Thrifting is one of my favorite activities. I like to spend a few hours on Saturday mornings looking through racks of clothing in dingy little stores hoping for the perfect find. It is part hunt and part research. I search for bargains and get a chance to see a lot of clothing that I would probably never otherwise come across. For instance, this morning I saw a really interesting Gant suit. I had to pass as it was not my size, but it was fun to check it out. I am going to start featuring some of my thrift store finds here from time to time. I thought a good place to start would be with ties.
Ties are something that I always look for when I am thrifting. The main reason for this is that they only come in one size (ok, there are long, children’s, and clip-ons too). The other reason is that ties with traditional patterns are very mainstream. Both of these reasons center around availability. Simply put, there are more of them.
The ties I decided to feature first are my Wool tartan ties. Actually, I am not sure if the tie on the left is a tartan. I am going to have to do a little research ( I have been looking for a good book on tartans). I like all of these ties a lot. I didn’t pay more than $3 for the most expensive one. All of them are in very good condition(the middle one is almost dead stock) and are all 100% wool.
One of my favorite parts of thrifting is looking at labels.
These ties were great finds. I have to think that they are such good finds because I stuck to the rules of thrifting. There are only three rules, but following them really helps to improve the quality of your purchases. Here is a quick overview of the rules.
- Never buy anything that doesn’t fit. This sounds easy, but controlling the urge toe “make it work” is hard.
- Never buy anything that is stained, worn, or tore beyond repair. This rule might be more for me ( I have bought these type items and never used them).
- This rule is just for me. Only buy articles of clothing that are 100% natural fiber. Again, this rule is just for me. It is not only my preference, but helps me get a sense of the item’s quality
Follow these rules and you will end up with some great new additions to your wardrobe (like my ties!). Another thing to remember is that time and patience are key. In order to be successful you must spend time thrifting and be able to continue on even after multiple unsuccessful trips. If you can stick to these rules, are a patient person and have more time then money, then I would give thrifting a try. It is fun and can be very rewarding.