secondhandwardrobe.com » Mistakes

Don’t Bring the Creeps Home with You

Cheryl — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:02:51 +0000

My friend Joanne recently emailed me to say that she feels “kinda ‘funny’ about wearing someone else’s clothes (you know, vibes and spirits from the original owner). But”, she went on to write, “in today’s economy, perhaps I should re-think that.” She raises an interesting point. In general, if something gives me the heebie-jeebies, I stay away from it. Put another way, I believe that my intuition always works in my favor. I have made my best decisions when I’ve paid attention to it, and my worst ones when I’ve ignored it. So I try to pay attention. When I run into something in a thrift store that gives me the creeps, I leave the item there, even if it’s really, really inexpensive, and I really, really like it. That being said, in all the years I’ve been thrift store shopping, it’s only happened a few times. Once I brought home a sweater that had an unpleasant feel about it. I washed it and wore it a few times. It continued to give me the creeps, so I donated it back to the thrift store. I don’t know if my unpleasant feeling had to do with something physical about the sweater (itchy fiber? not quite the right color?), or if I really was picking up the vibe from a former owner. At that point, it didn’t matter to me what was bothersome about the garment because I’d gotten my two dollars and fifty cents worth out of it.

Your Mistake, My Treasure

Cheryl — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:20:58 +0000

My New Treasure

Most of my wardrobe is secondhand, but I occasionally sew myself a new garment. Since I don’t have a lot of time to sew, I want these items to turn out wonderfully—but life doesn’t always work the way I want it to. I once spent forever altering a jeans pattern, thinking I could make it fit perfectly. Unfortunately, the finished jeans looked like they were sprayed on. I could barely breathe in them, even though the addition of lycra to the fabric blend made them stretchy. I also once made myself a jacket that I painstakingly hand quilted only to find that all those stitches made the material so stiff that it hung on my body like cardboard. I donated those two garments to my local thrift store. That way somebody else could enjoy my work.

But sometimes the tables get turned. Just last week I became the one who gets to enjoy somebody else’s work. I paid two dollars for a hand crocheted sweater that looks like it’s never been worn. Could it have been an unwanted present, or did the person who made it find that it just wasn’t right after they sewed on the last carefully selected button? The sweater isn’t revealing its origin, so I’ll never know. I’ll just have to wear it and enjoy.

Step Away from the Purple Pants

Cheryl — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:34:25 +0000

Just the other day, I searched through racks and racks of used clothing and found no treasures. The resulting frustration led me to go have a second look at the funky purple pants that I know I won’t wear and the black shirts that I have too many of already. I managed to pass up both the pants and the shirts, but wound up bringing home a soft, cuddly, brand new and beautifully made sweater that’s in a rust color that unfortunately makes me look like I just threw up. I’m not exaggerating about how the color looks on me—I wore it for the first time and my husband asked me if I felt OK.

When I look and don’t find, I am usually happy walking out the door with my hands empty. Next time I have the urge to linger and keep looking, I’ll remember the rust sweater.

Watch Out–Wacky Secondhand Clothing Ahead!

Cheryl — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:34:26 +0000

It’s easy to shop for clothes at Sears and come out with a boring wardrobe. Generally, those of us who love dressing secondhand don’t have that problem, but there are other style dangers that lurk when we go out sniffing around for used bargains.

For one, we have to be vigilant in avoiding clothing that’s stained, torn or looks worn in other ways. That means carefully examining all items before plunking down your two dollars and fifty cents. For another, and I don’t know how to put this delicately, no clothing has the potential for being as goofy looking as clothing from a thrift store. There are so many strange things at secondhand stores, from sweaters with massive 3-D Christmas trees to MC Hammer balloon pants. Don’t get me wrong—I love goofy, but a little goes a long way.

Cobwebby Treasure

Cheryl — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:34 +0000

After my friend Shirley lost her wonderful father, 19 years ago, she wanted something of her dad’s that would keep him close. She brought home a few of his big, baggy shirts and whenever she feels down, she puts one on and it comforts her.

Shirley also brought home her father’s golf clubs even though she has never played golf nor does she have any interest in the game. The bag, clubs and various accessories are still in the cobwebby corner of her basement where she plopped them down 19 years ago.

When I recently visited Shirley, I had a look at the golf set. The plastic golf bag is torn, but there’s also a pushcart, a few dozen balls and fourteen clubs. Everything is dusty and cobwebby, but except for the golf bag, it all appears to be in good shape.

Somebody else could be enjoying the set that her dad used with such pleasure. My family is planning a yard sale this summer. Wish me luck—I’m going to try to convince my good friend to dust off the golf set and join us in passing our things on to other people who will love them.