The Thrift Virgin

by Kristina on September 11, 2010 · 48 comments

in The Fashion

Question: Have you ever been thrifting or gone to a resale shop?

I’m asking because I never had until today – I went to Buffalo Exchange, a popular resale shop chain, and it. Was. Awesome!! I was so excited with my finds that I simply couldn’t just wait to debut each piece in an outfit post – so I’m showing it to you in a haul post!

So the above picture is literally the first picture I took when I parked my car.

Then:

Racks upon racks of clothes, organized by type & (loosely) by size. The far wall is where the women’s shoes are. There’s even a sizable men’s section!

After making no less than three separate trips to the fitting room, I headed to the Buy register with my prizes.

Paige Premium Denim Verdugo leggings, new, $28.50

7 for all mankind high waist boot cut jeans, new, $32

BCBGMAXAZRIA dress, $22

The cutest sweater ever! My new favorite. “Les Capains”, $19.50

“Max Rave” sleeveless embellished dress, $7.50

What do you think of my first-ever haul from a resale/thrift shop?

I have to say I’m stoked and will be going back next time I need inspiration in my closet. I spied (and some I even tried on) J Brand jeans, Emporio Armani, Ann Taylor, Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG, Prada…the designer labels I saw were endless and amazing. Next to an unknown shirt there might be an Armani tee, and next to the 7 for all mankind jeans there might be a True Religion, with a Habitual next to that. It was amazing! The jeans racks alone I could spend hours perusing.

So…what do you think, and have you ever been to a resale shop/thrift shop?

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Tagged as: Designer

  • http://consumerismkilledmysoul.blogspot.com/ Owl

    I love thrifting! I go all the time; in fact just today I went to the local Salvation Army a town over; I've never been lucky enough to find such great brands as you did (but I don't live in an area where people wear such brands. I'm a country bumpkin, what can I say?). And I absolutely LOVE that dress!

  • Jennifer

    I love resale shops! My favorite chain is called Plato's Closet. Like you said, the jeans alone make the trip completely worth it. I was lucky enough to score a great D&G bag there. Heaven!

    • http://prettyshinysparkly.com Kristina

      I wonder if there's a Plato's closet in houston – I haven't heard of it though. Sounds neat! And yes, the jeans alone made the trip. Great score with that D&G bag!

      • Jessica

        We have a few Plato's Closet in Houston…here's their website http://www.platosclosethouston.com/

        • http://prettyshinysparkly.com Kristina

          Awesome Jessica, I would have had no idea! Thanks so much!

  • http://www.tanvii.com Tanvi

    I too recently went to a thrift shop recently (just 2 months back) and found a J.Crew belt ($2) Coach Belt ($10) and a BR waist coat ($10) .. I haven't gone back to buy anything ever since buy I do go and sell some of my clothes there and make an odd $20-30 bucks which is pretty decent for used-unwanted clothes.

    Those J.Brand jeans and BCBG dress is a great find!!!

    • http://prettyshinysparkly.com Kristina

      That's such an awesome score!! Yep, I'm officially hooked now.

  • http://www.thethingaboutdaisies.com/ Ashley

    I loved the Buffalo Exchange that was in the town I lived in at the time. Though I am wondering if the prices vary depending on the stores/locations. I feel like the prices were less, for similar items, at the one I went to. Though it looks like you found some great pieces!

    • http://prettyshinysparkly.com Kristina

      They probably do vary – there was a lot of designer duds there and sales were booming – I imagine they don't have to be quite as price competitive as other less-trendy thrift shops.

  • http://itsstrangelyme.wordpress.com Bonnie

    Omgoodness you are so lucky!

    Canada definitely has nothing like that. The best I can do is drive down to Seattle and go to ROSS or the NORDSTROM RACK. :(

  • http://www.belvakelly.blogspot.com Kelly Mahoney

    I LOVE Buffalo Exchange! I'm so happy that you went there and had a fabulous experience. I know what you mean about the amazing denim selection. I'll be heading there again the first chance I get. You made some amazing purchases!

  • http://www.always-hannah.blogspot.com Hannah B.

    I work at one that is modeled after Buffalo!! I love it :)

  • http://www.amuseaday.com Alyssa / A Muse A Da

    I loveee shopping thrift and resale. A new shop just opened here and on my first excursion I found a pair of AG jeggings for $22, a C&C California tee for $8 and an American Apparel skirt for $8, plus some of the cutest vintage jewelry I've scored in a long time.

  • http://prudentstylebyally.blogspot.com Alisa S.

    I love resale shops!! I don't know if there's a Buffalo Exchange in near me in NC, but we have Plato's Closet. I've not seen a lot of designer brands, but a few like Abercrombie, 7 for all mankind, and a few others. I may just have to find a B.E. seeming how much luck you had! I love your picks!

  • http://shortofsomething.blogspot.com/ Sara R

    I love thrift and resale stores! Once you find a good deal, you are totally hooked. I try to go at least once every few weeks, and it's rare that I wear an outfit where everything is new. I can't wait to see your new finds all styled up on your blog!

  • http://www.slowsouthernstyle.com Christy

    A big chunk of my wardrobe comes from the Buffalo Exchange in New Orleans. It's great how many deals you can find there. I write about secondhand shopping fairly regularly on my blog. You can check out the posts here if you'd like:

    http://www.slowsouthernstyle.com/search/label/sec…

  • http://bookwormtobombshell.blogspot.com Kate

    I've been, but I've never had that kind of luck! What great finds!

    • http://prettyshinysparkly.com Kristina

      I hope it's not just beginner's luck – because I'd love to have finds like this every time! And what's great is, I didn't have to paw through a whole lot. I tried on a lot, but really the only reason I had to actively put stuff back was because I didn't want to spend too too much $$, and I had to edit my selection to items I reeeeally wanted.

  • http://olyanikolp.blogspot.com Olya Nikol

    Huh..! Nice! Haven't done it for ages, but now I think I should try to start again:)

    ….Lovely grey dress! ~

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  • http://ktkatherine.tumblr.com Katherine

    OMG… thrift stores are where it is at! I frequent them all the time and, in fact, the majority of my clothes are from thrift stores. No one can ever believe that when I tell them! I urge anyone who have never been to one to check it out!

  • http://www.modeinitaly.blogspot.com mode in italy

    love the t-shirt with the star!

  • http://momlostfound.blogspot.com/ Rlutz

    Awesome jean steals…I love that first dress!

    Great haul for a first timer!

  • http://fashformom2boys.blogspot.com/ Julie

    WOW! You did awesome (I have a very similar sweater dress like the BCBG one you found!) – especially with those JEANS with the TAGS still on them!?!?! NICE!

    That is a really nice thrift store too – I am going to have to scout one out in my area….

    • http://www.fgfgf.com -=oop][iopi7ok

      I didn't have to paw through a whole lot. I tried on a lot, but really the only reason I had to actively put stuff back was because I didn't want to spend too too much $$, and I had to edit my selection to items I reeeeally wanted.

  • http://sparkycorner.wordpress.com Sara

    O wow that's a huge Buffalo Exchange!! They had one in Austin but it was pretty small … I went there to exchange clothes but I don't think I saw large brand names there … but the one you went to looks like the supplies could be endless!! & for all Mandkind for $32, what a bargain!!! And both dresses are LOVELY~~ gosh I love bargain shopping :-D

  • http://misssaturdaymorning.blogspot.com/ Taryn Juliette

    LOVE the post!

    I love resale shops, you can find some GREAT designer vintage if you get really lucky.

    check out our blog http://misssaturdaymorning.blogspot.com/
    if you get the chance!

    xoxo,

    Taryn Juliette

  • http://www.everyoneloveslipstick.com Angela Deaton

    How crazy! I just went down there last Saturday! I love going down there but I wish I made it there more! You found some amazing buys!

  • http://www.pinkdivacafe.com noel

    Wowsy! So happy to find a blog with a similar feel to mine! Come see me at http://www.pinkdivacafe.com
    Noel

  • http://www.sequinissues.blogspot.com Kayla

    Not only have I been thrifting, but I almost exclusively shop in thrift/consignment/second hand stores! I know some ladies like to shop there to find vintage finds, but I actually love how many great brand name items you can find for so much less money. I never mind buying gently used clothes either because than you know that they won't shrink in teh wash on you, and they've likely already stretched out as much as they will. More than the money, or the true-to-life sizing however, what I love about thrifting is the challenge. There is something way more exciting about browsing and sorting through racks in a store full of hidden treasures than just pulling a shirt off of a manequin!

    I'm glad you gave thrifting a go and hopefully you keep going back for more!

  • http://thecornergirl.blogspot.com/ Melissa

    I loved your treasures that you found! The stripey sweater was awesome, and the jeans were a great deal!

    I seldom go to thrift stores, but I lucked out majorly when I visited Salvation Army. I found a brand-new, never worn Alfred Angelo wedding dress, retail $1099. Donated by a local bridal store going out of business.

    Beautiful off-white dress covered in tiny crystals and a beautiful bow at the front, and smaller bows down the short train in the back.

    I got it for only $100, a total steal. Soo giddy about my wonderful find!

  • http://www.ecofashionistas.com Tori

    That is an awesome haul! Makes me want to go to my favorite consignment and thrift stores for new jeans!!

  • http://thevintages.net Is

    You got some very cute clothes! I love the black top at the end.

    I love thrifting; to me, it's more than just getting a good deal. I don't mean offense by this, but all the clothes you bought were new-with-tags and branded, and costly, in my opinion, for a thrift store, even if they're great deals for what the clothes would have been new from a retailer. Something in me has an eye out for the unusual or vintage, hidden in there at the back of the rack.

  • http://style-palate.blogspot.com/ lena

    Thrifting is awesome, and Im so glad you are getting into it! Congrats on the finds, I love 7 jeans, best fit!

    I'm giving away a vintage wristlet on my blog, and would love for you to check it out and enter for a chance to win!!!

    http://style-palate.blogspot.com/

    Cant wait to se you there!

  • Natalie

    Chicago has 2 locations!!!! Must. Visit.

  • http://www.thenotsodesperatehousewife.com Kristin Hassan

    ive never been but this post is making me rethink that! great finds!

    http://www.thenotsodesperatehousewife.com

  • http://thechicaddict.blogspot.com jessi lou, the chic

    Wowee! Buffalo Exchange is a great way to break into thrifting!

    <a&gt <a href="http://;http://thechicaddict.blogspot.com” target=”_blank”>;http://thechicaddict.blogspot.com

  • http://thefashionplanner.blogspot.com Midnight Cowgirl

    I love shopping for jeans at thrift stores because you can find some great deals.

  • http://childhoodchalk.blogspot.com joann, sidewalk chal

    What great finds — how wonderful you were able to find those pairs of jeans. We have a Plato's Closet here, which I think is similar to Buffalo Exchange, and they have some great deals as well. My favorite places are the Salv and Goodwill, because you can sometimes find great vintage pieces! :)

  • http://alternativehousewife.com Janine

    I would not count Buffalo as thrifting, but it's a start! Some of the stuff there is actually more expensive than original retail! But you can get lucky. Next step is digging through the racks and bins at Value Village, Goodwill, etc. Any secondhand shopping is good in my opinion though!

  • http://lwu81.blogspot.com Lori

    I thrift a ton of my clothes. I never cease to be amazed by what people will give up. :)

    Thanks for the post!

    http://lwu81.blogspot.com

  • http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/ cynthia

    great finds. Buffalo Exchange is awesome, but they do overprice things sometimes. Looks like you saved a fortune on those jeans though!

    http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/

  • http://www.paulabecker.com/blog pj

    You'll be even more stoked once you start thrifting at a Goodwill, Family Thrift, Value Village or Salvation Army, etc. You will have to do a little weeding out but you'll pay 1/4th to 1/6th the price for the same deals you got at the re-sale/next-to-new shops. Oh. And I've seen the folks from the re-sale shops looking in the Sally Ann's and Goodwills forthe the stuff in their stores. Anyway, it's all good; each has it's place in the re-sale/thrifting domain. Let us know what you think (and get!) when you visit the former!

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  • http://whatchafind.wordpress.com Angela

    You just never know! It's fun to treasure hunt. I blog purely about my thrift treasures. It's become a total addiction!

    LOVE your finds!

    Angela
    http://whatchafind.wordpress.com

  • http://whatchafind.wordpress.com Angela

    GREAT finds! I love the treasure hunt of a good thrift store. I blog purely about my thrift finds!

    Love these! Good job! :)

    Angela

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