The 7 Deadly Sins Of Thrifting

Repent, all ye greedy thrifters. 

When most people picture the average thrift shopper, they probably are thinking of an ecologically-friendly, price-savvy guy or gal who enjoys knowing that their dollars are going to serve a good cause in the community. 

There are, however, those who use and abuse thrift stores with awful acts of greed, ignorance and total disregard toward the establishment, staff and even other thrift shoppers.

Those who perpetrate these acts are likely committing at least one of...

The 7 Deadly Sins of Thrifting

1. Stealing. Stealing from a thrift store is robbing employees of a paycheck and the charities that thrift store supports.
2. Price Changing. Price changing is stealing. Pay the price that's marked or don't buy it.
3. Making a mess you expect others will clean up for you. If you knock a sweater off the hanger, pick it up and put it back. Don't leave it on the floor for someone else to step on.
4. "Shopping" from other people's carts. Accept the fact that someone may beat you to the punch and grab something you just love. Unless they put it back to the shelf, they have dibs. So don't take anything out of their cart on the sly.
5. Blocking the aisle with your cart. Intentionally blocking off an aisle of the store so you can scan the entire section undisturbed is just plain rude. If you end up blocking, clear a path if someone asks to squeeze past you. And hold the attitude when you do it. 
6. Disrespecting the staff. Arguing prices or getting sassy with the clerk unlocking the fitting room if you have more than the limit allows...is simply unacceptable behavior. How would you like it if these thrift employees hassled you when you were trying to work?
7. Condescension. Just because you may thrift for leisure and can maybe afford to shop elsewhere doesn't mean you have the right snub anyone in the vicinity. Also keep your negative opinions to yourself when it comes to what other thrifters are buying. If I'm buying a clown doll you think is hideous, chances are I know it's hideous... and that's why I'm buying it. 

I've been witness to some pretty disturbing thrifting behavior, and it's always disheartening to see. It's true that any job involving direct interaction with the public faces perils such as these. Employees and volunteers could likely tell you stories that would shock the hell out of you. Price haggling, shoplifting, physical if not verbal altercations between customers. It  happens. Yikes!  

But as I always say, thrift and let thrift. Don't cheat, lie, steal or be unbearably rude. Otherwise your thrift karma will be dangerously off-kilter, so much in fact, that you may be greeted with bare shelves and empty racks at thrift stores forever and ever until you come clean from your bad thrifting behavior. So be good little thrifters, ladies and gents. Be neat, buy honestly, donate and say hello to the staff while you're at it. 

What bad thrifting behavior have you witnessed? 

Welcome to Vintage Photo Friday!

Go ahead. Make him an offer he can't refuse. 

Since amassing not one, not two, but three photo albums from Goodwill in the past few months, I've decided to start a virtual tour of my blossoming collection. Each Friday from now until the foreseeable future when I may one day run out of photos to display, I will present you with Vintage Photo Friday, a collection of thrifted wonders to delight the eye and boggle the mind. These personal snapshots, polaroids,  group poses and candid moments of people who I never met will long live in our hearts here at Let's Go Thrifting! 

So sit down and stay for our weekly vintage viewing of visual proof that not only did shoulder pads, pillbox hats and floral frocks exist, but these fashionable folks are wearing them proudly. 

Let's Go Thrifting: Live From The Runway

Lights. Camera. Thrifting!

Fashion doesn’t have to mean excessive spending. As avid thrift shoppers, we know the  the power of the almighty dollar and just how far we can stretch that dollar when it comes to what we’re wearing. 

Impact Thrift Stores recognize the need for fun, fresh and trendy fashion pieces at affordable prices. And what better way to show off their selection of secondhand clothing, but with a thrifted runway show? 

To conclude the grand opening celebrations of the new Impact Thrift in Feasterville, PA on Saturday April 21st, the staff, family, friends and special guests presented the crowd with a showcase of ensembles for every occasion. The show featured sharp and classy menswear, trendy looks for women and cute-as-a-button kids'  collections. And the looks were only outdone by the low cost on the price tags. 

Hosting the special event was honored guest and longtime Impact Thrift supporter, Sheila Fortson-Williams, who is otherwise known as “The Glam Thrifter” for her expertise in finding lux looks for less. 

The runway show was a runaway success, with some thrift shoppers interested in buying some of the clothing and accessories right off the models’ backs. 

And once you see these ensembles, you won’t wonder why the catwalk meant a catrun right to the register for these fashion-frenzied thrifters. 

So without further delay, I present to you...

The Impact Thrift Store Runway Fashion Show

Model/Assistant Manager Ben is looking suave in a Jack Victor suit,  Eddie Bauer shirt and a Nubio tie.
Total cost: $25. 

The Glam Thrifter presents her glam sister, Whitney, who is wearing a floral wrap dress and mules from Talbots.

Total cost: $11.  

Erinn is looking trendy in a black and beige dress by Eliza J, accessories and sandals. 

Total cost: $11.

Kate is sporting a fresh teen look. Entro floral top, skinny jeans and espadrille wedges

Total cost: $11.50 

Eric is looking good in a charcoal suit by Nautica, lavender shirt by Paul Frederick,  Geoffrey Beane purple tie and black shoes by Allen Edmonds. 

Total cost: $25

Whitney is on the go in her charcoal suit from United Colors of Benetton and  Forenza lilac blouse. 

Total cost: $15.

Suzy is looking lovely in an exotic cocktail dress by Cache, sandals by Nine West and  layered necklace .

Total cost: $42.

Charlotte in her floral print dress and Dan in his khaki pants and plaid green shirt make a too-cute pair.

Total cost per outfit: $6

Fiona is wearing a print dress from The Children's Place while James is in a Lands End tie-dye tee and shorts. 

Fiona's Total Cost: $7. James' Total Cost: $5.50

Sheila is the Mother-of-the-Bride in an Ann Taylor dress. Escorting her is Ben in a groom's tux by Sporting Life.

Total cost for Sheila: $15. Total cost for Ben: $45.

Francie is wearing a flower girl dress by US Angels. Charlotte is wearing a flower girl dress by Sophia Rose.

Total cost for Francie: $9. Total cost for Charlotte: $7

Kate is the beautiful bride on the catwalk in a never worn dress by David's Bridal.

Total cost: $200. 

Have you ever seen a thrifted runway show? 

Welcome to Impact Thrift Store: The Grand Opening Celebration

Prepare yourselves!

Well, it finally happened. The big day came and went. Of course, I'm speaking of the grand opening of the Impact Thrift Store in Feasterville, PA.  And it was spectacular. 

I arrived at the Bucks Crossing shopping center at 9:30 am and was met by a line of would-be thrifters about 20 people deep. And what started with friendly exchanges about the weather quickly turned to thrift talk amongst the crowd. We were so involved in the conversation that we didn’t notice the line expanding behind us. But when heads started to turn to see the commotion, I stepped out of line to snap a few shots of a line the likes I’ve only seen at sold-out concerts. 

It keeps going and going and going...

The crowd swelled straight down the entire length of the plaza, and at times spilled past the curb for those wishing to get a glimpse of when the doors of the Impact Thrift Store would swing open to the public. Some of the managers of the other shops in the plaza actually complained that the line was blocking access to their store. But everyone remained orderly--excited, but orderly until the clock struck 10.

Oh, it's on!

President of Impact Thrift Stores, Paul Baur gathered the management, corporate staff, and the representatives from the charities that benefit from Impact behind the red ribbon and in front of an eager crowd. After a quick snap of the scissors, the madness began. The crowd pushed forward, crossed the threshold of the vestibule, passed through the doors and armed with baskets, carts and Impact logo tote bags went on the hunt for secondhand bargains. The words mob scene came to mind immediately. 

Operation Thrift has commenced!

After a few deep breaths and some evasive maneuvers, I dodged some of the incoming crowd to take a better look at what the staff of Impact was able to accomplish since I had been there for a behind the scenes preview a few weeks ago. The shelves were stocked, the racks neatly arranged. There were books and bric-a-brac abounding. Racks and racks of clothing. A rainbow of furniture lined the sales floor and shoppers clogged every aisle. 

I wonder if there was any Herb Alpert in there.

It wasn't easy to haphazardly snap away with the camera, given the crowds. There were carts and baskets filled to the brim. There were arms and tote bags filled, since every cart and every basket was claimed in the first few seconds of the doors opening. Fortunately I had a few friends also on the hunt who let me share their basket so I could observe the scene without too much of a juggling act. And given that I was there in a professional capacity, I couldn't focus all of my energy on my thrifting tactics (photos to be posted later of what I did buy). But there was a lot that caught my eye.

I'm so in love with this vintage Brownie camera from the silent auction.

I always wanted condiment colored furniture. Dibs!

These assorted glass fruits & veggies are yummy.

But these Impact cupcakes look even yummier!

From books and clothing to fitness equipment and kitschy decor, there was no shortage of fun finds at the Impact Thrift Store. Given the opportunity,  I'd run the aisles with a shopping cart, shoving it all in like some kind of   secondhand version of  Supermarket Sweep. But beings I had work to do, I showed some restraint. But far be it for me to deny others the pleasure of a full cart at cheap prices. And believe me, there were others...many others who were not shy about scooping up all the treasures they could push to the register. There was, of course, only one problem.

The lines, my God, the lines! 

This was the line to the checkout. All six registers were open and the floor staff did their best to direct the congested traffic of thrift shoppers through the maze of furniture and to the checkout,  slowly but surely. I patiently waited for 50 minutes to buy my three items,  and was greeted by familiar faces at the checkout--two friendly employees from the clothing department who I briefly chatted with a few weeks prior at the behind-the-scenes tour. 

"Hey, aren't you the blogger!?" 

Actually, this was probably the 6th time I had been asked that exact question by members of the staff, which only made me giddy with joy at having been recognized and remembered. So many of the Impact employees were walking the sales floor, greeting customers and trying to keep order. And it seemed every time I turned a corner, someone was saying, "Hey, aren't you that thrift blogger?"

"Yes, I am The Blogger. I'm the thrift blogger." 

I'll be honest. It felt good to say that with a sense of pride. I can't say how much I've enjoyed the interviews, the behind-the-scenes tour, the photo opportunities and seeing firsthand, the level of dedication the staff has to the Impact mission.

But wait! There's more. I still have to show you the three thrifted finds I bought...all three for a shocking $2.12

Sheila "The Glam Thrifter" Fortson, looking fabulous as always!

And you can't miss the photos from the Impact runway show. That's right! I have a photo spread of trendy and affordable thrifted fashion ensembles, fresh off the catwalk in a special Impact Thrift event hosted by the notable guest emcee, Sheila Fortson-Williams aka "The Glam Thrifter." 

You won't believe it until you see it. Suits for under $25? Children's ware for under $6? Hot teen trends at low, low prices? Yes, yes, yes! 

So stay tuned for all this and more in the next exciting installment of Let's Go Thrifting!