Charlatan

How many of you purchase used clothing? I say that knowing there is more than one type of used clothing: Vintage and Used.

Used: This is the sort of clothes you might buy at the Salvation Army, Goodwill, St Vincent De Paul, Value Village, etc.

Vintage: This is the sort of clothes that probably started as used but has been marketed as cool. There is also a smaller part of this market that is dedicated to higher end collectible pieces (Vintage designer clothes and oddities).


My wardrobe, back in the day, was probably about 75% used or vintage clothes. I saved a ton of money buying stuff at Goodwill... but that was then. Tastes change. Today, the only thing I think I own that falls into this category are a pair of bowling shoes I picked up for $10 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store a few months back.

I think part of my problem is that where I live there isn't as much interesting clothing available in the used or vintage categories... I think there is also the issue that I am not a 20something with a punk sense of style. I just don't think someone who's 40 can dress like I used to without looking like he's "trying too hard".

I also think there has been general shift in fashion. That said, I think there is a still a market but it is more likely to be filled by places like Preloved. They take old clothes and repurpose them. Something new out of something old.

What about you? Have you ever purchased used clothes or vintage clothes? Why or why not?

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Willravel

San Francisco has a ton of vintage shops: San Francisco's Vintage and Secondhand Shops

I do have some vintage blazers and t-shirts, but I've really not delved into the culture yet. I had a blast in the shops, there are some truly unique people running them (unique in a good way, not a "lock the car and roll up the windows" way).

genuinegirly

When I lived in Berkeley, I "shopped" exclusively in free piles. Each student co-op had their own free thrift store. I found something new to add to my wardrobe nearly every week. Most of the clothing was lightly used. At the end of each summer, there was an especially rich find - the international students that came for the summer would leave the wardrobes they came to the US with, to make space for all of their new clothing. I found some unique, high-quality clothing thanks to them.

Now that I am no longer in that environment, I shop at Kohls 90% racks and Old Navy Clearance. I'd rather not visit the local thrift stores because they are large, intimidating, and not very organized. I have found small thrift stores in neighboring communities that are more manageable in size. I'd prefer to have a small one within walking/biking distance that I can visit weekly.

It is a good thing that I'm not frequenting thrift stores at the moment. When I visit a thrift store, I usually walk out with nicknacks or kitchen essentials that look cool but don't presently need or have space to store.

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BadNick

Well when I was younger...about 30 years younger...I did. But things have changed, I've changed...I still think it's cool to do but I haven't done it in many years. My daughter does it because she likes what she finds and saves money. When we stayed down the shore (Jersey beaches) for a week, one day her and her friend spent a few hours at a Salvation Army store in Atlantic City just finding things they liked.

Back in the 1960's and '70's, some of my friends and I liked going to army-navy stores in Philadelphia where they sold cool used clothing; jeans, sweaters, shirts, jackets. One huge old warehouse was located next to Wayne Junction train station on North Broad St. and they had many hundreds, maybe thousands of old jeans in good broken-in condition for $1; also shirts for $.25 and up. You could save enough to buy something to put an illegal smile on your face, or a Mother's Day present, etc.

Now adays I do give away a lot of good clothes that I don't use anymore, though mine is always worn at least a little. My wife is even worse about having clothes she never uses. She shops and finds great stuff cheap...usually very nice designer name brands for a small fraction of the tag price, but sometimes she ends up not wearing it. Then we gather it all up a couple times a year and give it to local charities that sell it pretty cheap.

In the suburban stretch just west of Philadelphia where I live now, most of the older established towns along here have used stuff stores, clothes, furniture, almost anything. One is associated with Lankanau Hospital, another with Bryn Mawr Hospital, etc. They seem to do a thriving business.

There are also a few consignment shops around that sell used stuff...one is for baby clothes, another for furniture, clothes, etc. There is one that does women's clothing a couple blocks down from my house and there are always customers coming and going there and from what I see displayed in the window, looks like great stuff. The owner here seems to do what you said about "Preloved" above...combines and presents in new, interesting ways that appeal to her customers.

Ayashe

I do it all the time. Some of them I would not call so much vintage or used but thrift shops. Often times you can find huge bargains in what was once cluttering the racks at your more high end stores. There is something exciting about making a real find. I will never forget though, once I was in an old antique store and came across an absolutely beautiful wedding dress. I nearly bought it but thought to myself that it would be silly to purchase a wedding dress at the time, I still have sort of a regret at not picking it up it was gorgeous and dirt cheap.

World's King

I'm a Hipster... I have to. It's a rule.

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Willravel

Wait, you wear vintage clothing? Sure, I believe you. Next thing you'll be telling us you're bald and wear hip glasses.

filtherton

We buy used clothing for our kid. Beyond that, I already have too much clothing, and since the used clothing stores in my area know the difference between used and vintage and price accordingly I don't really go vintage unless someone is giving it to me.

I'm starting to phase in more professional-ey clothing so's I can get a job in my field. I have found that most of the people responsible for hiring engineers don't really care all that much for nuanced fashion in their interviewees.

Dammitall

My high school French teacher bought fabric from used clothing stores and sewed all of her clothing. The stuff was colorful, to say the least.

I haven't seen a wardrobe quite like hers since then and doubt I ever will.

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snowy

I have reached a state of balance with my current wardrobe. It is neither too large or too small, though I could probably use another pair of slacks. If I went to a thrift store, I would throw my wardrobe balance out of whack as I would buy something, plus living in a college town the thrift store isn't very good--it's always incredibly picked over and overpriced for used clothing. I prefer to go to thrift stores elsewhere, especially those with bargain bins. I've found some really good stuff through the years at thrift stores, including a ridiculously pink bathrobe I wore in the dorms. But yes, I shop at thrift stores. I feel less wasteful when I buy used clothing, and it's a satisfying treasure hunt if you find a good thrift store. I also comb thrift stores for books. I'm a book slut.

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World's King

As hard as it is to believe... yes, the rumors are true.

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Fotzlid

I've never bought used clothes. I just don't like the idea of wearing someone else's stuff. Its probably from having to wear hand-me-downs for a few years when I was a child.

*Nikki*

I am all about reusing.

I buy a ton of used clothing, mainly for my child.

MSD

I wouldn't mind it, but there aren't a whole lof of NFL and NBA teams around who donate clothes to thrift shops.

noodle

I would love to and used to but now I'm in a more common size and it's hard to find anything good in the used clothing stores that fits.
Though I did find a couple of fun things for my eighties costume.
I have massive allergy attacks most of the times when I go into the thrift stores and I am easily overwhelmed (not a good browsing shopper... in, out, done! please) by too much very disorganized stuff.
and this town SUCKS for used clothing.
I had fun in the Haight in a couple of used clothing stores a few years ago on vacation.
Awesome stuff, but I had no room in my suitcase and they weren't must-haves for Florida.
Don't I wish, because clothes here are entirely too expensive for not enough fabric.

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Grasshopper Green

There is a large, LDS church operated thrift store "chain" here in Utah that I have shopped at before, but I no longer buy clothing there. The majority of the clothing is stained, stretched out, incredibly faded, or downright hideous. Too much work for too little return. I've also been to a couple of locally owned thrift shops but haven't been impressed; most cater to "alternative" crowds and I don't wear that type of clothing.

I do stop in when I need something that I know I can find used - we have a rather large goldfish and he outgrew his bowl. I found a much larger bowl at the thrift shop for $2, and it would have been $30 at a pet store.

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Hyacinthe

I do alot of thrift / used / vintage shopping. I guess the issue for me is because I sew alot of my own clothes I know how much effort has gone into the construction of something, therefore I just can't bring myself to spend $50 on a skirt that I know took maybe 30min - 1 hr to make, especially when I could make myself 2-5 almost exactly the same for the same price (including the pattern)

My latest sewing project is a 1920's evening dress & coat for a friends theme party

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Lucifer

You used to shop at "Courage, My Love" , didn't you?

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skizziks

one of the coolest, best shirts i ever owned came from the salvation army for like, two bucks. Since then, I've bought a fair amount of my clothes from used clothing shops. The only thing i've bought from a vintage clothing store is a neat old long jacket, like they wore in the movie Tombestone. I don't know what it's called. I prefer used clothing stores to vintage, as to me, vintage clothes stores seem like costume shops and used clothes seem more practical and are way way way way cheaper.

Peaches

I thrifted for years when I lived in NYC, both for myself and my kids. I bought not only clothes, but kids toys (damaged packaging), and household goods. Nowadays, I live in a rural area and don't have access to the shops that I used to have, so not much thrifting. I do buy and collect vintage lingerie, mostly 40's and 50's pin up style. My purchases these days are online and mainly on ebay.

thespian86

I heard the rumor about you, the pope, and a large dog. Nothing about being hip though.

Yeah, I get stuff at 69 Fashion. It's an 80s vintage store with some pretty nice stuff.

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