at one of the belt loops, which I took as a sign. The DVFs (right) were a nice weight and very good condition, but the style — nope. Wide-legged culottes are one thing, but full-length trousers are another. I am sure they`re someone`s cup of tea, just not mine.

Enzo Angiolini shoes
Enzo Angiolini shoes

Talk about fancy feet — these were quite the shoes. Since I don`t have anywhere to wear these, I didn`t even check the size, but I am sure they will grace some lovely thrifterella`s grad outfit.

Coach flats
Coach flats

These flats were so gorgeous — and my size! — but sadly had too much colour transfer on the side. Once it’s settled, colour transfer is impossible to get out of patent leather. Such a shame.

DVF Dress
DVF Dress

Not all DVF dresses are equal. This one definitely did me no favours, and the condition was not great either. I am surprised that it wasn’t priced at something ridiculous like $70, because this was Value Village, after all.

Left: Club Monaco; right: Gabby Skye
Left: Club Monaco; right: Gabby Skye

These dresses were cute — especially the Club Monaco black shift — but I passed. The Gabby Skye was too large, and also too cutesy for my current style. I hesitated a lot over the Club Monaco dress, but it needed some small fixes to the lace part, and would have required a strapless bra, so it was a no-go in the end. As it happens, I found another dress with a similar silhouette that worked much better. More on that in a moment.

ALC dress
ALC dress

First time spotting ALC in the wild, so to speak. Sadly, this dress was terrible on me.

J. Crew dress & blazer
J. Crew dress & blazer

Holy tweed overload, Batman! A few years ago, this dress would have so been my jam. Great quality, great condition, perfect for work. I`ve mostly moved away from this aesthetic, though, so I forced myself to leave it behind. Pat on the back for me. As for the jacket … well, it did not take nearly as much willpower to leave that one behind. Definitely not something I could ever have pulled off.

Ok, let’s talk about what I did buy.

Joie & Tibi
Joie & Tibi

First up, a tale of two dresses. I ended up getting the yellow Joie number on the left because it was cute and breezy, and I figured I could get some wear out of it in Palm Springs. With $7 for a silk dress, you can`t go wrong. It`s a little on the short `n junior section side of things, but those are things more easily forgiven in a vacation dress, yes?

The Tibi dress on the right had its original tags attached, and it was a gorgeous colour — one of my faves. The ruffle was more architectural than twee, so I could have lived with it. Sadly, the fit was all wonky. Pass.

Miz Mooz shoes
Miz Mooz shoes

These Miz Mooz booties will probably turn into a regret. I dig the vibe, but I am not sure it will actually work for me. Still, at $12, I figured I could consign them and recoup my money in the fall if need be. Not an ideal situation, but a not atypical downside of shopping when stressed.

Coach loafers
Coach loafers

These loafers on the other hand? Perfect. They are unbelievably cushiony — they make me feel like I’m walking on clouds. Also, they are perfect for driving, which I’ve been doing a lot lately. They were in perfect condition, too. A bit pricey at $35, but they should be worth it over the long run as long as the quality holds up. I’ve never owned Coach shoes before, so we shall see.

BR sweater
BR sweater

A chunky sweater with interesting details? Sign me up.

Coach bag
Coach bag

I’ve talked about this bag before, so all I need to say here is that I. Love. It.

BR blazer
BR blazer

You’ve also seen this blazer. It’s a good one.

Free People vest
Free People vest

Chunky knit? Slouchy, oversized style? Olive colour? Done and done and done.

Plenty by Tracy Reese dress
Plenty by Tracy Reese dress

Every summer, I end up having a potato sack of a dress I love and wear to death (on weekends, natch), and this summer, this Plenty by Tracy Reese number is going to be that potato sack. The bottom has a cool, slightly bell-like shape to it (with a subtle hi-low hemline) that keeps things interesting. The material is a rayon spandex blend, which means it`s soft, comfy, and lightweight — perfect for summer.

Tory Burch skirt
Tory Burch skirt

Now this is, admittedly, a whole lotta look, but for the price of a latte, I figured it was worth the risk.

I know what you`re thinking. Adina, I thought tweed was not your aesthetic anymore.

True, but! This is a kind of deconstructed tweed, with a definite jolie laide vibe (that length is borderline frumpy), which intrigues me. We`ll see what I can do with it come fall.

Akris jacket
Akris jacket

Value Village wants $50 for Nine West flats, but this Akris wool jacket was under $10. Ooookay. Don’t mind if I do. I think it’s going to look really nice with my fall “column of black” outfit formula.