First Thrift Outing

Friday morning it thunderstormed--the kind of thunder you think is an earthquake and the kind of rain that drums on the roof like incessant fingers tapping. It rumbled and roared outside and I, half asleep and embroiled in a dream, thought it was a giant truck, running over everything in its path.
That is how I woke up--sweating from the never-ending New York summer heat and thinking that a giant truck was about to run my building down. There's nothing like a leisurely Friday morning.


My thrifting mission on Friday was to find shoes. Good black shoes that I could wear to work--flats or heels, it didn't matter as long as they were comfortable. The first stop on my trip was Buffalo Exchange. Although I wouldn't exactly call it a thrift shop, as it's buy, sell and trade, I'd definitely call it a second-hand store and therefore it qualifies as recycled fashion. This one is in Manhattan, located at 114 W. 26th Street at 6th Ave.


I like this Buffalo Exchange. Although it didn't have any blatant sales, no half off deals or sale racks that I saw, it's prices were reasonable for almost-good-as-new, cute clothes. The average price for a blouse was $8-10. I have a hard time buying things for more than $7 at second-hand stores, just because I like to get the best deal possible, so I didn't end up getting any shoes or blouses or pants. I did however score an awesome little dress for $6 and a skirt that I can use for work for $7.50. That is my kind of deal.


The second stop on my trip was Goodwill which had a pretty good selection of dresses and blouses as well as jeans, although I thought the prices were a little bit steep. $7.99 and up for blouses and $12.99 and up for dresses. In normal person world, those are awesome deals, but for me they are a little too much. I did pick out a few things that I was going to try on, but then realized if I did I'd probably like them enough to buy them and rent was due the next week so frivolous spending was not in my budget at the time. I would definitely go to this Goodwill again though.


Interestingly, Buffalo Exchange had comprable prices to Goodwill.


On my way home I saw a New York Public Library flag flying on a building and as sweat built on the back of my neck and my lower back, I thought, what luck! A cool air-conditioned library to do some blogging! But alas, after I went up the stairs to where I thought the entrance was, and opened the door (the handle should have tipped me off--it was shaped into a metal skull) I glimpsed a bunch of buff men with their shirts off and realized that I'd just walked into a gym. It's very strange, walking into a gym when you're expecting a library.


Anyways--here are links to Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill:


http://www.buffaloexchange.com/index.php?pg=25&id=26
The one I went to is located in Chelsea.


http://www.goodwillny.org/
The one I went to is located at 103 W. 25th St. at 6th Ave.

On this day, June 26, 2012, I, The Thrift Monster, am taking a vow to buy only used clothes (with the exception of underwear, bras and socks) until August 26, 2012. At the end of these 2 months, I will evaluate what I have learned about thrifting and perhaps extend my vow for another 2 months and then perhaps another 2 months and then maybe another 2 months. Join me on my journey!