the pretty year

So, when last we left our heroines, they had found limited success at an impressively well-kept Goodwill shop. Onward and thriftward we went, to Village Thrift in Bladensburg.

Now this was a thrift store.

As we entered, we noticed a sign, accompanied by that “aaaaaaaaaawwwwwwhhhhh” sound from the movies. You know, when the heavens open up and everything is surrounded by a cottony white halo of light?

Aaaaaaaawwwwwwwhhhhhhhhh...

Everything not already marked 1/2 off (per a giant board indicating the colors of the discounted tags) was 1/3 off. At least on Sundays, which this blessed day just happened to be.

Score.

The dressing rooms– a couple of stalls in the back with doors that didn’t stay closed– left a lot to be desired.  But Kitty said they didn’t even exist a few years back, and I had on a bodysuit that covered as much as a modest swimsuit, so I couldn’t complain.

Merchandise here was similar to what we saw at Goodwill, but there was a lot more of it, and with the discounts, it was much cheaper.  I had a laundry list of wants, and many of them were in reach.  As it turned out, someone had sold/donated several 3-5-year-old Old Navy tank tops in great condition.

Thrifted Sister Tip #5: If you find a basic you like, double-check the racks for the same item in other colors (probably other colors that’ll look good on you, too).  When people clear out their closets, they really clear out their closets.  After some digging I found this exact Old Navy “perfect fit” tank in my size in three colors (though only two were really flattering).

Because they weren’t made in the last couple of years, the tanks (one shown below) were not quite so insanely long as they seem to be nowadays.  Double Score.

Thrifted Sister Tip #6: Thrift stores are, not surprisingly, a great source for
anything that has recently fallen out of favor (including things that are still in style, just not on the “cutting edge”).  Shorter tanks and tee shirts, non-skinny jeans, stilettos, etc.  Looking for a seemingly-basic fit or style you can’t seem to find in stores?  This is the place to find it.

I was still looking for a denim skirt, and the one above almost fit the bill (the fallen hem seemed like an easy fix).   It fit well, but I wasn’t sure about that railroad stripe.  Was it too “out?”  I texted Kitty for her opinion.

Thrifted Sister Tip #7: Bring a friend or two.  Seems obvious, but they can help you off the fence with a questionable purchase.  Whether affirming something is out of style or not worth mending (as in this skirt), or encouraging you to take a chance (as with the blue hat from our Part I), a second and third pair of eyes is almost invaluable in a shopping situation where all sales are final.

K tried to be nice about it, but I could see in her eyes it wasn’t happening, so I figured I’d try to find a better skirt at our next stop.  While in Bladensburg, I also found a few other near-hits…

Big florals were all over a recent issue of Lucky magazine, but this skirt didn’t fit like a dream, so I passed.  This USA jersey was cute, but not quite cute enough to spend any Pretty Year cash.

Before we left this Village Thrift, I made one last discovery.  It didn’t apply this time, but I’ll be keeping it in mind for the future…

Thrifted Sister Tip #8: OMG MATERNITY CLOTHES.  Mixed in with all the other sizes, you’ll find tons and tons and TONS of cute, barely-worn items from Motherhood Maternity, Pea in the Pod and more.  Think about it– it’s genius.  Many women barely wear their maternity clothes, spend a few months (per pregnancy, maybe times two to three pregnancies) wearing them, and then donate or sell them in like-new condition.  That’s when a savvy shopper like you scoops them up– outside of that one fancy dress/swimsuit/winter coat you find you need, why would you spend any kind of money on clothes you only wear for 10-20 weeks?  I am sooooo raiding the thrift stores when I’m ’spectin’.

In the end, I left with just two tanks (the one seen above, and an identical one in purple), but I was thrilled.  They fit perfectly and each tank was marked 50% off $3.90– or just $1.95 apiece.  Total spent, including tax: $4.13

Next up, in Part III?  Village Thrift in Laurel, where we really clean up!

Related posts:

1. Michelle's Pretty Year: A Thrifting Virgin's Guide to Thrifting, Part I
2. Michelle’s Pretty Year: A Thrifting Virgin’s Guide to Thrifting, Part III
3. Michelle's Pretty Year: Just For The Record, Again
4. Michelle's Pretty Year: Money for Nothin'
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