The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[ChetB]



When I first started thrifting seriously a few years ago, I found three Mani suits that were slightly larger than I needed...but they were"Armani". I gladly paid the alteration costs and did get use out of all of them. However fast forward to now, I spent way too much on the alterations and the condition of them was not the best. These are suits I now leave. 

Wasting money tailoring junk when you start out thrifting is the worst. Like many of us, I bought piles of junk before I wised up. That's bad enough in itself, but I spent a ton having it tailored also.

 

[grendel]

GIFSoup
Dig, these aren't Levi's from the mall. That's like half price for NWT jeans. Granted they aren't made in Japan, drop crotch, loopwheel, cats ass, selvage denim either. That would run you closer to $300-500.
$152, and breaking in nicely: http://tinyurl.com/catsassSelvage
$275, brand new sweet collabo between two repro brands. http://tinyurl.com/collaboass
$500, unjustifiably so, but just to see what people are trying to get out of loom made, hand dyed denim.
http://tinyurl.com/digwtfrite

Some of those are getting crazy. I just paid $100 shipped from eBay for a pair of RRL raw selvedge that are really nice. Can't imagine paying $275.

Wasting money tailoring junk when you start out thrifting is the worst. Like many of us, I bought piles of junk before I wised up. That's bad enough in itself, but I spent a ton having it tailored also.

I think we all did that. It's part of the learning process.

 

[UncleCozy]



UncleCozy! My very first SF thrifting pal who shows up every once in a while!

I actually used the Brioni today, climate is moving towards sport-coats 24/7 so it's getting some good usage at the moment Starting to thin out of it, so come summer/autumn, it'll have to be donated/sold/traded/given away.

 

[capnwes]

HELLO
PIER HERE
HAVE 500 PAIR BORRELLI JEAN
MADE BY ITALIAN
GRATE JEAN
5 POCKET
HAVE PICTURE
DONT BE ENVY MAN
BUY JEAN
AUTHENTIC JEAN
BY LUGIO BORELLI

 

[horse's_ass]



I think we all did that. It's part of the learning process.

That's part of the annoying thing wrt: n00bs popping in and demanding that "someone tell them what they should look for." Much of the knowledge available here was acquired by folks spending a lot of time, effort, and money making mistakes and so on.

 

[acosbysweater]



Some of those are getting crazy. I just paid $100 shipped from eBay for a pair of RRL raw selvedge that are really nice. Can't imagine paying $275.

I find it to be equivalent to justifying the purchase of a several hundred dollar SC, suit, or pair of shoes from B&S or eBay. I couldn't fathom doing that very often, if at all, because I don't wear MC except for nice dinners and when I want to outdress/impress my friends (slightly kidding). But with super nice denim and other statement pieces, the cost is attributed to the materials and manufacturing process, just like fine MC. Only with these, you can wear them to work on your car, at your manual labor job, or out to dinner, assuming you didn't ruin them in the previous two venues and it's a casual restaurant. For all of the effort we put in to wake up others around us to the quality of the things we thrift, we could also tell people the stonewashed paper thin jeans they wear are absolute junk and they should invest in some quality denim for once.

 

[HansderHund]

I went out today and picked up a couple of things. I have to apologize again, my pictures suck. I just used the iPhone to take a few snaps, really nothing compared to some of the pictures I see on here. Anyway, onto the things....

I'm not sure if these are worth picking up. I was out a rather small amount €€€, so I won't be disappointed if you say it was a total waste! It looks and feels NWOT, but I can't really date it. They've used this label for awhile, no?




I don't know why I got this, because I'm not a tailor. I liked the color and feel of it, and originally thought I could sew the edges around to make a cover for the part of the couch that my dog lays on. It's about 5 yards of pure wool in a dark beige with chalk lines in white. I'd love a pair of pants from it. (Color in the photo is terrible)




This one was an ebay purchase, but I just got it in the mail today. I like it a lot, though some might consider it a bit much. Silk scarf by Ralph Lauren, made in Japan (vintage?).



Finally, should I go back and pick this up? It's a navy tux, shawl lapel, unvented, 1 button. I believe it could be bespoke from one of the shops here, I didn't have enough time to look close. It was HEAVY, though I wish I would have checked whether the lapel was silk. I know it was 100% wool. It may be a bit big or long for me, I am not sure...maybe a taylor could make it worthwhile. Opinions??

 

[JChance]

Hey guys, took a roadtrip over the weekend and missed out on 3 days of reading this thread (460 posts) and quite a few stuff (interested in those RRL chinos if available).

In regards to the Lacoste discussion, its worth picking up if newer condition and your size, otherwise they fetch $15-30 easily on eBay. For authenticity, check for MOP buttons and this label for the word "Devanlay" (show this label when selling on eBay too)


Those APC jeans with the APC pin (metal, black) are from pre-2011, as newer jeans do not come with APC pin. Since New Cure fit is the skinniest of APC jeans, size 28 in New Cure would fit best for a true 29 waist (I am a true 31 waist and wear 30" in APC New Cure, 29" in Petite Standards and 28" in New Standards).

A while back, I thrifted some Like-New APC New Standards in 33" (3-5 times worn, no fade) and easily sold them for $135 on B&S within 3 days.

 

[concealed]

I find it to be equivalent to justifying the purchase of a several hundred dollar SC, suit, or pair of shoes from B&S or eBay. I couldn't fathom doing that very often, if at all, because I don't wear MC except for nice dinners and when I want to outdress/impress my friends (slightly kidding). But with super nice denim and other statement pieces, the cost is attributed to the materials and manufacturing process, just like fine MC. Only with these, you can wear them to work on your car, at your manual labor job, or out to dinner, assuming you didn't ruin them in the previous two venues and it's a casual restaurant. For all of the effort we put in to wake up others around us to the quality of the things we thrift, we could also tell people the stonewashed paper thin jeans they wear are absolute junk and they should invest in some quality denim for once.

Wait is this Superfuture?

 

[Nataku]



I find it to be equivalent to justifying the purchase of a several hundred dollar SC, suit, or pair of shoes from B&S or eBay. I couldn't fathom doing that very often, if at all, because I don't wear MC except for nice dinners and when I want to outdress/impress my friends (slightly kidding). But with super nice denim and other statement pieces, the cost is attributed to the materials and manufacturing process, just like fine MC. Only with these, you can wear them to work on your car, at your manual labor job, or out to dinner, assuming you didn't ruin them in the previous two venues and it's a casual restaurant. For all of the effort we put in to wake up others around us to the quality of the things we thrift, we could also tell people the stonewashed paper thin jeans they wear are absolute junk and they should invest in some quality denim for once.

+1

SiroccoScirocco: The hot, dry tempest-forming wind ninja vehicle that drives across North Africa the mid-western United States and into Europe thrift stores.
On a side note: How do you remember which one is your house? Just kidding.

Let me tell you, when we first moved it was a chore. For the pizza delivery guy and friends coming to visit after dark was near impossible. I had to stand out in the yard and flag them down on multiple occasions. We've since moved to another townhome that is similar but more roomier. The location of the new one makes it easier to find due to that it's the first building of it's style on that side of the street.

 

[grendel]

I find it to be equivalent to justifying the purchase of a several hundred dollar SC, suit, or pair of shoes from B&S or eBay. I couldn't fathom doing that very often, if at all, because I don't wear MC except for nice dinners and when I want to outdress/impress my friends (slightly kidding). But with super nice denim and other statement pieces, the cost is attributed to the materials and manufacturing process, just like fine MC. Only with these, you can wear them to work on your car, at your manual labor job, or out to dinner, assuming you didn't ruin them in the previous two venues and it's a casual restaurant. For all of the effort we put in to wake up others around us to the quality of the things we thrift, we could also tell people the stonewashed paper thin jeans they wear are absolute junk and they should invest in some quality denim for once.

I get that for denim where the look isn't bordering on comical (i.e. goth ninja)

However, if I spend $200+ on jeans I won't be working on my car in them

 

[concealed]

I have had these for awhile and really like them: http://www.selfedge.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=82&products_id=438

My older pair is from this contest ran over at Sufu, i think we paid like $140, but had to wait a few months for them to arrive from Japan, was an awesome deal: http://www.rawrdenim.com/2011/06/fade-friday-warehouse-x-blue-in-green-x-sufu-660-contest/

 

[Lirum]

Thanks for the answers, guys, really. Still have the GW receipt, may return it.

Grabbed a 38 Coach belt, plan on having it altered to fit. Score!

 

[dc1976]

A fair point, but what's wrong with asking for the more experienced to point us in the right direction?

 

[mexicutioner]



A fair point, but what's wrong with asking for the more experienced to point us in the right direction?

"the right direction" consists of reading this thread and figuring out what to do and not do. everyone's hits and misses are documented here, waiting to be gleaned and learned from.

what some of the noobz are asking for is for some thrifting fairy to condense this collective knowledge into an easy-to-digest set of bulletpoints, when there is literally no incentive for any experienced thrifters (other than the putthison guy, who runs a website about clothing) to do so.