The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[ThinkDerm]

Originally Posted by SimonC

A tale of two halves today - on the plus side I got some hand-sewn unlined tan leather gloves and a pair of Church's cordovan brogues from a consignment store at a fair price.

On the other hand, I found a truly phenomenal bespoke DB flannel suit in mid gray with light gray pinstripes which was way too big, and an SR bespoke SB which fit perfectly apart from sleeves 3" too short. Oh well....

post the glove photos!

 

[The Deacon]

Yesterday I trolled a few of my favorite thrifts and found a pair of vintage custom made burgundy shell cordovan plain toe bluchers from Kow Hoo of Hong Kong and they fit me! Thick firm soles with nice even heels. Someone treated these nice! Cost was $7.50, I spent two hours scrubbing off old darker polish, buffed them to a shine and wore them to work today!

This was half way through rubbing the right footed shoe, it was brutal and I see I'm still not done. I used the inside of an athletic sock and scrubbed hard I had to use the sock over a finger nail to clear polish from some creases where the lacing leather is stitched to the upper vamp. They smelled of lexol as though some one had preserved them in it, I am grateful because they are very supple and not dry in the least.

 

[deveandepot1]

Originally Posted by The Deacon

Yesterday I trolled a few of my favorite thrifts and found a pair of vintage custom made burgundy shell cordovan plain toe bluchers from Kow Hoo of Hong Kong and they fit me! Thick firm soles with nice even heels. Someone treated these nice! Cost was $7.50, I spent two hours scrubbing off old darker polish, buffed them to a shine and wore them to work today!

Pics? Before and after?

 

[Doorstop]

Originally Posted by The Deacon

Yesterday I trolled a few of my favorite thrifts and found a pair of vintage custom made burgundy shell cordovan plain toe bluchers from Kow Hoo of Hong Kong and they fit me! Thick firm soles with nice even heels. Someone treated these nice! Cost was $7.50, I spent two hours scrubbing off old darker polish, buffed them to a shine and wore them to work today!

Congrats on the shoes, and please, help me out here. I have a pair of cordovans I thrifted that were just mucked up with old polish. What kind of brush did you use, and anything other than warm water?

 

[SimonC]

Originally Posted by ThinkDerm

post the glove photos!

Here you go;

I think I'm all done for casual gloves now - I've got unlined buckskins, these above, dark brown shearling, tan Venanzi peccary with cashmere lining and mid-brown Dents fur-lined...!

 

[Nataku]

Hit my secret spot today. Came out with a few things: - Pal Ziliri windowpane sportcat - Mabro Houndstooth check sportcoat - My first ever thrifted Kiton item. A pair of navy striped trousers. Sadly, I fear these are orphans and someone purchased the jacket already. Still, I'm not gonna complain about finding my first Kiton for $2.99!

 

[AlanC]

^I'd keep my eye on the place to see if the Kiton jacket shows up.

 

[dahl5yankees]

Congrats on the Kiton. I think I spotted a fake Canali shirt, felt weird walking away from a nice
$5 Canali shirt and a $5 Armani Collezioni..

 

[edaminski]

Anyone know anything about

Giannelli

I found a nice shirt in my size. Liked the look so I grabbed it.

The only labels are the one in the collar that says;

Giannelli
Italy

and tag with 100% cotton

 

[Temujin]

Originally Posted by dahl5yankees

Congrats on the Kiton. I think I spotted a fake Canali shirt, felt weird walking away from a nice
$5 Canali shirt and a $5 Armani Collezioni..

I picked up a Canali Italy shirt w/ a made in China tag on it. I thought that was very curious myself.

 

[Nataku]

Originally Posted by AlanC

^I'd keep my eye on the place to see if the Kiton jacket shows up.

Exactly my plan. Who knows, maybe more Kiton items will show up as well. There was a nice Cantarelli for Bergdorf Goodman suit jacket which I passed up. Had a tear in the arm and was also an orphan. Oh well - this place does indeed get good stuff, though!

 

[The Deacon]

Originally Posted by Doorstop

Congrats on the shoes, and please, help me out here. I have a pair of cordovans I thrifted that were just mucked up with old polish. What kind of brush did you use, and anything other than warm water?

I have used a big (cobbler big!) brush and a cotton towel to scrub hard and wisk the leather to a brilliant shine if the oils are still extant in the leather and that worked well. Do not use acetone or alcohol to hasten the process, they will dry out the leather and you run the risk of it tearing, that happened to me with some vintage shell cordovans and it broke my heart. If you must cheat, you can actually use nuetral polish in small quantities on a cloth and the polish will come right off onto the towel each time you apply it and rub. This can safely be done on burgundy and black shell, I wouldn't do it to a lighter shell color for fear of slightly darkening the leather. You give us some b4 and after shots please!

At some point I'll buy the saphir and crema nubiana products that the serious guys here on SF use on their shoes (RIDER, REBEL 222, Distinctive, etc). Thats how you get the awe inspiring shine!

 

[petrus81]

Some great finds from the UK:

Three shirts, all in the same trip, a pink check Burberry, a bold stripe Ralph Lauren and a lilac oxford Brooks Bros: $3.75 each. Both the RL and BB were a little large over the chest, but the Burberry is a lovely tailored fit, immediately became part of my regular rotation.

 

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by The Deacon

Yesterday I trolled a few of my favorite thrifts and found a pair of vintage custom made burgundy shell cordovan plain toe bluchers from Kow Hoo of Hong Kong and they fit me! Thick firm soles with nice even heels. Someone treated these nice! Cost was $7.50, I spent two hours scrubbing off old darker polish, buffed them to a shine and wore them to work today!

This was half way through rubbing the right footed shoe, it was brutal and I see I'm still not done. I used the inside of an athletic sock and scrubbed hard I had to use the sock over a finger nail to clear polish from some creases where the lacing leather is stitched to the upper vamp. They smelled of lexol as though some one had preserved them in it, I am grateful because they are very supple and not dry in the least.

GREAT shoes. I found a pair of Stuart McGuires like this last month.

 

[Larson McCord]

Originally Posted by Georgia

GREAT shoes. I found a pair of Stuart McGuires like this last month.

Ha! Me too, they are awesome shoes