About My Thrifting Adventure in New York

In case you were worried that my singular successful thrifting trip in a small German town had turned me into a conceited thrifting know-it-all, you can breathe and relax now. All my illusions were shattered in New York City. I may be one of the worst thrifting newbies out there…

Even though my plan was really simple. Theoretically. I was going to take the New York City thrifting scene by storm, find the gems of a lifetime and go home calling myself a thrifting genius. So I googled “thrift stores manhattan nyc”, hoping to find something close to our hotel. I came across this and rejoiced.

I only checked out two of these stores (mistake #1?), because I did not want to make my entire trip about thrifting (mistake #2?). Cadillac’s Castle was beyond intimidating. First of all, it said “Designer Consignment” on the door. Red Flag? In this case, yes. Everything was out if my price range (at least the items where I even dared to touch the price tag. That store was most certainly not a thrift store…).

No Relation Vintage was more like what I was looking for. I browsed a little and even tried on two skirts (improvement #1). But everyone there looked infinitely cooler than me and I convinced myself that they knew what they were doing and that I did not (mistake #3?). So I left the store after about 10 minutes to go some place selling non-used clothes and lick my wounds/reinstate my shopping ego.

A few days later, we ventured into Williamsburg, Brooklyn (wonderful, wonderful place). First a stop at Salvation Army on Bedford Avenue. I almost (mistake # 4?) tried on a dress. My friend bought a jacket (success #1). Then we went to Beacon's Closet, a clothing exchange store I’d read about in magazine. Hands down the prettiest used clothing store I have ever seen. Huge, too, so make sure you have plenty of time if you ever go there (WHICH YOU SHOULD). I tried on 10 items (IMPROVEMENT #2). That was the limit, I would have gone back for a second trip, but we felt like we did not have enough time (mistake #5?). BUT I bought a Free People dress for $21.95 (success #2). I didn’t have a belt with me, so it looked a little weird when I tried it on, but I convinced myself that it would work. Actually, no. I just really wanted to buy something in that store. And then say “Oh, I got this in a thrift/vintage store in New York City”. So against my better judgement, I bought it. HOWEVER, things worked out wonderfully, and when belted, the dress looked way better than I’d even dared to dream…(good fortune #1). 

Belt Anthropologie, shoes Alfani (via Macy's)

That was the extent of my thrifting in NYC, and then there was a little thrifting in New York State… Found this ring at a consignment store and had to buy it (success #3), because it was so sparkly, even though I had told myself to stop buying costume jewelry (so that there is at least the slight chance that I might be able to afford the real thing one day. You know how it goes). 

 Then a trip to the Goodwill, where some of my friends made very clear that they would rather be anywhere but there (bringing them = mistake #6!!!). I didn’t even try anything on. But my other friend bought a cute purse (success #4).

So that was the exciting tale of my thrifting attempts in New York. I’m sorry this post got a little long, I guess I got a little carried away…