The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[Evil Abed]

T&A yellow 15in, whats up with these cuffs though?

Aren't those known as James Bond/turnback cuffs?

 

[VLSI]



Pretty sure if the edges aren't hand rolled its fake. I'd have picked it up anyway though cause it looks cool.

When it comes down to a $1-2 purchase, I usually just take the gamble unless I know for sure it's fake. The not knowing and second guessing later will hurt more than the lost dollar.

 

[SpooPoker]



Pretty sure if the edges aren't hand rolled its fake. I'd have picked it up anyway though cause it looks cool.

+1, but they could have been just pressed flat, you never know. Worth a gamble.

 

[green_machine]



Lmao

 

[staxringold]

<p>
I've read about a hundred or so pages of this thread thusfar. It's quite fun. The issue is I can't really tell what you guys are flipping this stuff around for. This trip involved ugly Zegna ties, coats/suits from brands I'd heard of and seen in this thread, and some really small BB shirts. Here, I'll just post. If any kind soul would give advice on what they would've bought and not (to give me some reference) much appreciated. If not, I'll spoiler it.</p>
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<div class="spoiler" title="Warning%3A%20Spoiler!">
First the ugly Zegnas. There were several of these, along with a couple Robert Talbott's marked up to 39.99 and 49.99 (yikes!)
<div class="spoiler" title="Ugly Zegnas">
<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491889/"><img alt="" data-id="491889" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491889/width/350/height/700" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491891/"><img alt="" data-id="491891" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491891/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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Next an actually ok lookin' Zegna, and higher quality than the others (the material had some actual weight and texture to it).
<div class="spoiler" title="Zegna">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491892/"><img alt="" data-id="491892" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491892/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491893/"><img alt="" data-id="491893" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491893/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491895/"><img alt="" data-id="491895" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491895/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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Now I've seen various RL brands on here, but is "RL Chaps" any good? This one has pretty darkened/worn shoulders, probably wouldn't bother even if this was a decent label.
<div class="spoiler" title="RL Chaps">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491897/"><img alt="" data-id="491897" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491897/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491899/"><img alt="" data-id="491899" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491899/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491900/"><img alt="" data-id="491900" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491900/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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So thus far we've had quality concerns, now I'm wondering about style. These lapels seem pretty extreme. Maybe I'm crazy, but does that drive things down? Along with this pinstriped coat there was a regular navy one.
<div class="spoiler" title="Hugo Boss coats with big-ass lapels">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491901/"><img alt="" data-id="491901" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491901/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491902/"><img alt="" data-id="491902" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491902/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491903/"><img alt="" data-id="491903" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491903/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491904/"><img alt="" data-id="491904" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491904/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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Now Christian Dior I've not seen as much of in this thread. Yea? Nay?
<div class="spoiler" title="Dior">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491905/"><img alt="" data-id="491905" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491905/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491906/"><img alt="" data-id="491906" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491906/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491907/"><img alt="" data-id="491907" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491907/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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This is the closest I came to pulling the trigger and buying something. Full Armani (real?) wool suit, size 40S. The first pic reflects the actual color, the second shot is way too bright (terrible lighting), took it for fabric details. Same big lapel question for this.
<div class="spoiler" title="40 Armani (wool)">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491908/"><img alt="" data-id="491908" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491908/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491909/"><img alt="" data-id="491909" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491909/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491910/"><img alt="" data-id="491910" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491910/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491911/"><img alt="" data-id="491911" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491911/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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And lastly, random BB shirts. The 346 was normal sized, but the straight BB shirts (while nice color and quality) were super small. I assume that's a detractor?
<div class="spoiler" title="BB shirts">
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491912/"><img alt="" data-id="491912" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491912/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491913/"><img alt="" data-id="491913" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491913/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491914/"><img alt="" data-id="491914" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491914/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491915/"><img alt="" data-id="491915" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491915/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491918/"><img alt="" data-id="491918" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491918/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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<a href="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491919/"><img alt="" data-id="491919" data-type="61" src="http://www.styleforum.net/content/type/61/id/491919/width/350/height/700" /></a></p>
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[mrdeep2001]

Here's the Schott Jacket I picked ip the other night which will be my tennis ball desmoking experiment. More pics above in spoiler...

I would wear the crap out of that jacket, alas, probably too small...

 

[Mr_Elusive]

Here is the Giorgio Armani overcoat that I passed on...

 

[capnwes]

Here is the Giorgio Armani overcoat that I passed on...

Good pass.

 

[barrelntrigger]

yeah bro I am young, and yeah anyone can look up where thrift stores are but I wanna know where those awesome grail spewing stores are
*if you feel wary about giving me your secret awesome store locations, can you just give me an area where some good ones are, I need to be quick and be back before school ends

What comes down to it is your timing and having lady luck in your pocket. Check out the thrift stores in Mission District and The Filmore. You never know...Hit up big stores = more chances of finding grails. Have fun and keep us posted!

I called dibs on SCs and suits in 40S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thriftydood]

It looks real, but not my cup of tea. It also doesn't look like one of their outrageous prints which are popular on ebay, but if you like it, that doesn't matter.

Ran across this today. Is it a) real, b) actually a decent looking pattern or am I just blinded by the label? (I'm thinking decent in a boring, verging on wedding tie colors kind of way, not in a standard Versace kind of way.)

Excuse the crappy pics - the real camera has gone MIA...
This is what happens when your six year old son discovers the joys of taking pictures and shooting video.

 

[jcubzzz]

I like the pattern on that "real or fake" Hermes a lot

 

[eazye]



I like the pattern on that "real or fake" Hermes a lot

Same here, I would have grabbed it, my wife loves that kind of stuff.

 

[MarkThomas]

Same here, I would have grabbed it, my wife loves that kind of stuff.

Granted it's not gigantic, I would rock it myself as a pocket square!

 

[Mox C]



I wanna know where those awesome grail spewing stores are

From what I've seen, it doesn't work like that. Sure, there are stores and areas that are better than others, but a large part of it is random chance. I was finding very little at on of my local stores, but I kept it in my rotation. Then one day, *Wham!* — new 1982 Grenson balmorals for $20 that fit me perfectly. I found three pairs of shoes for myself that weekend. The odds just fall in weird patterns like that.

Some stores get donations from the immediate area, others from a central distribution, and others a combination of the two. If you are really interested in doing this, visit them ALL for yourself. Do the work, and it is work. It may be fun work for some of us, but when you see a post from Andro, Brian, or any of the other guys showcasing a week's worth of treasures, you don't see all the times that they may have walked out of a store with nothing in hand. Some guys will also do a mix of thrift, estate sales, garage sales, live/online auctions, discounters, and so on. They generally don't walk out of just a store or two with armfuls of Italian suits.

Give it a while before you make a judgement as to the quality of drops, especially if you are coming up on a seasonal change. A lot of store are rotating in fall items right now that they've been holding on to in the back. Talk to the people working in the store to see what kind of intake they have (local, central) and if they have any kind of schedule or just put out pieces as they get them. A lot of stores have a rotating color sale. Keep track of the color of the week so you know what's coming up for the next week. If you find a suit with a $20 blue tag that you are on the fence about, and blue will be on sale the next day, it might be worth waiting if you can get to the store early the next morning.

Above all, it takes patience and perseverance. It's not a get-rich quick plan, despite the great finds you may see here. It's not even a get-clothed-quick plan, unless you are willing to wear just anything. You can just stop in a store when the mood hits and see what they have, and that's a fun way to do it, but that's not what these guys are doing. They are making the consistent great finds because they are maximizing their odds of finding great stuff, and it's more than just what store to shop at.

--

As barrelntrigger says, have fun with it. Keeping expectations low goes a long way with that.

 

[TheNeedMachine]

From what I've seen, it doesn't work like that. Sure, there are stores and areas that are better than others, but a large part of it is random chance. I was finding very little at on of my local stores, but I kept it in my rotation. Then one day, *Wham!* — new 1982 Grenson balmorals for $20 that fit me perfectly. I found three pairs of shoes for myself that weekend. The odds just fall in weird patterns like that.
Some stores get donations from the immediate area, others from a central distribution, and others a combination of the two. If you are really interested in doing this, visit them ALL for yourself. Do the work, and it is work. It may be fun work for some of us, but when you see a post from Andro, Brian, or any of the other guys showcasing a week's worth of treasures, you don't see all the times that they may have walked out of a store with nothing in hand. Some guys will also do a mix of thrift, estate sales, garage sales, live/online auctions, discounters, and so on. They generally don't walk out of just a store or two with armfuls of Italian suits.
Give it a while before you make a judgement as to the quality of drops, especially if you are coming up on a seasonal change. A lot of store are rotating in fall items right now that they've been holding on to in the back. Talk to the people working in the store to see what kind of intake they have (local, central) and if they have any kind of schedule or just put out pieces as they get them. A lot of stores have a rotating color sale. Keep track of the color of the week so you know what's coming up for the next week. If you find a suit with a $20 blue tag that you are on the fence about, and blue will be on sale the next day, it might be worth waiting if you can get to the store early the next morning.
Above all, it takes patience and perseverance. It's not a get-rich quick plan, despite the great finds you may see here. It's not even a get-clothed-quick plan, unless you are willing to wear just anything. You can just stop in a store when the mood hits and see what they have, and that's a fun way to do it, but that's not what these guys are doing. They are making the consistent great finds because they are maximizing their odds of finding great stuff, and it's more than just what store to shop at.
--
As barrelntrigger says, have fun with it. Keeping expectations low goes a long way with that.

+1 and +1 again.