Come Thrifting With Me: Fair Oaks Thrift Town

Thrift Town was the very first thrift store I visited in Sacramento. I moved into our house a month before the household goods arrived. I slept on an air mattress, in an empty room, with the five cats. This was the perfect time to have the floors redone (tile in place of carpet and the hardwood repaired and refinished). It was also the perfect time to repaint the front room. It was a sickly green color and I wanted it white. I bought my painting clothes at Thrift Town because I didn’t think to ship myself grubbies from Cincinnati.

Even, then, just shopping for clothes to ruin, I was impressed with Thrift Town’s size and selection. It’s large, well-lit, well-organized, and clean. I’m not surprised that it’s voted best thrift shopping by the community year after year. Come see for yourself! Let’s go thrifting . . .


Panties and Girdles
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. No. I love to thrift, but there are a few things I only buy new: bras, underwear, tights, socks, and leggings. I could do a better job purchasing all of those from more sustainable companies, though. I’ve recently started reading the EcoCult blog and found recomendations for 16 ethical and sustainable lingerie brands. I’ll save my pennies. (I do buy used slips. In fact I LOVE dead old lady slips. So, I guess I’m not a total used lingerie snob.)


Short Coats and Jackets
I had a denim jacket on my wishlist for this trip. I found a Jessica Simpson jacket with cropped sleeves to try on. I also put an olive Free People jacket in my cart, hoping I could get my regular sized arms into extra small sleeves.


Sweats
Normally, I skip sections of clothing that may have been previously sweated in. However, I’ve been on a hoodie kick lately and I thought I’d see what I could find. This striped sweatshirt is labeled a size large, but I plucked it from the rail hoping it would be slouchy rather than sloppy.


Skirts
I had high hopes for the skirt shopping since there is not one, not two, but THREE skirt sections: “Skirts,” “Mini Skirts & Short Skirts,” and “Long Skirts.” I was hoping for a denim skirt to replace my favorite, but now ripped and trashed, skirt from Ecothrift. I was also hoping for something really weird in the long skirts. Sadly, I was disappointed on both fronts. (And I didn’t even look in the regular “Skirts” section because: BORING!)


Shoes
The shoes at Thrift Town are organized by type: boots, dress, and casual. Within each type, they are organized by color. How nifty is that?

I found some Carlos Santana western mules to add to my cart and some candy striper oxfords to just laugh at. (My phone’s autocorrect kept trying to change “candy striper” to “candy stripper,” but I think that’s a totally different thing. And that these shoes would not suit a stripper.)


Sweaters
It’s been unusually cold in Sacramento, so I looked through the sweaters. I have a really hard time looking at red clothing at the thrift store, including red sweaters, because when all the different reds are grouped together, it just makes my head hurt. So, I looked at blue sweaters instead and picked out a navy and white striped, hooded sweater to try on.


Dresses
There are three skirt sections and three dress sections at Thrift Town! The dresses are categorized by Long Sleeve, Sleeveless, and Short Sleeve. I browsed them all. I was not at all impressed with the red number, below, found in the Long Sleeve section. I will admit, “long sleeve” is an accurate description - for the single sleeve it possesses. It’s a bit lacking in the “dress” department, though.I also found an open weave, white dress/tunic (pictured below) and a sleeveless, black Jones New York dress (pictured in the dressing room later in this post).


Vintage
I wasn’t tempted to do anything but laugh at the offerings in the Vintage section. Most of it was stuff-you’d-find-at-the-end-of-a-yard-sale quality. This red velvet, mod dress would make a great Halloween costume, though.


Dressing Room
Here we go!



It’s difficult to tell from this picture, but the extra small Free People jacket gives me sausage arms. I couldn’t even pull the sleeves all the way on.


Speaking of sleeves, I thought I’d hate the cropped length of the Jessica Simpson denim jacket sleeves, but I don’t. I like how they showcase a longer sleeved item beneath. I’m undecided, though, so I ask Facebook and Instagram for guidance.


The size large hoodie is perfect for my Popeye arms! Never trust size labels, people!


The navy and white sweater is droopy and meh. The open weave tunic, though, is a possibility. It’s an odd choice for me (mostly because I don’t buy much white), but has much layering potential.


While I’m awaiting the verdict from my Facebook and Instagram peeps, I start making outfits with the denim jacket. It’s like naming a puppy. As soon as you do that, you know it’s coming home with you.


The black, Jones New York shirtdress is a perfect fit! Maybe a little long, but I’m going to try this length for a few wearings.

Now on to . . .

Housewares
I’m just browsing, but I found a cobalt glass to buy and a Teletubbies bowl to giggle at.


Furniture
While I was in the store, a woman brought this furniture in as a donation and it was priced and on the floor within 20 minutes. I was seriously impressed. And seriously considering buying all three pieces. However, I just sold our dining table and chairs and am trying to minimize the items in the house. So, I let these go:


I bought everything pictured in the dressing room (except the navy and white striped sweater), the mules, and the glass. (BTW: Facebook and Instagram agreed that the denim jacket was a "go.") My total: $39.90.

Thrift Town has been a reliable thrifting option for me for four years and counting! What it lacks in really weird stuff, it makes up for in quality and selection.

Check back tomorrow to see me wearing the open weave tunic! (I will wash it first.)

Come Thrifting With Me: 55th Street Ecothrift

To truly experience thrift bliss, one mustn’t go into the store with a specific desire. Instead, approach the rails with a receptive mind, idly slide hangers, appreciate the weird, seize the serendipitous. It’s meditative.

Want to see what I found while om-ing?


Scarves and Belts
Upon entering Ecothrift, the scarves are immediately on the right (just past the dressing rooms and restroom) and the belts are around the corner. I thought I was going to find a scarf, but, instead, ended up with a belt that caught my eye when I parked my cart. I wasn’t expecting a trucker themed leather belt, but it was expecting me.


Vests
Some stores tuck the vests in with the jackets or the sleeveless tops, but Ecothrift has an entire vest section! I found two down-filled vests. The first was a reversible Nike vest. The second was a vintage Levi’s ski vest. As tempted as I was by the Levi’s vest, I left it behind. It looked worn and the Nike vest was brand new. I also preferred the dark color since I plan to wear the vest on muddy dog walks. The Levi’s vest will find it’s proper home with someone hipper and cleaner than I.


Shoes
There is no shoe section at Ecothrift. Instead, all the shoes are lined up on shelves above the rails. This makes for a rather frustrating shopping experience. The boots were easy to find, though. I found a beautiful pair - in a size 6. Sad face. But I can’t imagine they’ll be hanging there for long!


Ponchos, Shawls, Wraps
It’s not labelled, but at the tail end of the coat section, all the drapey outerwear is together: ponchos, shawls, wraps, etc. I was actually wearing a poncho I thrifted at this very store! Otherwise, I might have taken the gray, high-necked poncho home with me. I was tempted by the fur stole, if only to give it some love. And the pink and red wrap reminded me of a similar, all-pink one I owned as a girl. I did not have the desire to repeat the experience.


Alternative
I’m pretty sure this section used to be labelled “Vintage.” Perhaps it would be better described as “Weird Shit No One But Hippies Will Buy.” Of course, I loved digging through this section and noting the weirder pieces.

The suede jacket with the faux fur collar reminded me of Sheila of Ephemera, so, I put it into my basket to try on. Although I admired the white sweater dress, and had fun imagining the 1980’s winter bride who might have worn it, I put it back. And I just laughed at the Halloween vest. (That was very mean of me.)


Premium
All the nicest stuff is on a rack in the front of the store: new-with-tags, designer goods, trendy pieces. It’s also the most expensive section. I found $99 True Religion jeans (worn) and Pour la Victoire boots (unworn but also unpriced). I’m not impressed by brand names, but I usually at least paw through this section. I did find a top to try on.


Dressing Room
Here we go!



Nike vest ($6.98) is a winner! I’m undecided on the vintage suede jacket ($9.98)


I think I’m willing to pay $14.96 for this NWT Sun & Shadow vest/shirt from the premium section.


I LOVE this button-back Gibson sweater for $2.98!!!!!!
My shorts MO (whether in a thrift or regular store) is to ignore the tags and just give the shorts a visual inspection before trying on. The sizing on shorts is so wonky and I like them big. In fact, at Forever 21, I just dig to the bottom of the pile and grab the largest pairs to try on. My shorts are preferably slouchy and always with a wide leg opening. There’s nothing worse than sitting down and having the hem bisect your upper thigh. With these sizing issues in mind, I tried on 6 pairs of cutoff denim shorts but only 2 made the cut for pictures and, eventually, purchase.


The Free People distressed shorts were only $3.74 after discount. The 7 For All Mankind shorts were $4.99 after discount. Score!
I bought everything pictured in the dressing room and the trucker belt. My total: $49.27.

I love the zen of thrifting. I initially entered Ecothrift with the plan to find a rust colored, corduroy miniskirt and was disappointed. I was too focused on a goal. Eventually, I let go of my wants, entered the thrift zone, and found so many other treasures I wasn’t expecting.

Check back tomorrow to see me wearing some of my new items!