The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[mainy]



Let me put it this way. A huge percentage of people who does not have the means use these stores as primary source of clothing. First hand knowledge from work.

Ive thrifted in 4 semi major cities now... and I can say that I think this percentage varies greatly from city to city and even what part of the city. In some cities it seems like the thrift stores are catering to rich suburbanites (based on location and price) and in other cities i've seen smaller more urban stores focused on low prices and no frills service.

 

[Klobber]



An interesting Georgio Armani single button sport coat I came across... I know there is a lot of hate for Armani here, but does anyone know anything about this label? It's black and says
GIORGIO ARMANI VIA BORGONUOVO 21 Milano, on it. The quality seemed good, so I went for it.

Old Armani Black Label, likely 1990's piece. Quality just as good as recent Giorgio Armani, but many pieces are starting to look dated now. Value wise, depending on how the coat looks, anything up to $100.

At least tell me the sleeves are something ridiculous like 23", rendering it unwearable for me anyway.

You can approximate by inspecting photo and looking at how far the sleeves are from the jacket bottom. If that is a 40R, chances are the top to bottom span is around 32". If sleeves are 2.5" - 3" off the bottom, and shoulders seam 5" from the top of jacket, chances are those sleeves are 24" - 24.5". My guess, I bet I am within an inch of true. Measure your own jackets and you will see this method gives a ballpark number to within an inch normally

 

[LooknGr8]

Let me put it this way. A huge percentage of people who does not have the means use these stores as primary source of clothing. First hand knowledge from work.

Yeah that's what it appears where I go. Every once in a while I spot someone who I want to ask "You on Styleforum?" and the one time I did the guy WTF'd me on that and looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili. I don't care much about flipping (I have a little, and swapped a little)...been there, done that with other things back in the early eBay era. Too much hassle nowadays for me.

I actually enjoy helping my fellow customers, judging fits, pointing out issues (it's worn down in the back, you know that's missing a button? etc.) WHen I get "beat out" for a nice piece, I could care less because there will be more/better clothes on the racks at some point in the future and it just seems (I know, Nataku, appearances can be deceiving sometimes) that they need it more than I do.

 

[AndroFan]

CSI: The thrifting edition.

Old Armani Black Label, likely 1990's piece. Quality just as good as recent Giorgio Armani, but many pieces are starting to look dated now. Value wise, depending on how the coat looks, anything up to $100.

You can approximate by inspecting photo and looking at how far the sleeves are from the jacket bottom. If that is a 40R, chances are the top to bottom span is around 32". If sleeves are 2.5" - 3" off the bottom, and shoulders seam 5" from the top of jacket, chances are those sleeves are 24" - 24.5". My guess, I bet I am within an inch of true.

 

[SpooPoker]



uh, 25"

But theres not say, oh idunno, an inch of fabric inside to let down, right?

Old Armani Black Label, likely 1990's piece. Quality just as good as recent Giorgio Armani, but many pieces are starting to look dated now. Value wise, depending on how the coat looks, anything up to $100.
You can approximate by inspecting photo and looking at how far the sleeves are from the jacket bottom. If that is a 40R, chances are the top to bottom span is around 32". If sleeves are 2.5" - 3" off the bottom, and shoulders seam 5" from the top of jacket, chances are those sleeves are 24" - 24.5". My guess, I bet I am within an inch of true. Measure your own jackets and you will see this method gives a ballpark number to within an inch normally

NERD.

(will try later)

 

[LooknGr8]

But theres not say, oh idunno, an inch of fabric inside to let down, right?

more than that

 

[SpooPoker]



more than that

Im coming over.

 

[AlanC]



But those of us pulling the excellent stuff are not keeping them from doing so.

Yes, this is definitely the case. This issue comes up from time to time. I regularly see thrift workers pulling clothes off the racks to make room for new. The racks are often so full it's hard to work through them. The small number of clothes we're buying makes no dent in the supply at all. As for people who get most of their clothes from thrift stores, I get most of my clothes from thrift stores.

 

[mexicutioner]



As for people who get most of their clothes from thrift stores, I get most of my clothes from thrift stores.

same here, the only part of my workweek wardrobe that i bought new are three pairs of wingtips. everything else - shirts, ties, sport coats, suits, wool trousers, dress shirt, shoes - were thrifted or purchased used.

 

[Towers]

Found a few t&a ties and a hugo boss summer suit today. Also picked up a navy db prl withpink and blue pinstripes that i'm going to return unless someone is interested (cost +$10?), 42t and i can take pictures if requested.

 

[grendel]

same here, the only part of my workweek wardrobe that i bought new are three pairs of wingtips. everything else - shirts, ties, sport coats, suits, wool trousers, dress shirt, shoes - were thrifted or purchased used.

I'm definitely at over 50%... 100% of sportcoats & suits... 99% of ties.. 75% of shirts... 40% of pants, though and only like 50% shoes

 

[pnutpug]



I actually enjoy helping my fellow customers, judging fits, pointing out issues (it's worn down in the back, you know that's missing a button? etc.)

Not infrequently, I get asked for opinions/help, I suppose because I'm the only guy there in a suit and tie. Occasionally, I will offer, with mixed results. Last weekend, there were a pair of dingbats, both with dreaded shopping carts, blocking the suit/sport coat aisle. I wasn't in a rush, so I hung out. "He's a 48, but none of these have tags!" they said to one another as they searched and searched and searched and searched. They seemed nice enough, so I interjected, telling them the facts of life as it pertains to size tags and advising them to get whoever it was into the store to try stuff on, otherwise, they would be wasting time and money. It was an amicable conversation, but it didn't help. They kept looking and piling crap upon crap into their carts. You can lead a horse to water...

Any rate, they seemed typical for thrift-store customers around here. Anyone who uses a shopping cart doesn't know what they're doing, and there are tons of shopping carts in play on any given day.

 

[Typhoid Jones]

That might be made by Attolini. Got a pic of the label? I actually dig that for myself as well.

Here's some pic's of the labels / insignia...

 

[Brianpore]

Not infrequently, I get asked for opinions/help, I suppose because I'm the only guy there in a suit and tie. Occasionally, I will offer, with mixed results. Last weekend, there were a pair of dingbats, both with dreaded shopping carts, blocking the suit/sport coat aisle. I wasn't in a rush, so I hung out. "He's a 48, but none of these have tags!" they said to one another as they searched and searched and searched and searched. They seemed nice enough, so I interjected, telling them the facts of life as it pertains to size tags and advising them to get whoever it was into the store to try stuff on, otherwise, they would be wasting time and money. It was an amicable conversation, but it didn't help. They kept looking and piling crap upon crap into their carts. You can lead a horse to water...
Any rate, they seemed typical for thrift-store customers around here. Anyone who uses a shopping cart doesn't know what they're doing, and there are tons of shopping carts in play on any given day.

I use a shopping cart.... The Kiton suits get heavy and I need a place to set them down when flipping though the shirts

 

[Shiny]

In my area, I know that some undocumented immigrants buy bulk-type clothes (sight unseen) in yard sales and use crates to ship back to their native countries. Mostly to central america. I think the stuff at goodwill is too expensive for them, GW is more like the places they go to for their own personal wearing stuff. A lady who cleans my building told me this.