BackGarage » Thrift Score: Loot from Unique

Thrift Score: Loot from Unique

Vintage teak bowl, $5.

Nothing soothes the soul like some good old fashioned thrifting. I haven’t been to the Unique on Sheridan in months, and I seriously felt a spring in my world-weary step as I approached the dirty doors yesterday in the rain. Ah the flourescent white glow of thrift store track lighting — how it warms my heart!

If you follow me on Twitter (and you should), you saw the mobile picture I took of these vintage dish towels. For ages I was looking in the wrong place for small linens and thought this Unique never had vintage dish towels — but check out that stash! All under $3, which is way less than you’d pay for totally less-cute towels even on sale at Target or Walmart.

I was ecstatic with my finds — a swank new blazer and dress pants, a sweet army green linen skirt, a pair of combat boots (look, I’ve been craving them), and a white blouse — and folks, let me tell you something: yes, Unique has no dressing rooms. But thrift long enough and you know what fits you just by eyeballing it. Everything I bought fit perfectly. Because I followed these two rules:

Don’t buy something just because you like the style. It may be just what you’re looking for in just the right color, but It has to fit, or put it back.
Be honest about what fits you. You know your size, so check the tag first. Then hold it up to your waist, your legs — pretend like you’re about to put it on. Ladies, you know what a pair of pants that fits you looks and feels like. You know it deep down in your soul.

You can wear tight clothes and try stuff on in the store, but after a decade of thrift store shopping, most women can buy clothes like men — right off the racks. In fact thrift store shopping like this has changed the way I stop at stores like Kohl’s or H&M. I’m much more aware of my size and body shape, so I waste less time in the dressing room stretching out clothes that don’t stand a chance.

Oh, you know, these were $6.99.

But you didn’t come here to talk about clothes. I leave the garment talk to my favorite fashion blogger, Amber from Painfully Hip (which is like the BackGarage of the fashion world: go there, now). So let’s on with the rest of the sweet loot.

These vintage green chip and dip sets are great — and totally ubiquitous. So much so in fact that I think it’s odd if I visit a Unique or Village Discount and there isn’t one in the housewares section. Sometimes they come with a frame that balances the little bowl on top of the big one. I use mine as a planter.