Farewell Post

Well everyone, the semester  has unfortunately come to a close. This means that despite all of the fun I’ve had making this blog and sharing it with everyone, I have to make a decision of whether to continue this blog or not. However, before I reveal my decision, allow me to explain my reasoning behind it.

Before the semester started, I had yet to have involvement in the field of fashion/vintage wear in terms of journalism. I had never written, organized, or been responsible for the creation of anything fashion related. So although I intended on pursuing this career path, I was unsure whether it was something that I was genuinely interested in or not. Yet, looking back on each assignment, the lessons that each post taught me, and the community that I managed to foster in such a short amount of time, I now know that this career path of fashion journalism is certainly one that I am forever attached to and will not veer away from.

That being said, this semester itself, along with the task of maintaining the journalistic integrity of this blog, certainly presented an immense challenge. Giving my all to both of these endeavors was not an easy accomplishment. Ultimately though, the ends justified the means and my persistence was rewarded with a community of people who care about my thoughts and opinions. So thank you for joining me this semester for this blog.

Yes, my is to definitely continue this blog under my own supervision, but not immediately. I will post soon though, so turn on those email notifications and continue to stay up to date with what we think here at the Throne of Thrift!

 

– P.S., if you’d like to check out some of the best post from the semester to walk down memory lane, here are my favorites. Enjoy:

What Does Thrift Men To You?

Thriving Through Thrift

 Profile of Camden’s Thrift Works

An Interview With Philadelphia’s Urban Exchange Project

Shopping On A Dime

 

What Does Thrift Mean To You?

What does thrift mean to you?

Walking through the historically cultured blocks of one of Philadelphia’s most infamous streets, the question that has lingered in my mind. So this week, I thought we’d take a look an environment which has fostered so much of the inspiration that we’ve taken a look at over the course of this blog: South Street. On this blog, we’ve looked at so many inspirational stories about thrift changing the lives of plenty of people. From thrift shops created for troubled and misguided youth in an effort to rescue them from their impending downward spiral, to veteran thrifters of many years providing some insight into the art of thrift.

So this week, I thought we’d take a look at some thrift stores that we may have missed so far, while also getting the thoughts of some thrifters on what thrift means to them personally. After checking out Philadelphia’s “Greene Street” and “Sophisticated Seconds“, I’ve gotten a better understanding the importance of thrifting in many people’s lives.

At Green Street, the ambiance resembled that of a typical retail store. Family friendly and minimalistically chic, this shop exuded a warmness not usually found in consignment/secondhand. Filled with racks of elegant streetwear fashion, it certainly manages to appeal to its targeted audience. Favoring consignment rather than a thrift shop, Greene Street is fully entrenched in the culture that South Street is fundamentally built upon. Similar to the magnificence of the Magic Gardens, the allure of Greene Street is also in its aesthetic. Warm, diverse, and refreshingly organic, Green Streets serves as part of the thrift culture that is embedded in South Street of Philadelphia.

“Greene Street is a consignment/second hand shop…which is also very eco-friendly and good for the Earth,” said Brandon Hayes of Greene Street staff. “All of these things fall under and are relevant to thrift.

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The second part of our deep dive into the rich thrift culture of Philadelphia’s South Street is Sophisticated Seconds. Home to tons and tons of fashion steals at unbelievable prices, Sophisticated Seconds is much more product centric. While it may not meet the standard of service and involvement that Greene Street does, it certainly manages to compensate with the pure surplus of clothing options that they provide.

“The best part of thrift is that you keep money in  your pocket while making money off of what you sell too,” said Spencer Matthews of Sophisticated Seconds store staff.

“I’ve gotten stuff from like Zara, which is my favorite store, that is sold out in the store. Once it’s gone, it’s GONE. I think that’s the difference in like consignment and thrift stores, is that you kinda get some of that back. I think that’s why consignment, secondhand, and thrift are so important to me, eve though I just started like literally a few weeks ago.”

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What I gathered from this excursion into the importance of the culture of thrift that is embedded into South Street is that perspective on thrift varies just like the individuals involved in it vary.  Thrift is an art, to be partaken in or simply appreciated, and its value in abstract just like any other art form would be. It allows people not only express their thoughts and opinions, but gives them a platform to discover a sense of self and express that. Ultimately, finding the platform to do so appropriately is the goal of many, and thankfully thrift is able to provide such a platform.

 

Thriving Through Thrift

Sometimes, seeing is believing. This is true for a bunch of things in life, like that person you met on Tinder but aren’t completely sure about, or that dish from that restaurant you always see in Siri’s suggestions but aren’t completely sure about trying. This is due to reliability and trust, and it’s the same reason we order the same Honey BBQ chicken melt every time we go to Friendly’s despite staring at the menu for a meaningless 10 minutes before getting what you knew you wanted when you entered the Friendly’s parking lot. Witnessing and experiencing something first hand is unlike any other feeling of validation.

Therefore, I told myself that this week, I would provide some pretty interesting video for everyone . So, this video will feature a story of someone who has achieved the pinnacle of the thrifting lifestyle: to furnish and fill your entire home with thrifted items. Linda Brown is a woman who frequents my local Goodwill, and is literally ALWAYS entrenched within the aisles her Goodwill barracks. I got the chance to ask her a few questions, and she spoke to me about her start in thrift, how she became interested, what are some of her most proudest thrift finds, and a few tips and tricks for any beginners at thrifting.

Speaking to Ms. Brown was more inspirational than anything, as the conversation she provided and visibly passion she exuded were contagiously infectious. My hope is that everyone can get as much joy as I did from this video of Ms. Brown and her story. It is the people like Ms. Brown who have cultivated the culture of thrift that we revel in today, and I am most certainly thankful to her, and for that culture itself, as it is so important to all of us here at the Throne of Thrift.

A Crash Course in the History of Thrift

Although everyone of this blogging community loves thrift so much, how many of us actually know it’s history? I’ve asked myself this question over the past few days as I perused every rack of my local thrift Goodwill for an entire two hours. I mean, just like anything else, the idea, concept, and culture of thrift had to come from somewhere.  Well, I figured I’d just do the work for all of you, my friends, and save you some time by turning this week long adventure of finding all of this information into a quick five minute read on while you’re on your lunchbreak. So, here what I found:

Around the early twentieth century, following World War I, a national movement of thrifting began because it had become the most efficient and affordable way to acquire clothing. It drew on both older American values and new ideas of how to respond to a changing economy and society.

The Golden Rules of Thrift

Hello again lovelies! I was thinking about all of you this week ( as I always do, of course), and the thought occurred to me: we need to set some ground rules. Operating as some fundamentals, we’re going to make a little something called our Golden Rules of Thrift. These rules will just serve as some must-haves in our thrifting community in order to be successful. Alright, here we go:

Rule One: You have to love it.

First thing first, before thinking about getting involved with thrifting and possibly becoming a thrifter, be sure to internally reflect as to whether you love the art of thrift. Thrifting is an art, as it takes patience, a keen eye, and understanding and sense for the historical styles of thrifting. If two hours spent speed-sorting through musty clothes in a garishly lit superstore while Matchbox 20 plays on the radio sounds like torture, then thrifting isn’t for you. However, if browsing  Depop in search of the best color blocking sweaters sounds like a fun way to spend your Friday night, then thrifting may be the way to go for you.

Rule Two: No polyester or stretchy plastics. Pay attention to materials!

Try to avoid plastic-y blends like the plague. They don’t look good on anyone, not even on models, and they certainly don’t hold up well over time. Always look at the tags and work on buying good, sturdy clothing made of cotton, wool, silk, or other natural fibers.

Rule Three: Know your brands.

Yes, it is true that a great piece can be made by anyone, but you know the brands that you like (or wish you had more of). This can have the added bonus of helping you with sizing, if you know what size you normally wear from the brand. I am constantly find pieces at my local Ross, Marshall’s, Nordstrum Rack, and Old Navy. My favorite brown pinstriped pants are Dockers that I got for $3. And especially if you are looking for basics (jeans, black work pants, long and short sleeved tees), go with a brand that you know you like and will last for a long time because of the quality.

Rule Four: Try on everything. Ev-er-y-thing.

Yup, this is a pain. It’s even more painful if you’re like me and fill up a cart with 30 items on those hectic 50% off and “everything with yellow tag is $1” days, when everyone camps out at the dressing rooms with their five children. But you must ALWAYS try things on when you thrift. First of all, to all my ladies reading this, you know that number sizes mean absolutely nothing. Secondly, that shirt that looked perfect on the hanger could fit you in all the wrong places and you won’t have the energy to return something that was $5.

Rule Five: Don’t go thrifting looking for anything specific.

If you go to the thrift thinking “I need an Off-White wool blend sweater with a ¾ sleeve in a medium” you will be sorely disappointed that day. Even going with a general goal of “I need light-washed jeans” could end in disappointment. Unless you are going to get clothes to wear in this Sunday’s family football game out in the backyard, in which case you should probably get those dark Wrangler Brett Farve  and the camo tank top, because when else will you be able to buy them?

Rule Six: Shop in all sections. Except underwear.

Don’t buy used underwear, guys. But do try out all the sections in the store! When I was a skinny college student, I loved buying teen boys’ clothes because they fit, were simple, sturdy, and way cheaper than women’s clothing. I’ve found great, classic button-ups in the men’s section and I’m constantly on the lookout for small suit jackets that I can wear over tees. I don’t know if this works equally well for men in the women’s section, but I don’t know your life.

Rule Seven: No alterations. No DIY.

Just because Martha Stewart said it was easy doesn’t make it so. When was the last time you sewed something? Do you even own a sewing machine? If the answer is no, then you have no business “fixing” that perfect top with the little hole in the back, or altering that maxi dress to something more fitting. Trust me, just don’t do it. Your life will be better. On a related note — no, you won’t get that stain out.

Rule Eight: Be patient, but picky.

When I was a young thrifter, I’d spent tons of time looking at every shirt on the rack, trying to make it work with my wardrobe. Now I speed through those hangers like a pro. Yeah, I might miss a find or two, but the really good things always jump out at you. Know what you like and it will come to you. And if it doesn’t, you didn’t realize it was there anyway.

Rule Nine: Take a Claritin and wash your hands.

Old clothes are musty. And old hangers are greasy and dirty. It’s kind of gross, but you are an adult who can take a shower afterwards (while your new purchases go in the wash). My allergies always act up in the big stores, so I appreciate a good allergy pill and some tissues. Don’t let it get in the way of your thrifting joy.

Rule Ten: Give back.

Once those clothes have made the rounds in your wardrobe, and you’re spring cleaning, make sure you take a nice big box back to the donation center. If you’re lazy, Freecycle it! Give it a second, third, or even fourth life.

Those are my rules and they haven’t done me wrong yet. Have your own thrifting pointers? Let us know in the comments!

Profile of Camden’s Thrift Works

So this past week, I went to two concerts in Philadelphia, Kali Uchis and BROCKHAMPTON (and of course I got merch). And while both of the shows were great, what really made the week memorable was the experience I had thrifting an outfit to wear for each concert. As you all know, I am an avid thrifter. It’s the bond that connects everyone involved in the community of this blog. However, much of my thrifting collection is a result of online thrifting. Whether through apps like Depop, Grailed, or simply buying from a reseller on Instagram, most of my thrifting is done online. But, I’ve undoubtedly come to rely on my local thrift store, Thrift Works, almost as much, and hopefully you will too.

So, as I previously mentioned, I’ve purchased from Thrift Works before, being that I am a reseller of thrifted clothing myself. So it has become an invaluable staple in the continuity of how my resale business is run. The selections inside were even more vast than anything you could imagine in comparison with the content on the Facebook page. The selections were plentiful, as I strolled the aisles in pure awe of quality of content that this shop possessed. Racks upon racks of gems like Tommy Hilfiger polos to trench coats to gear up for the brooding winter ahead of us. Although the shop’s content is seemingly endless, even stemming into a diverse children’s section in the back, here’s what I thought were some of the best features of the shop and its content:

The sign that hangs outside of the Thrift Works store as you enter. As the sign says, this particular shops specializes in thrift resale rather than vintage resale.
Photographed is the entrance of the Thrift Works store. Although there is a back entrance, customers only have access to the front entrance.
Another picture of the decorated entrance.
Getting into the holiday spirit, the shop was sporting these festive decorations in its windows.
The left window and its decorations
This is the table set up in the front of the store to greet customers as they walk in.
One of the many styles on display.
Racks, racks, and more racks of stylish clothing waitin gto be thrifted.
Shown is one of the various styles displayed within the shop as soon as you enter.
Another very chic style choice that makes this thrift shop unique in its own right.
…And more racks of clothing.
A shoe rack almost hidden in the store’s corner, this is almost the hidden gold mine of the shop in my opinion.
Another Halloiween decoration (Don’t worry, they aren’t this festive for every holiday)
A very simple but elegant striped sweater, accentuated by the slick gold neck piece.
A view from the front window of the Thrift Works shop.
Photographed here is the complimentary bag given to each customer upon completing their purchase. Additionally, every Thrift Works employee is sure to give out the 10% discount coupon off of the customer’s next purchase.
Trench coats as we gear up for the wintery days ahead of us.
A few more decorations to spook you into thrifting something.
….And more racks on top of the racks that are on top of racks….
Yes….another rack.
Keeping the Halloween spirit, the Thrift Works shop was decorated both inside and out by employees.
Shoes displayed near the front counter should be illegal, it just isn’t fair. How can you say no to a WALL of shoes?
Readying for the winter, the shop has began to display their various styles of trench coats and long sleeves.
These are images of some of the decorations in the shop’s children’s section.
A shot from one of the corner of the front of the shop.
Jewelry that’s placed in the shop’s front desk.
The Thrift Works right front window
Host to a cast selection of sport/suit jackets, Thrift Works often has the style that you need in their stock.
Here, we see some of the tee shirts from the children’s section
My favorite photo, hands down.
Okay, I may have lied. How can this view not be my favorite?
Photographed here is the design of the children’s section of Thrift Works. This is the best part of the shop in my opinion, as the attempt to genuine cater to the children is obvious, and that effort has to be appreciated.
Hi…it’s racks again.
Some of the clothing for the children in the back section of the shop.
And of course, we have to end on a picture of a rack.
Shown here is a sign posted marketing their social media to all customers. Now that you’ve seen their shop, go give them a follow and tell them that ThroneofThrift sent you.

 

Round 2: New York Location

Located at 113 Stanton St, NY, Round 2 opened another location in New York’s Lower East Side earlier this month. If you’ve followed this blog, you know how big fans we are of the Round 2 and the content that they carry.

As expected, the store’s grand opening attracted the attention of loyal customers and celebrities alike. Co-owners Sean Witherspoon, Luke Fracher, Chris Russow was joined by legendary New York graffiti artist Stash as they welcomed a crowd of resellers, vintage and thrift fanatics and Supreme collectors alike in through the store’s doors.

An Interview With Philadelphia’s Urban Exchange Project

Welcome back everyone! This week, I reached out to likely the most popular thrift shop in Philadelphia, Urban Exchange Project. Although I requested to speak with owner and founder of the shop, Eddie, I was unsuccessful in acquiring an interview. However, Urban’s Exchange’s social media page replied to my message via Instagram fairly quickly and requested for me to send any questions I had to their email and they would get back to me. Well, here’s what the shop’s response to the questions I asked:

My first question would be how do you go about keeping popular merch that you know will sell in the shop ?

– We are constantly adapting to trends— what sells fast? what are people wearing? And then our own personal opinions of “what’s cool”.

Secondly, your blog page on your website has some really interesting stories. What kind of community has that blog created for the shop and what are some of the effects from the online thrift community that you see in shop ?

– We have learned how important our impact online has been through speaking to customers at checkout and learning a lot of our customers have discovered us either on Instagram or through google! We are constantly creating a community of expression through sharing unique pieces.

Also, what was the motivation behind establishing the first shop in 2014 ? And what were some things that led to opening the Fishtown location in 2016 ?

The motivation for our first store was really based on giving back. To this day we still donate one piece of clothing for every piece purchased. In 2016 we were ready to take on something bigger and expanded our brand to Fishtown. I would say our biggest thing is not having any rules or limitations on our identity— we just grow with the flow.

Next, do you have some favorites in terms of merch that’s ever been sold or is currently in the shop ? (Both the Fishtown & Roxborough locations)

Yes! Absolutely, we have seen some crazy pieces pass through! It is so hard to pick just one piece because we really see SO many items. We have this one fur coat with Picasso faces that Rihanna wore that is part of our collection— I don’t think we will ever sell it!

What tips can you give for thrifters who come looking for the best deals in your shop ?

I would say— make sure you go through the whole rack. There are so many times I’ll find stuff hidden in the racks, the second I move it to the front it will sell.

Lastly, what can you tell the audience about future of Urban Exchange Project and what they can expect from the shop in the foreseeable future ?

Well, this November and December we are opening Pop up shop in the Gloucester Premium outlets which is huge! We are really excited to show everyone what we’ve been working on for this one. In terms of the future future— there is no limit!

 

As expected, this interview provided some great into the mind set, motivation, and ambition of a professional thrifter. The information provided by the representative of the Urban Exchange Project was invaluable to those of us who still have those childlike dreams and aspirations of selling fashionable clothes for a living. This interview shows just how fun, and possibly this actually is.

Here is a poll for everyone to vote on what their favorite part of the interview was? If not,  please feel free to respond to our email with any questions that you did not feel were answered. Through the Contact Us page, you can give any feedback, comments, or concerns and expect a response fairly soon. Thank you!

Best Social Media Thrift Shop Pages To Follow

So everyone, on this blog, we’ve talked in depth about some of the best thrift stores to check out. Last post, we spoke about some of the best thrifting blogs to check out for reasons varying from daily style updates, challenges to participate in as a beginner or novice thrifter, or how to make the best use of all the stylings of jeans that we have available to use.

But this week, I thought I’d grab the best social media page to follow for the best thrifting styles, as well as actual thrift to buy online if you have a hard time getting to an actual storefront.

And the winner is…Round Two Vintage! Probably the world’s most successful thrifting chain, Round Two is still relatively unknown in reference to general public knowledge. Unless one is involved within the thrifting community, most are unaware of its existence. However, Round Two’s credibility and quality are impeccable.

    

With storefronts in Miami, LA, New York, and Virgnia, Round Two heavily favors having an actual over the counter interaction with the customer. Relationships with the people most important to their success, their customers, are crucial to what Round Two is. More than just a thrift shop, Round Two provides an ethereal feeling of pure paradise and bliss with the massive amount of content that they have.

Although they have well-established and sought after storefront locations, Round Two’s social media is more than satisfyingly updated. As evident by their Instagram page, Round Two loves interacting and making everyone feel apart of the community. Specializing in vintage band and concert tees from around the 1980s to early/mid 2000s. Assuredly though, Round Two certainly is not lacking in the category of pop vulture clothing. The terminology used is “hypebeast”, and Round Two locations have a a enough of that to keep people coming back for the exlusive content. However, the main focus of the shop is thrifting of vintage fashion that they buy from a customer when they bring them into the store. With being their focus, as well as an authentic customer experience while in store, Round Two definitely take this spot as the best online social media page to check out for thrifting styles and possible purchase of certain items.

Shopping on a Dime

Okay, so is it just me or does “window shopping” just mean I’m too broke to buy anything ? Is anyone else’s “Save for Later” list on your favorite clothing website full of items that scream “out of my price range”.  No….just me?

All jokes aside though, that’s the beauty of thrifting. Not only the feeling of finding a gem after 20 minutes of searching through racks and racks of clothes, but also the feeling of almost thievery when you find something for literally a quarter of the retail price it would be at the store. These feelings are unlike anything else, and have become a crucial part of my motivation to be involved in the community of thrifting.

Therefore, in order to help everyone get this feeling as well, this post will feature some of the best trustworthy thrifting blogs to check out for saving some money and finding the best gems out there. Aright guys, here we go:

First off, we have Looking Fly On A Dime, which is a blog run by a woman named Patrice located in NYC. Admittedly so, she never buys anything retail, which is enough to attract us here at Throne Of Thrift by itself. Sharing very similar beliefs to this blog, she is a strong advocate of affordable shopping, but staying fabulous all the while. An example of the daily fits she provides is her year long challenge that she created for herself, where she only bought thrifted clothes for an entire year. If you would like to check out her results from this challenge, here they are.

Although focused on and featuring women’s clothing exclusively, I find that the blog still serves as inspiration and a fun read for anyone who enjoys thrifting. The blog provides great updates for what’s hot and in- style in thrift fashion at the moment.  Check it out, leave a comment, and tell let everyone know that you’re from the Throne of Thrift family!

Second, we’re looking a site called Thoughtfully Thrifted by a woman named Miranda Allen. Very simplistic and minimalistic, the site features fun but necessary articles about where the benefits of thrifting can be most important. Also featuring post about travel essentials and interior design (much to our delight), the site incorporates all of the things we love here at Throne of Thrift. With almost weekly post , the blog is great for keeping up with everything that interests you, but all in one place.

The site also has interior rugs for sale, which is just the cherry on top in my opinion for those interested in interior, as I am. So check out this blog, it’s definitely a good one.

Third, we have reStitch.com. This particular is great for tips about thrifting and making the best of the clothes that you already have. This article about the different styles of jeans and how to make the most of them is my personal favorite. Sometimes it can be hard to remember all of the different styling of jeans with DIY distressing, cuffing, accessorizing, and a list of other things to bolster the look of the jeans.

The site has all kinds of great tips for keeping up with the best tips and tricks for making an inexpensive look seem like a million bucks. Check out some of these articles and  be sure to come back to comment on this post with some ideas you picked up that we may have missed.