The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

[YoungAmerican]

Originally Posted by crashoran

Found these on eBay, my first real dress shoes. Not sure if it was a good purchase.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...EOIBSA:CA:1123

Nice shoes, but not really dress shoes.

 

[crashoran]

Originally Posted by YoungAmerican

Nice shoes, but not really dress shoes.

Do you think they will go well with a charcoal suit?

 

[California Dreamer]

Originally Posted by crashoran

Do you think they will go well with a charcoal suit?

Depends on how conservative your work environment is, but these look a bit too casual to wear with a suit: rubber soles, bluchers, pebble-grained finish all make them look less dressy.

 

[crashoran]

Oh well. They're going with the suit anyways.

 

[Mudhiker]

Originally Posted by crashoran

Shine them up well with some cream polish and wear them proudly. They're good shoes. Probably will be the nicest pair wherever you work. Yeah, a Park Avenue captoe balmoral is more formal, but if you have to ask, chances are whatever you were wearing before wasn't nearly as nice nor as appropriate. In the real world everyone is wearing ugly poly-blend black suits with square-toed Cole Haans. A charcoal suit with those shoes will trump 95% of working men.

And for $50, you got a good deal. People frequently post proud pics of shoes that are totally wore out. Those, on the other hand, look to be alright.

 

[YoungAmerican]

Seriously: they are nice shoes. And I'm sure you'll be able to wear them with a suit until you find something more formal later. Don't sweat it.

 

[k4lnamja]

California Dreamer is spot on his assessment regarding your shoes. However, most people wouldnt notice. What do you do for a living? Is it a very "corporate" env? Do your superiors have shoes similar to the one's you bought? If so, you're fine. The modern man DOES NOT know the difference between a blucher or a balmoral.

I've a pair of AE Park Ave's and these are essential to my line of work (corp finance). However, I'm not a big cap toe fan unless if there is brogueing. Therefore, it looks like I'll be putting these up on ebay or here.

If you're a 9E, I've a pair of AE Byron's in excellent condition or we could work something about my PA's. If not, wear the one's you bought proudly. They are totally fine.

Cheers

 

[crashoran]

Cool. Not so stressed about it anymore. I'm new to all this style stuff.

EDIT: Yeah. I have a pair of Adidas, Nike, and black Hunter's Bay shoes.

 

[California Dreamer]

Originally Posted by idfnl

Looks real.

If you can spread the back lining and photograph it, I can tell you for sure.

Thanks guys. One more photo attached. (Please excuse crappy phone photo). Going by the eBay guide that Xenos provided, looks like it's the real thing.

 

[California Dreamer]

Originally Posted by crashoran

Oh well. They're going with the suit anyways.
Heck, why not? In the end it's down to how you feel wearing them, not what we say. Rules are for fools, and serve as guidance for wise men.

 

[JKMWCL]

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

Yesterday, I took a little 240 mile thrifting jaunt today and had dinner with my son who is at East Carolina University. Anyway, I stopped at a little thrift which had never been productive in the past. I considered just passing it up since they never have much of anything and they insist upon marking up their "good" stuff like Ike Behar and Hilfiger. All I found was a dirty pair of loafers. But they cleaned up OK. 9C, not my size.

Go PIRATES!

 

[JKMWCL]

Originally Posted by California Dreamer

Thanks guys. One more photo attached. (Please excuse crappy phone photo). Going by the eBay guide that Xenos provided, looks like it's the real thing.

Again, nice find!

 

[ArsenalDan]

Aaargh, hardcore thrift-envying your shoe finds!! Trying to both build my work collection (less likely thrifted than via good eBay scores) and some good casual, vintage shoes as well -- these are more likely, but I never see them. Possibly partially because I live in NYC and stuff get's picked up quickly.

 

[TheWGP]

Busted today - found an older Canali Proposta, size 56R italian, mid-blue DB suit in great shape - but unvented. I might've took a flyer for resale but it was $30. If anyone here doesn't mind the unvented and for some reason is interested, PM me and I'll proxy.

Two questions:

one: my only pickup today was this Kuhlman shirt - it has a secondary label that says "K Kappa" - anyone know what this means? I assume it's just a random line. Here's a photo.

The second question:
How did that storage-unit auction turn out back in January, frenchy? You seem to have the golden touch (or earn it, 50 stores a week?!) but I've been away and don't recall seeing you mention how it came out.

 

[dk_ace]

Originally Posted by dk_ace

I'm starting to get better at spotting stuff in the thrifts, but there isn't a lot of good stuff to be found in my area. I figure persistence will pay off though...

D

Just a few days after posting this, persistence actually did pay off quite well...

I stopped Friday at the Goodwill that I've visited many times in the last few weeks with varying success and found that they had just received a new shipment. I snagged:

Burberry sportcoat in perfect shape minus a few wrinkles that will fall out - $4. It was a 42L whereas I'm a 40L typically. The shoulders, length, waist, and sleeves are good, but I do need to have the chest taken in a bit. I'm going to take it to a good tailor and see what they say. If it's too expensive or risky, I'll let someone on the forum have it. This is the first really nice item I've found in a thrift.

Neutral orphaned John Clarendon jacket in my size. I really needed this as an odd jacket for some of my trousers. Nothing special, but it fits, it's in like new condition, and it was $4.

Johnston & Murphy Italian wingtips - $6. The leather was a little rough, but I brought them back to life.

A collection of ties, all of them handmade in either Italy or the USA. Some were fairly old, but were in classic patterns and clean. I bought 7 of them for $1 each.

Not a bad haul for $21.

D