Remember the days when you knew the best little thrift shop where you could go on half off day and score an amazing sundress for $2? This was before the advent of etsy perhaps, when billions of hipsters world-wide scored at their local thrift stores and re-sold their wares online for triple the price. Before the commercialization of vintage. And trust us, we arne’t complaining.. we are overjoyed that the world has gone semi-green in their fashion preferences. The more vintage we all buy, the less crap goes in landfills, the less energy is produced in factories, and the less un-fair labor is being used. Still, we long for the days of truly cheap, cheap vintage.
So.. What’s the difference between a real thrift store and its overpriced sister – the vintage shop?
See below. A true vintage store (aka thrift shop) has not been arranged by color or trend, and usually stinks of mothballs (see left). It’s a chore to go through the racks, but once you’ve found your score, you could sing from the rooftops! You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment you just won’t feel at any already merchandised vintage boutique. The true thrift shop is often connected to a charity (Goodwill, et all) and doesn’t benefit from any sales of items. A vintage boutique is well arranged, merchandise is laid out to showcase the great items (see right). In the real vintage store, employees will be similar to the McDonald’s worker demographic/ little old ladies, you will see old teddy bears for sale and even old panties. At a faux-vintage store, shopgirls n gays will probably be tattooed, beleaguered, and stinking of last nights big party – the merch will all be stuff you could totally see some 80’s ironic revival band wearing. The prices will be double to triple the price of a thrift store.
So – we are reaching out to you, dear readers. What are the last of the best vintage spots in your neck of the woods?? (Let us know in the comments section below – let’s compile a sisterly list for all States!)
We know Value Village still hold deals a-plenty for the vigorous vintage scout. Particularly in the Georgia locations.
And in NY (Brooklyn) you’ll be hard pressed to find better deals than at Green Village Junk Shop (gorgeous 1950’s armoire for $70, anyone? Clothing by the pound!).
Here at GGA HQ – we dream of a thrift store where all proceeds benefit vegan and animal organizations! But we wonder how that would work in terms of all the non-vegan items in thrift shops (wool, fur, leather, etc). Would you be offended by a thrift shop selling old wool to benefit the animals? Most of what we donate to thrift stores is our old non-vegan duds. So we think the concept may be messy, but it’s an idea we’d love to see someone take on and adjust.