The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[eazye]



Re: Recent Discussion on Shoe Stretching.

I'm not sure if this is a thing with anybody else on here, but I own a TON of really great shoes in and around my size that fit with minor tweaks - stretching, tongue pads, etc. Out of all these shoes (Alan McAfee, Alden, BB, Church's, Ermenegildo Zegna, Edward Green, Ferragamo, Lazlo Vass, etc.) only a few fit "perfectly" with no tweaks. I'm contemplating a liquidation and using the funds to buy new shoes of similar quality with perfect fit. "Almost perfect" fit is beginning to be not good enough. Are any of you guys feeling the same way about this?

I'm liquidating my 60 or so pairs to fund a some suede Carminas and Loake spectator boots. Of course, Ill be keeping the best fitting pairs.

 

[Stissius]

First thing is the shearling I found a few weeks ago. Sawyer of Napa for Saks. This thing is so cool. Leather buttons, really soft leather, extremely warm, and nearly perfect condition. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that whenever I wear it, my friends make fun of me and call me John Denver.

Oh well.


Then from today is an Akai 1722W reel to reel player. This thing is a beast. Weighs probably like 25 pounds. Seems to be working fine, although I'm not sure how to tell if anything is broken. I tried to look at the manual online to see if I could figure it out, but i just got really confused. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it's really sweet.

 

[eazye]

Just show them this.

 

[barrelntrigger]

Re: Recent Discussion on Shoe Stretching.

I'm not sure if this is a thing with anybody else on here, but I own a TON of really great shoes in and around my size that fit with minor tweaks - stretching, tongue pads, etc. Out of all these shoes (Alan McAfee, Alden, BB, Church's, Ermenegildo Zegna, Edward Green, Ferragamo, Lazlo Vass, etc.) only a few fit "perfectly" with no tweaks. I'm contemplating a liquidation and using the funds to buy new shoes of similar quality with perfect fit. "Almost perfect" fit is beginning to be not good enough. Are any of you guys feeling the same way about this?

Yes! Sell, sell, sell then buy a pair of Alden Shells!!!

I have a few questions about these points...

1. How low is too low when it comes to button stance?
2. What is "normal" rise for trousers? Is 12" the standard, or is its something else? I know with jeans there is a huge variety, and I'm not about to wear something with a 5" rise.
3. "Parachute width" thighs... I understand the concept, but what's a hard number to use? I often carry a tape measure with me to thrift stores (makes sizing much easier without trying stuff on). Thighs are almost always the dealbreaker on me when I find pants that seem like they might work. I blame years of endurance sports...
4. Pinch test... Is this sort of like folding over and extending the lapel all the way down (I was able to find the bottom of the canvas in one of the two suits hanging in my closet)?


Okay, I'm going to throw another one at you guys. I found another first the other day (yeah, I'm a few days behind in pulling stuff out of bags to figure out what to do with.

This is a Samuelsohn for Kutler Clothiers of San Francisco. It's labeled as a SB Grosven model, style #G2A. It's lambswool, woven in England and made in Canada. I'd love to learn how to read labels and know what they mean as well. Are there any online resources that talk about this?

To my untrained eye/finger, this again appears to be of decent quality. The shoulder pads don't seem terribly thick. The pockets are flaps, it's two buttons. I can't really tell if there is any pick stitching involved (yes, I had to google that one). The cut seems reasonable to me, it actually almost fits me well (if I lost a few pounds, I think it would be perfect).

Bro, I would keep that for personal wear. The gorge looks a bit outdated and the buttons are a bit low. Depending on your body proportions, the first button should hit 1.5 to 2 inches above your naval. I'm a bit on the short side so a lower buttons stance should be a bit lower on my jacket to extend my torso.

^ don't confuse styling with quality. something can be well-made but horribly dated. pinch test, pick stitching, etc focus on whether something is well-made. the other stuff (gorge, button stance, amount of shoulder padding) are related to whether or not an old jacket looks old.

i'd rather have a modern-looking hugo boss than a 70's looking brioni, but that's just me. even a lot of stuff from the 90's (including a lot of what gets posted here) already looks outdated.

+1

Dilemma: I just spent a not-insignificant amount of cash on a bike yesterday thinking that I would, for sure, be returning the Hickey Freeman blazer on its way to me from STP. That would free up $380 and would make the bike expenditure a little more reasonable.

But the blazer arrived, and it's pretty awesome.

Here's a pick in a fresh-out-of-the-box, rumpled-to-hell state.

Thoughts?



It's a half-canvassed "Lindsey" model and seems pretty damn recent.

Other than the shoulders look a bit boxy and the buttons stance is a bit high for my taste, the fit is really good. I would keep it because it's so hard to find nice things that'll fit me correctly. What is the return policy? How many days do you have? I would keep looking for a fitting blazer while I hold onto this one. If I don't find one, I'll just keep this one.

Shorts and a t-shirt? No problems here... I'm lounging around the house working on my bike.

LOL, NO BRO! WAYWTN, a thread on folks posting what they are wearing. http://www.styleforum.net/t/9693/what-are-you-wearing-now-today-part-i

 

[pnutpug]



First thing is the shearling I found a few weeks ago. Sawyer of Napa for Saks. This thing is so cool. Leather buttons, really soft leather, extremely warm, and nearly perfect condition. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that whenever I wear it, my friends make fun of me and call me John Denver. Oh well. Then from today is an Akai 1722W reel to reel player. This thing is a beast. Weighs probably like 25 pounds. Seems to be working fine, although I'm not sure how to tell if anything is broken. I tried to look at the manual online to see if I could figure it out, but i just got really confused. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it's really sweet.

Get new friends. That thing is freakin' gorgeous, as are most all Sawyers. Nice find.

 

[DanM]



9.5D guys, I found a pair of once or twice worn (I am not exaggerating) Florshiem Imperial Longwings. They are 5 nail/v-cleat in black pebble grain. Outside of the new Polo RL made by C&J...they are the nicest shoes I've ever found.

They seem a bit wide on me so I'd consider a sale/trade to a regular.

Pictures to come tonight.

So jelly. Currently in WV for second funeral in the last month. Wife's stepfather this time.

So, sad story short, the 'Nati is ripe for picking. Until tomorrow...

 

[MarkThomas]

Well, I paid above thrift prices for these even though I got them at the local SA, but they are worth it. These things have never been laced up...

Woah! Beautiful!
Available? Size?

 

[Friskydingo]



I really like almost all of your fits, but this one has stuck in my head for some reason. I think that jacket looks fantastic!

 

[Fueco]

Here's what my meager thrift flips are funding. I'm putting my old (2007) custom steel cyclocross bike back together. It's a Rock Lobster set up to take 42mm tires and fenders. The thrift flips have paid for all of the components (I already had the frame, fork, headset, brakes and seatpost), I just got the first delivery today (handlebar and the missing headset piece). By next week, I should have it up and running...

Had a moment the other day when I thought I'd found a Rivendel bike in a Goodwill. But it was a customer's bike.

 

[Digmenow]

...Dig: Mint Nettletons—you don't see that often. Nice!

inorite?

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Photobucket is starting to chap my a$$! I've tried 4 times to upload 3 pics and so far, only two have appeared.

These are PHREASH!

Use http://imgur.com/, it's better.

And those Nettletons are ****. Nice find.

Thanks! I usually don't have any problem with PB and I'd hate to have to reload everything. I dunno. It's like changing an email address or political party. It's just not something that I do. I'll have to think about it.

BTW... Finally got the last pic (money shot IMO) to load

 

[LeSacre]

It was a shoe day. Ones on the left are Florsheim and the ones on the right are Allen Edmonds (Black ones NA - is that better Brianpore?

)

 

[Nataku]



These are PHREASH!

Nice!!!

First thing is the shearling I found a few weeks ago. Sawyer of Napa for Saks. This thing is so cool. Leather buttons, really soft leather, extremely warm, and nearly perfect condition. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that whenever I wear it, my friends make fun of me and call me John Denver. Oh well.

Nothing wrong with that! Amazing singer/songwriter. Excellent find on the reel to reel!

 

[tben]

It was a shoe day. Ones on the left are Florsheim and the ones on the right are Allen Edmonds (Black ones NA - is that better Brianpore?

)

I would love a link to your eBay page so I can see all of those beautiful shoes sell.

 

[Nataku]

Couple finds today. Gray pinstripe 2 Btn Hickey Freeman gray label suit (46 R), Brioni black stripe dress shirt, Vineyard Vines fleece. Nothing worth taking pictures of.

I also found this. Making it available at cost + gas + shipping to a regular SFer. It'll go back Friday if nobody claims it.

Brooks Brothers Purple Label Cotton/Cashmere "The Original Polo Shirt". Size Medium Regular.

 

[Brianpore]

Snagged these the other day and left a Daks 3 piece tweed they wanted $40 for. Should be there next week half off.