OH BOY am I an impulse shopper. It literally pains me to walk away from an item that would easily get along so so well with the rest of the cloths in my closet. They'd probably even be best friends. However, if it's going to break the bank...don't buy it. It's hard, but don't. I have probably 6-10 pieces that I couldn't live without and I knew from the moment I tried them on that they'd last forever. If you don't feel this feeling immediately...it's a good sign to walk away. The thing I try to remember while temporarily blinded by the gorgeousness of the dress (or whatever it is I'm currently lusting over) is, "will I want to wear this in two years?" A lot could change in two years...and would I still wear this piece then? If so, it's probably a good idea to make the purchase. Leave the walking away for trendier pieces that will eventually go out of style.
just walk away...
With that said...I am a clothing recycling extraordinaire. Because I have limited spacing, I rotate clothing. I keep pieces that are out of season (currently summer pieces) in my storage unit in Nashville. However, many items I own I can wear year-round with the help of layering. Therefore, I try to keep a pretty stocked closet. If I haven't worn the item in a long time or I tend to always pass over it when choosing an outfit, eventually it's put in the "sell" bin. After a few months, that bin begins to fill. Eventually, I go through the bin observing each piece and if I still feel no love for it, I opt to sell it.
Selling Your Pieces
If you want to get the most money possible, it requires time and patience. In Nashville, that would mean hitting up stores like Designer Finds first. Designer Finds is a consignment store and here, they sift through you clothing and choose pieces that would sell best in their store. I love stores like this because they choose quality items and sell them at a decent price. These women have perfected this process and truly know what each item is typically worth. However, keep in mind that there is no monetary transaction when handing your clothing over to them. If you're a lover of instant gratification, this is a hard thing to do. Instead of buying the pieces from you, they let the pieces sell themselves. After 100 days, they give you a percentage of the $$$ they make off of your items (usually in check form) and return the items that don't sell. Be sure to call ahead and make an appointment, as they are very selective.
After hitting up the consignment shops, I head to clothing exchange in Hillsboro Village. Although they are picky as well, they're not necessarily the kings and queens of style. This is frustrating when they're offering to purchase a $130 DVF shirt for $10. NOT HAPPENING. Besides of lack of designer knowledge, an upside is that they pay you immediately in cash for your clothing. This is great when you need instant cash in hand. Finally, with whatever pieces I have left, I go to Plato's Closet in Cool Springs. They take just about everything off your hands although you get less money for it. I typically give them whatever they don't buy from me, and they donate it to charity.
In NYC...I used to travel to Brooklyn to hit up Beacon's Closet and Buffalo Exchange in Williamsburg. BUT NOW...there is a Buffalo Exchange in the East Village (11th btwn 1st and and)...HOW CONVENIENT!
**The next step in the recycling process would be re-use. and because I'm a lover of vintage clothing, I have established some rules for shopping vintage:
1) If there is ANYTHING you dislike about it, don't buy it.
I often find that a single stain or perhaps a sizing issue deterred me from later wearing the garment or simply never taking it to get altered. Because it was previously owned, it should be in as good condition as possible.
2) If you have a hard time parting with it, BUY it.
Although this almost completely contradicts what I previously stated, it's a good thing to remember. If you love the coat (or whatever it is) and there isn't anything wrong with it...BUY IT. This isn't a mass-produced piece and you'll probably never come across it again. It's the worst when you pass on something fantastic and then it's gone.
3) Stick to pieces you know you'll wear
For me, this is usually t-shirts, coats, purses, and scarves. Sometimes I'll occasionally buy a dress or perhaps a pair sunglasses but I know if I buy shoes or a hat...i'll never wear them. This is a personal choice when it comes to vintage. Many people I know won't buy vintage at all simply b/c of it's previous ownership. For me, I buy lots and lots of t-shirts and scarves. I, also, have a few great coats and purses.
Favorite Vintage Shops...ever:
Savant Clothing - Nashville, TN (615-385-0356)
Flashback - Nashville, TN (615-321-5326)
Zachary's Smile - West Village, NYC (212-924-0604)
The Dressing Room - Lower East Side, NYC (212-966-7330)
Stella Dallas Star - Greenwich Village, NYC(212-674-0447)
What Comes Around Goes Around -Soho, NYC (212-343-9303)
Screaming Mimis - Soho, NYC (212-677-2464)
