Oldies

I am a lover of old, discarded things. There’s something magical about the way used vinyl crackles on the record player, and finding an inscription in a secondhand book. Stumbling upon the perfect beside table or film camera at a yard sale is a great and satisfying way to spend a Saturday. And some of my favorite art is assembled from banal, discarded items plucked from the side of the road. To me, there is something profoundly beautiful in choosing something that everyone else has overlooked and giving it new life. It really is true that one girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure.

My love of secondhand things extends to clothes, of course, especially now that I’m trying to be a more conscious consumer. I know a lot of people who think that thrift stores or vintage shops are good only for dingy, un-stylish pieces, but in my experience, that hasn’t been the case.  Some of my favorite clothing pieces are from secondhand clothing shops. For instance, I found this men’s Ralph Lauren shirt that’s been tailored into a stylish shirtdress at a vintage shop in Manchester, England called COW Vintage. It’s the coolest vintage shop I’ve ever set foot in, so it was really easy to find some great things.

Usually, thrifting requires some patience and willingness to dig a little, but you can come away with some unique, retro, and cheap items that you can’t find in any old store if you put a little work in. And because it takes a little more effort to find something you love, the find is always more satisfying.

What are your favorite thrift store finds?

– Lauren