24 Comments
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Dacy Gillespie's avatar

I do this constantly (and often share on IG) because in the past I had a habit of buying those things just because something about them was so remarkable, but now I know that taking the photo (or video) scratches the itch for me and I can leave them for someone else to discover!

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Eleanor's avatar

Yes! I just want someone else to witness and appreciate this cool thing I've found =)

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Carly PhD's avatar

If I had a magic power, it would be to make myself look good in that cream/oat color!

Shopping IRL, I try on a lot of things I would normally pass over online. Just taking advantage of the opportunity to see what silhouettes or styles look good. A bit of a "let's just see" mentality. Taking it slow and not clinging to any outcome. Especially while thrifting!

Fun little roundup - have a great day!

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Eleanor's avatar

Yes--I don't know why I'm always so drawn to that color, because even when I do buy things in that shade I end up avoiding wearing them!

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Urbanstylist's avatar

Ah the beige botheration!!!!!! We all know we should look incredibly The Rowesque and float around sipping lattes in our loafers and yet AND YET …. we end up looking anaemic with strangers asking if we’re ok? Do we need an iron infusion? It’s a problem….🤍🤎

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Eleanor's avatar

the beige botheration 😂

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Urbanstylist's avatar

🤣🤣🤣🫶

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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

I love reading about what you looked at and put back, Eleanor, thank you so much for sharing. I actually did this last week in my Substack post too!

I look at everything, and that means labels, textile content, where it was made, colour, style, everything.💕

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Jacqueline Wein's avatar

I’m really leaning into quality at the thrift lately…. And on that note, I’d really kill for that DVF blouse!

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Eleanor's avatar

If you're very petite and happen to be on the west coast of Florida, I can direct you to the thrift store that has it! 😂

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No's avatar

Some goodies in there, thanks for sharing! Just a reminder (to myself too) that CLOTHES DYE exists when you find an amazing piece that’s in a less flattering color :)

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Eleanor's avatar

If you actually dye thrift finds more power to you!! But I’ve had that thought too many times and not followed up to let myself think I’m actually going to take that step 😂

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ET's avatar

Oooh love this post format!! I have such an easier time trying on a wide range of things irl, and also saying no bcs of comfort/fit (the itchiness thing is REAL! I’m not suffering in my 30s for a sweater lol). Def have had more success in the menswear sections the last few years thrifting compared to the fast fashion swamp that seems to have overtaken the women’s sections 🥲 That Nike top makes me think of the playmobil post, color-wise at least! Would have had a veryyyy hard time leaving that giant gap sweater behind 🫡

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Kendall Flavin's avatar

I love seeing what people don't buy and why... That GAP sweater is amazing, I hope you find something similar soon. And I am a huge supporter of breaking down the elements of a piece you wouldn't wear but are drawn to - cobalt/navy/orange is one of my favorite combos and I can't wait to see what you put together!

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Eleanor's avatar

I was already putting this piece together and then saw yours and immediately clicked, which made me realize that yes, other people would be interested in seeing this!

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Grace's avatar

My strategy is throw everything that gives me that jolt of OOOH into the cart. Sometimes the allure of a piece wears off by the time I get to the dressing room. I tell myself if I don’t want to put forth the effort to try it on, then I’m not excited about it. A lot of times my gut tells me something is just a little off, and I buy a lot less than I used to. I think part of that is I’ve found great stuff I’ve had for years and that now there’s just so much fast fashion to sift through 😒

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Eleanor's avatar

The volume of fast fashion at the thrift store now as opposed to even five years ago is so depressing... honestly I've had much more luck in the men's section

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Grace's avatar

Same. I look for vintage kids clothes for my friends’ kids and it’s absurd seeing some tiny little SHEIN tops be in the kids section now. 🙃

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Lynn Chen's avatar

I wore so much Benetton in the 80s and it was SO ITCHY!

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Eleanor's avatar

affirming my decision not to get!!

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Diana Fox Tilson, LICSW's avatar

So fun to see your process. If that DVF blouse is too small for you, what human would be able to wear it? Is it doll-sized? Also, I'm jealous that wherever you were shopping has all those premium brands. My local thrift stores are mostly a wasteland of discarded fast fashion.

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Eleanor's avatar

If you're not someone who likes more masculine style then this unfortunately may not apply but I've been checking out the men's shirts and sweaters at every thrift store I go to recently, and have much more luck there. That's where most of the items I did get in January were from! The deluge of fast fashion hasn't seem to hit the men's sections in the same way

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ateliertovar's avatar

love this! I used to thrift pretty indiscriminately (esp if vintage I could always resell), but lately I come up empty handed more than not. I did get three things at one thrift last week (rl pinstripe button down, 100% silk knit 90s cardigan, & 100% merino brooks brothers thermal baselayer!) I put back two linen oversized button downs, one because the color was a weird off-butter yellow & it had some stains, the other because I already own the perfect lilac linen shirt.

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Eleanor's avatar

The RL button down selection is always so good at thrift stores! Love that you recognized you already owned the perfect lilac linen shirt and didn't need to duplicate =)

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