Although I’ve always liked the idea of scoring quality, unique pieces for less at thrift stores, I didn’t have much luck shopping them until recent years. The stores around Boston are usually sorted only by color, or item type, or not sorted at all…making it quite the hunt for items that fit. After seeing constant pieces on fellow blogger Kerry sourced from a “Savers” thrift store, I popped into one years ago and have been a fan ever since. The locations I’ve visited have been very organized (Nick usually makes a beeline for the homegoods & used books selection), with clothes actually sorted by size. And if you sign up for emails, they offer 30 – 50% off on select holidays. I was excited when the company reached out to me last month, with gift certificates to share (scroll down for giveaway details)!
On one of these 50% off sales last year, I found this dress as part of a 2-piece for $4. At first glance, it was a terrifying explosion of pastel tweed and frill, probably worn once by a little girl for Easter and tossed quickly afterwards (funny enough, half a year later I came across an identical set at a thrift store hours away, which only confirms the fleeting life of this design). After peeling off the cumbersome jacket, however, I saw a cute, petite-friendly dress similar to items I’ve been eying from mainstream retailers.
Compared to my other thrift store finds, this dress required the least amount of re-work. My computer crashed and took with it all “before” photos, but the only alteration I did was taper in the waist darts. That may not have been the best route as the fit is still a little childish, but it did enough to breathe some new life into it.
After shopping second-hand items for a while, I do want to share that one of my biggest lessons learned is to not be influenced by low prices. After finding skirt after skirt in quality materials that fit perfectly at the waist (and require just a simple hem), I realized that it was getting excessive even at ~$5 a pop. I have also bought several pieces with grand transformation plans, but lost motivation due to all the work required. My advice is to shop just like you would at any higher-priced retailer….look for items in durable materials that’d be a valuable addition to your existing wardrobe, and are worth the time and/or tailoring costs of re-work (if any) to become a perfectly-fitting garment. The nature of thrifting is a game of patience -for me, it now results in no purchases 75% of the time, but the occasional finds that do happen tend to become favorites. 
Savers (U.S. store locator), also known as Value Village in Canada (Canadian store locator) has offered three $50 gift certificates for EP readers. To enter, simply provide your email in the form below (emails will be used only to contact winners), and get an extra entry by leaving a comment about your favorite pre-owned find – be it furniture, jewelry, or clothes, etc. Giveaway is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada, and the three winners will be selected at random on June 10th.
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Jean, love your blog! Can you do an entry on closet organization? You mentioned you dint have much room, so I'm curious how you make it work.
Turns out I'll be living close to one of these stores this summer! Looking forward to checking it out!
How do you bloggers always find the cutest stuff in consignment stores?
Hi Jean! I appreciate your honesty, thoroughness and thoughtfulness in every single post that you write. My favorite find was two paintings of roses in an antique shop. 🙂
My favourite was a beautiful colour-plate hard-copy version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame for $2!
My favorite find: A new-with-tags Banana Republic Factory dress for $12!
I'm actually wearing mine right now – it's a blue short sleeved sweater from Gap that was a great deal and fits like a glove
Great find! Looks great on you!
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I haven't managed to find anything yet at my local Value Village, but I'm hoping this giveaway will encourage me to spend more time at different locations! Thanks for hosting.
http://www.xjole.com
I found a barely used Tory Burch cardigan in my size at a local thrift shop for <$30!
i haven't had much luck with thrifting in the past, but am always inspired by your alterations and posts. hopefully my next trip will yield better results!
I thrift all the time- my favorite find was a pair of Theory denim pants that fit like they were tailored for me. My latest acquisition is a pair of Italian made white pants. Love your blog.
A lovely child's jacket with fur detailing that fit me perfectly.
I didn't even notice these were around before you mentioned them. I've been wanting to go check them out. 🙂
so awesome that you can wear girls stuff too!!!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
I found a vintage Coach bag that has become my go-to purse.
my house decor is almost all value village-ed.
I actually don't have many preowned finds. But luckily my girlfriends will sometime give me things that don't fit anymore 🙂
I love shopping pre-owned items esp for books and furniture. I think it's a great way to get what one wants while making a positive contribution to green-living. Jean, I agree with you when you say that it is imperative to stay focused while thrift shopping. It's easy to get carried away and make impulsive purchases.
ps: I also own a pre-owned car 🙂
My best find was a hardcopy of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown for 2 bucks!
A vintage dress with a doily collar is tres chic when paired with a belt at the waist and a sunhat!
a navy blazer from buffalo has now been my favorite piece!
I found a great polka dot sweater and a really ruffled yellow knit sweater that I always get compliments on. I used to put things back if they were white or light colored but now my trick is if I like everything about a item except the light color I just dye it.
Hi Jean
I really love your blog. It is my go-to blog for ideas. Really inspring.
Thanks so much!
My husband and I go to Utah from Michigan the past two summers and we hit the thrift store for desks and chairs. Since we can only fit essential things in a sedan car. I found this nice and quiet hair dryer that I still love today. I also score this J Crew skirt that fits me and is really nice for the summer.
My favorite find would have to be a pair of Seven jeans. I was stoked when I found them for only $15 instead of $198. They were slightly used and in great conditions.
I fell in love with Thrifting in college but now I shop there often. I found two designer bags Thrifting a Coach bag and a vintage D&B; purse.
LV bag
I bought a winter wool peacoat for $5 two summers ago. I still use it every winter. Favorite second hand purchase ever!
I am a thrift shop addict. second hand clothes make up over half of my wardrobe. My favorite find is a pair of Cole Haan 1 inch heels in brown, and a navy silk skirt…
Halloween costumes!
My favorite thrift find is a pair of black patent Ferragamo Varina flats at Buffalo Exchange. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them in size 5!
love the blazer and the shoes of course! great colors in this look I must get to a thrift store soon I wonder what I would find! xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ http://www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
I love to find dresses there that can easily be transformed. My best find I'd a skirt that I almost didn't try on because the sizing was from the 1980s and was 3 sizes from my normal size.
I always browse the used books section, and my favorite find was a necklace.
I've found wedding decor for my friend's wedding which helped her save money!
I need to check out savers 🙂 thank you so much for the giveaway!
I normally like thrift shopping for kitchen items at Value Village. I love collecting vintage chocolate tins (to store things in) and tea cups.
Favorite thrift store find: a F21 silky tank top with a beautiful rose pattern.
I love looking for furniture at savers especially since I live in a college town!
I came across Savers per your recommendation and love going there now! I've had so many good finds there but my favorite would have to be a Ann Taylor leopard print cardigan in XXSP — perfect fit! A B&W; checkered button up from the kids section and an eggplant purple Gap cardigan would be close seconds. I also love finding vintage plates and dishes to put my jewelry on 🙂
My best thrift store find was that perfect "little black dress" from Savers!
But I have to admit that my favorite thing about Savers in my town is that I can always find jeans there for all six of my kids.
Ugh, I'm loving the tweed and that chunky necklace 😀
My dad found me this antique flower jewel collar style necklace from the flea market. He does always find something unique there 🙂
I love my wallet which I got from Value Village for just $5. I've been using it for over five years and it's still as good as new.
I just went to Savers recently after reading about all your great finds and found an H&M; striped top!
A $4 gray wrap skirt I bought when I was 12 is still getting uses 15 years later! It went from being tea length to knee length as I grew and because the skirt wraps, it continued fitting as I gained/lost weight and as high, mid, and low waist skirts went in and out of fashion. Best purchase ever, and surprisingly still reflects my taste.
I found a pale pink satin BCBG suit for $20 at a Saver's in Connecticut last year. It cost $15 more to get the pants taken in, and they still don't fit as well as I'd like, but it's a pretty special set… still not sure when I will ever have the chance to wear it, but it's fun to play dress up in it from time to time.
I love Savers–my best find thus far has to be my navy polka dot skirt. Thanks for the giveaway.
Have you ever shopped at Dollar a Pound in Cambridge? I got some great jeans there (as well as sweaters, handbags, etc) for literally cents one Friday when they had their bulk clothing on sale for $1 per pound. I think it's some kind of miracle when I find something there, but I often strike gold!