Tag: Pants

Life Musings

MONSTER THRIFT HAUL: $700 worth of clothes for $33 DOLLARS

Crystal Fleming

There is a truism in life:

Men may come and go,
Work may delight or confound,
Seasons may change,

BUT THRIFTING NEVER FAILS!

I don’t even know where to begin.

Let me just first explain that I got two pairs of leather, Italian crafted Cole Haan boots . . . for $8.

Eight dollars.

Four dollars each.

Perfect condition.

I mean, does anything else I say even matter? Do you understand the gravity of what I’m conveying right now?

Take a moment. Breathe with me. Inhale. Exhale.

$500 worth of boots for $8.

$8.

I also got a pair of burgundy Etienne Aigner suede loafers. Retail? $70. I paid? $4.

That’s $570 worth of shoes for $12.

Okay, so, the rest of the haul, which, really, is just disgustingly indulgent at this point, was as follows:

  • Prana Satori pants – super elegant and sexy – (black): Retail: $80. I paid: $2.
  • Lands End corduroy slacks (orange): Retail: $40. I paid: $2.
  • Style & Co. dress slacks (black): Retail: $30. I paid: $1.
  • Lees comfort waist slacks (black): Retail: $30. I paid: $1.
  • Harriton Fleece (blue) – matches my awesome blue gelish manicure! : Retail: $20. I paid: $5.
  • Floral scarf (unknown brand): Retail: ??. I paid: $3
  • Plaid scarf (unknown brand): Retail: ??. I paid: $3
  • DKNY tights: Retail: $12. I paid: $1.25.
  • Calvin Klein tights: Retail: $12. I paid: $1.25.

Everything in the store was 50% off, as usual. And it all goes to charity.

Just another look at those boots. Sexy autumn, here I come . . .

Poppin' Tags

What $25 Can Get You at the Thrift Store

Crystal Fleming

I remember those days, so far gone now, when I would spend $25 on a single item and think that I was getting a good deal. I cringe now recalling my years as a struggling graduate student when I would, near-empty-bank-account-notwithstanding, spend several hundred dollars a few times a year on clothes. Sometimes I would go to a store, spend $200 and only have a few items to show for it. I also recall, quite vividly, the tightness in my chest and general feeling of dread as I would watch the cash register ca-ching its way onward and upward. Shopping was a stressful affair and any feelings of euphoria I thought I felt were fleeting and certainly not worth the trouble.

Talk about night and day. Thrifting has put the joy, playfulness and sexy back into shopping for me. Whereas in times past, I would feel overwhelmed by the prices or the limited prospects of finding something flattering in my size, now I feel transported through the 7 heavens as I walk through the garden of abundance that is my thrift store knowing full well that I can and will find every thing my heart desires . . . and pay almost nothing for it.

* * *

Brief intermission while I get on my knees to praise God for bringing me to THE store: Thank you, Jesus . . .

* * *

Alright. Now what can $25 get you at my store? 15 items. FIFTEEN. That’s an average of $1.67 per item.  Estimated value: $300+  Let us slowly and soberly examine the contents of a recent haul:

 

Perhaps the most unusual and interesting find was the red, vintage Gunn Trigère dress I snagged for a dollar.