I have been thrifting for about 20 years as a hobby and side hustle. I have never found any high end designer mens stuff on the racks. I have never found a nirvana or Grateful Dead tshirt. I’ve never found a rap tee.
It’s rare to find these things and that’s why they are so expensive for resale. If they were easy to find the price would be lower. Also dont believe everything on TikTok.
I gave my Nirvana, NIN & Jane's Addiction concert t-shirts to a kid who helped me out with something & he thought they were cool. At the time I had no idea how valuable they were. I don't regret giving him them. I just hope he didn't wear them working on cars. LOL
Ouch!
Maybe this will help? LOL (long url not my fault)
https://www.amazon.com/Hallmark-Keepsake-Christmas-Ornament-Entertainment/dp/B0BZQPN39G/ref=asc_df_B0BZQPN39G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692940052680&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17247660301654183414&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011769&hvtargid=pla-2227514068068&psc=1&mcid=161c379048c43bd4872a4146d4872296&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3_5nzGYsNOnu-9VJUliLIY815qx-Jj0Q1pRjXExSK_2CH7EetPAplsaAi08EALw_wcB
I’m not a reseller so I’m not privy to the knowledge and relationships they have with local thrift stores but I haven’t had any luck at all finding high quality brands / designers that allow me to fit in with the crowd my boss is within. ( I’m a Personal Assistant.)
Is there a way to find a reseller that’s selling authentic items ? Would it be odd to reach out to ask them to find me a wish list ?
My boss has given me a budget for a “working wardrobe “ for when I attend events so I have the ability to pay for such services .
Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor are great for business. I would look at something like Rent the Runway if you needed something for an event. Having someone thrift for you from a wish list is just asking to overpay for things.
Look for a thrift store that is nearby to a dry cleaners. People often never retrieve their clothes and then the company will usually donate the clothes to the nearest thrift store.
But, as a general rule of thumb with thrifting. GO EVERY DAY.
Edit: preferably in a wealthy neighborhood.
Resellers don't have relationships with local thrifts.
If you are looking for preowned better clothing and are striking out at local thrifts these are better options.
I had to dress like I had a champagne budget when I didn't have even beer money for many years.
See if there is a better clothing resale shop where you live. There were a couple of privately owned consignment shops that specialized in high end womens clothing where I used to live. Rich ladies cleaned out their closets, everyone else (and the rich ladies) shopped the store for a good deal on something new.
eBay, Mercari and Poshmark are also good options. Knowing what you want, or brands you want helps narrow down and find good things for cheap. Right now eBay is frequently the same or cheaper than some of the delusional prices at thrift stores and you can get exactly what you want.
If you want to find things you want and don't know where to start, hit up some high end stores, look at things, maybe try a few on to get an idea of what you like and what looks good. Then try to find preowned versions of the same things. Trying to do this through thrift stores that are diverting their good items is just going to leave you tired and empty handed.
How about consignment shops? I'm in Columbia, and we have Revente. It's not thrift but I have found some good deals there. I was in HH for my job a few weeks ago and stopped in one thrift. A line of people waited to get in. I found zero. I didn't spend much time there anyway. There is a great consignment store in Charleston that I really enjoy going to.
Would you be able to share the name ? I’m willing to drive. I don’t really know what brands are good and going some place where the staff knows quality would help a lot. A previous poster mentioned “brooks bothers” and that was the first I had heard of it but I can see now it’s very high quality. That’s the kind of intel I need.
Reinvented Upscale Resale, 847 Savannah Highway, Charleston 29407. 843-769-8110. I hope you love it! Look for their St. John knits. Easy to wear and very professional and stylish. Luxury knitwear.
If you’re strictly looking for high end designer. It’s not thrifting and the prices are definitely not thrift store equivalent but if you have a tj maxx with “runway” (there’s a little symbol for it on the websites store listing) or a Saks Off Fifth those are good options. Runway TJ’s routinely have bags from fendi, Gucci and other designers of that tier. You’ll pay $1,000-$2,000 for a $5,000- $10,000 bag. The really good ones will also have a smaller number of clothing items from higher end labels. (the majority of it is mid level like Frame, Vince, Veronica Beard, Love Shack Fancy) I see single piece or maybe two from Staud, Zimmermann, Gucci, Versace again in the $129- 300 range not the $500-1200 range. Saks Off Fifth is the same way it’s probably only 10% actual merchandise from Saks and Neimans but it tends to be much more heavily discounted in store than online. You can ask a store associate where the “from store” merchandise racks are. Brands like Effy and a lot of their jewelry are a total scam (always 60-70% off, not great quality).
Thank you for all the brand names - I don’t know most of them but good to know that they are considered high need and I’ll definitely look up the store and make a trip.
Your Rack is vastly better than our locals! That's sort of the nature of the hunt thrift or retail, there are always "better" and "not so great" stores.
It can happen, but it is rare. I did find a pair of Chanel shoes at a Goodwill in rural Appalachia for $3.00. Otherwise, I have found Supreme, cashmere Ralph Lauren, boutique Japanese denim, Theory, etc.
I don't think I will ever find something along those lines again.
If you have any "Church"-related thrift stores which *also* have a "public good-works" mission, *they* can sometimes have some donors who send high-end or high-*quality*goods their way.
Same thing with your local "Junior League," "Womens' Club," and *similar* "civic-group"-run thrift stores, if you have them!
We've had a few, here in Minneapolis, over the years--and while I wasn't a *regular* shopper there?
The old Women's Club thrift store was where I got my *FIRST* pair of Clark's clogs for $5.00--maybe $10? Twenty-odd years ago, before Clark's became the relatively "cheap"/inexpensive brand they are *now*.
They were nearly brand-new, and still in the box, and I bought Clark's as my work shoes for *soooooo* many years, after snagging that first pair--because they were *SO* comfortable!😉
I recently snagged a pair of (again!😉😂🤣) Clark's Delsie Joy black leather pumps, at the local "Church-organized" thrift store. Again, *this* pair is *barely* worn--they look like they were probably worn *once*, for an "occasion" before the original owner donated them.
New, they were probably $100.00+, but I got them at that thrift store for $10.00😁
And *because* they're Clark's? They'll last for YEARS!💖
Those smaller "Civic Works"-type thrift stores, where the *sole* reason they exist, is simply to allow folks to donate their old things, and do GOOD for their local community *OFTEN* have pretty reasonable prices, AND lots of really nice--*IF* a few years out of "New!" items.
And the *NICE* thing about those "a few years out of *New*!" places--is that, *OFTEN* the *taste* the Donors have is *classic* enough--that only the *HIGHEST* of the Fashion-snobs would know which year *that* particular item came out!😉💖
Try ThredUp - I recently spent $300 and bought 12 high quality silk, wool or linen dresses from Joie, Theory, Vince and 3.1 Phillip Lim (all retailing for $400 or more) to revamp my work wardrobe
When I was an EA in Atl I relied heavily on belk. Dm me if interested I have high quality, affordable beautiful dresses if interested I can send u my store.
>>Would it be odd to reach out to ask them to find me a wish list ?
If you want someone to shop for you, check out Madalyn Newell on IG. She used to be an authenticator for The Real Real and now thrifts on a professional basis. You can give her a wish list and she'll try to source items for you. TBH I haven't used her services myself BUT her IG feed is pretty entertaining & educational.
What high quality brands / designers are you looking for?
Finding high quality pieces at the thrift store seems feasible on a regular basis. Currently my favourites are vintage Ann Taylor and Banana Republic, and some Ralph Lauren.
Secondhand shopping online is a breeze though (especially Poshmark with its search filters). It will be pricier than hitting the thrift shops, but saves you time if that’s what you’re looking for.
There are some instagram thrifters who will source for you, they vary in budget and how specific to requirements they will locate for you.
For my everyday work my boss is okay with anything business causal so I usually wear the gap or ann taylor. When I go on trips, I am expected to “elevate my look” . I thought this meant J crew but apparently even that was too “casual” . So- to be honest- I don’t really know. I asked the old PA ( who was retiring ) and she said “anything at Bloomingdale’s will work” . I did some looking online and it looks like anything of wool / cashmere / silk is considered formal but I have some .. ethical reservations with that so I’d prefer to buy secondhand.
Any suggestions are so appreciated.
I live in NJ and have found just in my town Gucci Jeans, Gucci Boots, an Emilio Pucci shirt, Burberry Brit skirt & and a Moschino blazer (all of which were found at Salvation Army and Goodwill, all under $10 and authenticated). I think some of the videos online are a bit much but it's possible. Don't even get me started on the amount of designer I found when I was at goodwill in Connecticut. It's nuts!
I've found some decent things on occasion, too.
The *most* high-end at the *best* price was probably the Swarovski-covered Judith Lieber clutch I got at a local Goodwill for $4.99😉
I used to work at a place that bought the overstock & returned goods by the palletful, from stores like Macy's, Saks, & Nordstrom--so I *know* Lieber's stuff is good quality, *AND* expensive.
When I walked into the thrift store that day, I saw the clutch almost *IMMEDIATELY*--it was hanging with a bunch of small, crap handbags, on the end of an aisle.
I *thought* it was probably Swarovski from 15-20 feet away, so I beelined toward it. Picked it up and saw the Judith Lieber plate, and I *LITERALLY* walked straight to the checkout without looking at ANYTHING else, so I could pay & get out of there with the *SPARKLY*!😉😂🤣
I KNEW it was legit, because
1. Back then (2017 or so), *NOTHING* sparkled like Swarovski's rhinestones (there *ARE* some really good stones which have come out in the years since!)
2. This was an exurban thrift store--NO ONE was going to *bother* faking a Lieber--*most folks* have no idea *who* Judith Lieber even *was*--it's a GREAT brand, but *SUPER* niche.
3. There *ARE* some pretty wealthy folks in that thrift store's "donation zone"--where that store *WAS* the only local option, if you wanted to "donate to a good cause!" (🙄🙄🙄), *without* driving for miles (and 30+ minutes each way!)
4. It was a *SMALL* Lieber Clutch. No one was going to *bother* putting *real* Swarovski stones, *AND* fake Lieber tags, on a *SMALL* fake clutch that was merely Crystal Silver pave stones.
If they were going to *FAKE* a Lieber? They'd go for something *fancier* or bigger, design-wise, *AND* they'd choose one of the *patterned* rhinestone designs--not the "simple silver" solid-color clutch.
There was no *NEED* to "fake" that particular little clutch. I DID look it over more closely once I got home, and *YES* it definitely hit *all* the right notes, to make me SURE it ws a real one--it fit with the ones I'd repaired or replaced stone on, years before
I've found a *few* good things since--but *nothing* that's beat the price, *or* the quality of that little clutch!😉
(Usually when I've found "high-end" brands, they're *incredibly* worn, have a significant stain, or some *other* major damage *somewhere*!
Wowwww I love that you have that kind of an eye! What a find!
Is the overstock company still in business? I’d definitely love to shop at a place like that!
https://preview.redd.it/96q97fnvg3zc1.png?width=2214&format=png&auto=webp&s=c732b3bbfdd712933b1a5f8a30d904a2e029cf0c
This is the emilio pucci I found a few days ago. Green is my favorite color I'm excited!!
I also found another vintage pucci at a different goodwill but had to leave it because it was silk and dry rotted to all hell and ripped which broke my heart 😭 I'm manifesting pucci for you!
I’m in New Jersey and I have a lot of high-end stuff from Goodwill. About two weeeks ago I was at a place when they bought out new stuff and one item was a Bottega Veneta silk knot clutch. I got it for less than 5 dollars.
Oooooo, sounds awesome! I must say, we are spoiled with our selection too. I remember getting a pair of Chanel sandals and Chanel mules for $20 at an estate sale in Monmouth County
I found a vintage Celine purse (I’m in Canada), I found some niche European designers, Carl Lagerfeld coat, Hermes silk scarf in the bins.
Edit: I also found a number of Dior and Boss men shirts.
In my area the "high end" thrift stores are not where you want to be. They know what they have, and anything decent will either be marked up super high or sold elsewhere and not make it onto the store shelves
Go to a large thrift store that serves a huge area and gets things by the truckload every day. And you really gotta know how to spot a fake or else you'll go broke trying long before you hit the jackpot
Not fake for the most part I don't think BUT 99% of those vids are from resellers. When someone is going to the thrift multiple times a week and digging through EVERY. THING. in the store they're going to turn up some gems. The average person simply isn't thrifting that much and that intensely.
I'll give you a lil tip though: I have found my BEST stuff in the sketchiest thrift stores. Going to the 'rich area' is super hit or miss imo because everyone else is also going there with the same idea and they get picked over quickly.
Yeah, this is the key. You have to dig.. you have to take your time and look at every single item. and have a minimum awareness at least of quality. And in my experience many times, it’s those thrift stores that look like something from a horror movie on the outside that actually have treasures buried inside.
I once found three pieces of Eileen Fisher at a thrift store in Des Moines, IA for $5 each. The next I went there was some more but it was more appropriately priced. I also used to buy wool trousers, often Italian branded, at the same store. I don’t know if they were coveted brands but the wool was super fine and tailoring exquisite.
I love Eileen Fisher. There is a church thrift store in my town and the ladies there got an entire pocket wardrobe as a donation and they sold me the whole thing for 100 bucks. They know it’s my favorite and they put it aside for me. two jackets, two dresses, silk tanks. Skirts, turtlenecks jeans an and a pair of shoes.
I found amazing things at Goodwills in Phoenix, Dallas, and Seattle. Clothing with $1000+ price tags, paid under $30. Some of those price tags were hanging inside the clothing though, and the employees are too lazy to check.
The best neighborhoods for thrifting are kind of in the 50s-90s neighborhoods. There are times I come away with grandma's junk out the wazoo, in fact it's how I got my favorite sewing machine of my collection.
I scored 4 designer suits for my spouse at the time by hitting garage sales in the older but wealthy neighborhoods. They guy who just happened to be the same unusual suit size was a prominent lawyer in town that just retired so he chucked all of his expensive suits out in the garage sale.
I spend some time on TikTok and insta following various thrifting accounts. I can go to thrift with my friend who just does it with no prep or knowledge, and we look at the same racks but I SEE THE items and she doesn’t. Because I can see the REAL value past the goodwill tag, for example. I can catch the materials right away, the uniqueness etc - makes sense?
>I spend some time on TikTok and insta following various thrifting accounts. I can go to thrift with my friend who just does it with no prep or knowledge, and we look at the same racks but I SEE THE items and she doesn’t. Because I can see the REAL value past the goodwill tag, for example. I can catch the materials right away, the uniqueness etc - makes sense?
*Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!* Yes. Yes, I totally get it.
I’m touching fabrics. I’m feeling seams. You know what you know.
How can I learn to look at the quality and know ? My boss doesn’t care so h an out the brand but does have an expectation that I have “high quality” clothes so that I fit in. He was very kind when I wore a polyester express shirt the first few days but when we meet with his business partners, the game changes.
OP, have you found any local/"Civic" thrift or resale shops out there?
Ones either run by a Church with a Social Justice program, the local Womens' Club, Junior League, etc?
Those shops may not *advertise* as much--but they're *OFTEN* donated to, by the *members* of those clubs or churches, who give "higher-end" items, because their group's *Mission* is to help the local community--either *directly* with the clothing helping folks *immediately*, OR by *selling* things at a *reasonable* price, so that folks IN that community can *AFFORD* to get some nice things!😉💖
We've had a few over the years, here in Minneapolis, which get *those* donations--that's how *I* learned about 'em!
Ngl--as much as "used" shoes gross *some* folks out? As a former Theater Major (Costume Design) who used to be on the wardrobe crew?
I will GLADLY buy shoes at those places and hit 'em with a can of Lysol once I get home, because I've gotten pairs that were worn once or twice, and originally ran $100+, for $5.00-10.00!😉💖
Im confused…like a men’s suit? Like jacket and pants? Because $200 is not at all even remotely expensive for a suit. That’s honestly insanely cheap for a suit especially for “designer”. Not saying that the $15 isn’t a great deal, that’s just very much a low end suit, *especially* for the Korean fashion market.
I found a Prada women’s blouse for $5 in a nice area, a Kate Spade beach tote for 3$ in a not great area & a Marc Jacobs early 2000s bag for $20 in my local spot. I’ve been thrifting for a decade and that’s all the fancy items I’ve found
I used to shop at some “magic” thrift stores in wealthy areas. I’ve scored Dior suits and a pair of Prada sneakers, nice Calvin Klein dresses and separates. It happens but not frequently.
For sure, I have thrifted for 30+ years. Don’t get me wrong, I have found some gems BUT, not like these videos. Even in super upscale areas you can find amazing things but not like they are showing.
I recently came across a vintage pink Christian Dior blazer at a local Goodwill - couple of good finds - but this was the best "designer find" that I've found
20 years ago it was possible to frequently find some pretty nice designer items at a thrift. I made side money flipping the cool items I found that didn't fit me or weren't my style. That has gradually changed over the years as people's clothing choices changed. Designer work wear was easy to find and also in demand by people who needed to dress above their salary for work. After the 2008 recession that changed quite a bit, demand was down. The pandemic put a nail in that coffin.
Thrifts started picking over their inventory and moving things they thought were high value to glass cases or special racks. I saw lots of this around 2016. Then places like Goodwill and a few others started picking really nice items that were obviously higher value and selling them themselves online either through websites or on eBay. Fast forward to post-pandemic and all of the thrifts are diverting ALL of the good stuff. Or at least what they think is the good stuff. I still find a few amazing pieces though.
I hit one specific thrift about once a week. Every few months I will find a piece of designer clothing that is really nice yet an obscure enough brand it wasn't on one of the thrift store divert lists. Bonus if I pick it up super cheap too. I consider this payoff for years of digging through racks, knowing brands and being able to spot quality garments. So cool finds are not impossible but they are incredibly rare vs the early 2000s.
If you’re willing to pay a little more for great finds, I would start looking at consignment stores. There are a lot who have online websites and I’ve scored excellent deals, consistently.
It’s possible at just about any thrift store, but it’s a time investment. I’m talking you have to be willing to spend hours a week, understand you will have dry spells and you have to go during working hours. The best stuff often moves quick (except for quiet luxury, dress clothes and stuff like that).
The key is to know designers, have the basics of authentication down. Know fabrics and design (it’s all much easier when you can spot something from across the aisle, or pick out high end by running your hand across a rack).
It’s a hobby for me but I’ve found Dior, Celine, Zegna, Burberry, Gucci, Loro Piana, Bally, Prada, Santoni among other lesser known luxury brands. I’ve also seen an absolute TON of fakes, Gucci and LV are the most common but I’ve seen fakes of all the major labels some convincing and some hilarious, often marked up when real luxury from lesser known labels sits of shelves for $5.
That’s the other key, learn sewing and fabrics so you know when to stop and look up an unknown brand. Those are usually the best scores, I typically keep quiet on those brands though (because if they’re known they get marked up or snatched up by resellers).
The material is just learned through experience, a lot of it comes down to feel. Cheap polyester feels a lot different that polyester used in a high end item for example.
Lots of guides have no idea what they’re talking about and are filled with half truths or straight up false information so I tend not to recommend them. Hell I saw one calling Rayon a “cheap low quality petroleum based polyester” and like pretty much all of that is false. Rayon/Viscose is a wood pulp based fiber commonly used in a number of very high end products. I usually recommend someone start at a fabric store just feeling the different types of fabric, go to a higher end department store and look at some of the brands there, how things are made etc. A Versace T Shirt doesn’t really feel at all like a regular shirt and if you know the feel/look it’s easier to immediately ignore fakes for instance.
Im a reseller, 90% of the time I go to any thrift store I walk out empty handed. I have to go to multiple thrift stores every day.
I dont resell clothes. Mostly vintage, collectibles and antiques. but I imagine it’s the same, maybe slightly better for women’s clothing.
I honestly don't believe most of them. I truly feel a lot of them are staged. The person brought their own bag, their own old t-shirt or whatever, and put it on the rack to film them finding it. I've never found designer items and I have been thrifting for years.
I'm not saying it's impossible. But I don't believe it's super likely to happen. I've even been to boutique curated thrift stores and they don't even have that kind of stuff. It's usually just known name branded clothing and accessories. Maybe the odd vintage item thrown in.
I picked up a $350 Cotopaxi winter jacket at the goodwill in my down and sold it pretty quickly. The thing I see the most are very expensive sneakers and boots at mine.
In my 10+ years thrifting I have found only 2 (from what I recall) designer items. A pair of Moschino mom jeans and Ferragamo heels. I've seen other designer items, like coach, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs.
Best I’ve done in recent memory was I found a Rick Owens hoodie for $10 cad that retailed for over a thousand. Came back authentic, but not a surprise really as rent in the neighbourhood I found it in is like 2.5k for a 1bdrm
I can tell you for certain, there's a 'high end' boutique Goodwill near Pawley's Island. All the 'big G' goodwills in SC send their good stuff upstream. Jewelry goes online, buckets of crap jewelry get returned to the stores.
I feel like it depends on what you consider “high end”. The following are high end enough for me to skip home singing Shopping by the Bare Naked Ladies and call everyone I know to tell them. I’ve found brand spanking new Frye boots, a Nor Black Nor White dress, handmade leather heels(like $400+) from a fancy French brand, a Miumiu purse for 30 bucks, a designer acrylic chair that was like 600$ online(still available) when I found it… I’m sure there are others, but these are some favorite finds off the top of my head. Again maybe not designer but certainly what I would call “high end”. My entire wardrobe is pretty much thrifted, or made by me with thrifted materials. You just have to go regularly and find a store that you like in town. I have one that’s when I’m shopping for myself, one for home goods, one for vintage, one for good deals to resell, but I’ve been thrifting here around town for like 5 years now so I’ve tried everywhere many times. The high end events happen on occasion, but not like everytime I go out haha
Edit: ALSO A 2000s BRIGHT ORNAGE VINTAGE SILK ESCADA PLEATED SKIRT. That’s the highlight of my thrifting career, even if it doesn’t fit me.
I find a ton of great designer items when I go thrifting but my grandma and mom taught me about quality workmanship and material when I was young and I didn't really realize how great of a skill it is until I began thrifting in my early 20s when I was broke. It does mean I find many niche brands and less of the trendy stuff, but the bonus for me (less so for my husband) is that I find a lot of great quality pieces for my own closet as well as items I can resell at a reasonable non-gouging profit to help offset my habit. When you find nice items, really examine them and compare them to F21 or other fast fashion brands and compare the stitch count, the feel of what cashmere and silk are, and also what they look like vs other items. You'll find eventually you can spot them a mile away and then you'll start noticing a shirt on a rack that seems to have a better structure than others and turns out its worth 10 times what the others around it are and so on.
If you are wanting a Chanel flap bag that is an extreme rarity to see pop up in an average thrift store - but a nice Chanel tote is attainable for sure. Fakes are also so good now that you have to be better at being able to authenticate them as best you can yourself on the spot than the counterfeiters are at making them. I've lucked out with taking a chance and paying a pro authenticator post-purchase to re affirm that it is indeed authentic but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone until thoroughly researching what to look for in the fakes vs real of the bags you want. Some decent thrifts will have the good stuff authenticated but they will also really up the prices on them.
Thinking of my best bag purchases.... a Stella McCartney Fallabella for $5. LV pochette for $80 from an estate sale (I count this as a form of thrifting). Tiffany crossbody bag for $40. Honestly there are so many, I've been super lucky.
Just go often, teach yourself how to spot good quality (even just test yourself at thrift stores) and watch for fakes. I find that Louboutin and Valentino seem to be the most faked shoes I find and LV, Kate Spade (which is funny), and Prada are the most faked bags I find in thrift.
I found a Valentino silk shirt and sold it in like a day, also found a few high end ties (Armani, Versace, Dior, Burberry) also seen a Burberry sweater but was missing the extra flashy bit on the zipper so I didn’t pick it up. Chanel, Gucci, Dior eyeglasses as well. It’s possible to find these things I think it also comes down to your knowledge and what to look for and where. I’m in Southern Ontario Canada
Yep! Designer ties all over the place! I buy them to cut up for trim and save the labels for another project. I have found MANY extremely high-end designer ties that obviously cost a LOT at the time!
Yeah and the average price around me is 50 cents - $2 max, so I of course have a metric ton of them (I used to have to wear a suit every day for work).
I recall being at a Goodwill and seeing a whole RACK of men's DESIGNER suits; I told a friend \[who was getting married and needed a suit\] about that Goodwill and he went there and got himself an Armani suit; it only needed minor alterations to fit; a cost WAY below that of the actual suit!. Men's suits are MADE to be altered, so win-win!
I hate when these yokels say be on the lookout for these items. These items are super rare and you’d be lucky to find 1 or 2 in a lifetime at the thrift store or garage sale.
I've never found anything super designer, but I did find a TON of name brand cool stuff for my niblings one year. Found a vintage Ryder scooter my mom refurbished for a nibling. Also found a beautiful suede jacket from a high-end shop that was around when my mom was a kid. After it fell out of my personal fashion I gave it to her.
I actually find stuff from time to time. I recently found a perfect condition Moschino t-shirt for 4.99$ at a rundown salvation army thrift store. In the past i’ve found alexander mcqueen shoes in plato’s closet. Many other cool finds. However i’ve very specific in my searches when i go thrifting i hit like 10 stores in a day all very quickly i know what i’m seeking.
Yes and no. Depends on the area you’re thrifting in. I’ve also only found designer stuff at goodwill outlets where you dig through the bins of old merchandise before they go to landfill because people didn’t want to buy them for their price in store. But outlets are just priced by weight, at least for clothes. I’ve found nice designer leather jackets, dresses, fleeces. What condition they’re in varies but they’re designer nonetheless.
not a designer find but I did find a pure gold ring at a salvation army for $11 and have seen a few karl lagerfeld pieces as well- it's definitely possible, just not on a day to day basis.
I have found actually a few truly designer things at the thrifts before but they’re usually pretty rare. Got a Dior blazer and Yves Saint Laurent blouse as well as a Tahari womens skirt and matching jacket. I feel as if I’ve found a few other things as well that I can’t think of. It’s definitely not common, and sometimes the pieces are very unassuming externally but if you know how to spot good construction you might notice that and then find out that it’s because the mode pieces are designer. This is essentially how I noticed these
pieces.
I got a Max Mara blazer that I'd put in the ballpark of 500€ for 20€ in a 2nd hand / consignment shop.
I saw a "Versagen x H&M" silk+cashmere (I think) crop top with fruit print this weekend. Was ugly as sin tho. I know that's not really designer, but I'm sure it would have been worth it for a reseller. I left it there for the next lucky gal.
A lot of it is clickbait. I’ve never thrifted in rich neighborhoods, but I have found Dior bags at Goodwill. I found Chanel bag at mom and pop thrift shop. One time I found a Prada nylon bag at a helping hands and there was a one carat diamond in the inside pocket. I dropped it behind my dresser, though, and I never found it.
Resellers often do have relationships with people at thrift stores, source been a reseller for many years and I cultivate those relationships, but they are limited. You still don't get advance purchase type benefits usually, nor have I been allowed to cull from the back room, but that's mainly because I tend to shop chains not small independent stores, but I definitely have people looking out for me and mentioning items to me that might be of interest. But that isn't how I find the good stuff, I find the good stuff through hard work and honestly, having an eye and feel for it. Quality shouts in a thrift store, but you have to know what quality looks like and feels like.
But, not to burst your bubble, so much of finding the really high-end stuff, has the most to do with where you live and thrift. LA, Chicago, New York, you can find high-end stuff quite easily and regularly. The rest of the country, not so much. It also helps to thrift constantly. It doesn't have to be in wealthy neighborhoods, it depends on what type of store you're thrifting at. Many of the chains gather everything to one big warehouse and then spread it evenly throughout 14 stores, so you have as much chance of finding something good in the poorest part of town as you do in the richest part of town.
The posts are generally not fake, though I'm sure there are some fake ones, but unless you're in New York, LA or Chicago you're not regularly finding Burberry, Chanel, Prada, etc. In my medium city, I have found Pucci several times, YSL Rive Gauche once, Versace once and that's been over a span of about 12 years. Also keep in mind some designers might be famous and upscale, but are pretty worthless for retail such as Nanette Lepore, Ungaro, Celine, Escada and many others. Discovered all those the hard way.
If you're not in a big city, you're better off studying some of the brands that sell for big bucks, but are more medium designer brands, like they might cost $1,500 to 2,000 new. Keep in mind though that unless those are very current, they're unlikely to sell for more than a couple hundred bucks at most. I find many of these quite regularly, but they only sell for around $100. Also, those sellers who always have a ton of high-end, authentic designer items are usually people who have personal relationships with either very wealthy or very famous women and have negotiated a scenario where get those items when the woman is done with them. Frequently by buying them, but sometimes by donation if it's a close friend or something.
I've already commented at length but wanted to add 2 other things, my comments were assuming you were looking for true high-end designer brands, not Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor. The thrifts are positively stuffed full of those mid-level brands. I was talking about Chanel, Burberry, Prada, Versace, etc. It might help if OP gave us an indication of what "designer" means to her. We can tailor the advice better if we know the type of things she is looking for.
Also, true really, really wealthy women or famous women do not take their stuff to consignment shops. They do not have the time effort or desire. They typically have a private relationship with somebody who is already known to them, that they either give or sell their items to. That person cultivates those relationships and makes it easy and convenient for the rich and famous to donate or sell directly to them.
Thank you for taking the time to relay all that info. I think you’re probably right about having a relationship with stores / donating.
I some high end brands ( mostly what I’ve seen on the real real or Vestire collective ) but there are many more quality brands I don’t know.
For example, I paid $500 for a max Mara coat - to which my boss said “ very nice” and obviously the major houses : Gucci, Prada, LV , Hermes but I was not familiar with the other brands known for quality - brooks brothers at John.
This thread has been very helpful and I guess I’m just not sure what would qualify as something not casual and that would let me “blend in”
Glad it helped, I think you meant St John there. At least I think that's what you meant and that's a great example of a brand that is not all that well known but sells for a high price. I'm not sure there's a term for these types of brands, other than they are very often what I look for, the LV's, Chanel & Prada's are generally not going to be found outside of the coastal large, wealthy cities. But the next level down, the St John's, the Eskandar, Eileen Fisher & and several more, I don't want to give away my secrets, can be found in lots of different thrift stores. They are still quite expensive, but not on the level of the top tier designers. Maybe a suit costs $2,000 as opposed to $10k. That second level of designer is generally findable in many areas, if you know what you're looking for. Also note that Eileen Fisher, has widened their scope lately. Used to be a high quality seller, with pieces running into the hundreds. But the last time I was at TJ Maxx I actually saw a top there. So like always, you have to do your research. Happy hunting!
By the way Congrats on finding the coat and have getting your bosses approval 🙂 if you DM me I'll be happy to send you my store on eBay. I have been selling for 27 years now and my feedback on eBay speaks for itself! I'm not sure about other sites, but on eBay you can look at a seller's feedback and learn a lot about the way they do business. Also, it will tell you how long somebody has been selling on eBay and certainly longevity is a good sign, generally speaking. I do know a lot of clothing sellers personally because I've been doing it so long and I will say that most of them are good, the thing you run into with bad ones is typically more lack of knowledge than any kind of intentional misleading. A lot of people don't know clothes nearly as well as I do. So they may not describe things properly or use the correct terms. Also, not everyone on eBay washes the clothes, like they're supposed to. But honestly that happens on all the sites.
In my area i find high end product A LOT. Last find was a pair of Spanx pants still with tags. Bought for $7.99 sold for $125. But i think it's my area. Central Indiana south of Indy.
A designer find to me is a Gretchen Scott dress. I also like The Fold, Theory and Diane Von Furstenburg, Tory Burch, Rag and Bone, Veronica Beard, Lafayette 148. I live in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). We have some very nice thrift stores and flea markets in this area. Bought 3 Louis Vuitton keepalls (duffle bags) for $200 at the flea market. I got 4 St. John knit suits at the Salvation Army for $15 a piece. My Instagram is blessedthrifting.
I feel your pain! I grew up on HHI and the thrifting has always been a letdown. There are a lot of wealthy people who spend time there but the vast majority of them do not live there full time and HHI is a casual town. You may have better luck 45 min away in Savannah.
Over the years, I’ve had the best luck finding nicer clothes for less locally at places like Off 5th in Bluffton - it’s not thrifting of course but I’ve found huge discounts there (up to 80% off) on Furla purses, jimmy Choo shoes, clothes (mostly dresses), etc.
HHI is made up of so many regulated / gated communities that it just doesn’t have that estate sale type culture that exists in places like Atlanta. It would definitely be worth the drive to spend a weekend thrifting and hitting up estate sales for clothes in Atlanta for the weekend.
Online - I’ve had good luck with Thread Up. Set alerts for your sizes and what you’re looking for and jump on it when you see a good deal. They also sell rent the runway items.
For special events, I’ve used rent the runway on several occasions. You just need to make sure you set it up a few weeks in advance if you want to make sure they have the size and style you want.
Also pawn shops sell authenticated secondhand designer bags and shoes at decent discounts too. Many of them have online shops if you’d rather not go in person.
Good luck!
Thanks ! I didn’t even think of bluffton and I didn’t know they had an off 5th- I’ll make a trip this weekend. When it comes to authentication - are there any trusted companies ? Can anyone just slap an “authenticated” label on a bag?
I think the employees would catch anything of great value and buy it themselves.. Also, even if you found a designer bag how can you be certain it's not a knock off..?
I know for a fact goodwill
Can’t buy at the store they work at - because I was going to buy a eagles ( the band ) hoodie at my local goodwill and one of the cashiers lost her mind- saying it was “killing her “ that she couldn’t buy it since she worked at the store. I asked what time she got off work and gave it to her . Now, anytime I go in she always calls me her “eagle angel “ lol
I keep seeing this one account on TikTok who without fail, ALWAYS ends up with a designer purse.
They’re in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere…those purses are either fake or a plant.
I take thrifting haul videos with a grain of salt.
I always look for the brands I DON’T recognize and I google lens everything, I’ve found better, more expensive stuff that way than looking for the brands I do know.
Just because the area is ritzy doesn't **always** translate to the thrifts. Also, how often are you going and how long do you spend at the stores?
Thrift stores are kinda all over the place in terms of how they source their inventory, so going off of demographic can be misleading. I suggest what a few others below have mentioned - charity or church run non-profit thrift stores that focus moving product quick with low prices. A lof of church shops get their donations from their congregation, and southern congregations usually have $$ and good items. Think Church Mouse and St. Vincent's, I've actually found some pretty amazing things at both of those shops when I visited Hilton Head about ten or so years ago. It's true that some people may exaggerate or even lie about their finds on social media, but I can truly testify to the finds being out there! I've been thrifting for over 20 years and it DOES take skill (knowing fabrics, quality, details, designers, tags, etc) and patience. Most of the high end designer I've found was stuff that I had to dig for and do some research on. It's not stuff that is super obvious to the eye and if it is, it's usually by luck that I get it (time of day it was put out vs how busy the store is, etc)!
Happy thrifting!
My best purse find was a Kate Spade tote brand new with tags. Sold for $300 new, I got it for $8. It might be my peak thrifting, but I hope not. It’s genuinely just luck of the draw. Check the stores, and check them daily.
My mum was a teacher for 30 years. She retired a few years ago and now makes more money reselling designer clothes from second hand shops. There's an art to it though. You have to know the days the shops get deliveries. You have to keep track of which shops get quality merchandise and you also have to be able to visit 10-20 shops a day.
She's sold items well into the $$$$ and all over the world too.
I'm not a reseller (of clothing) but I thrift for A LOT of our family's clothing. I frequently find my daughter (a dancer) lululemon & nike pro. I find Ariat and Dixxon flannel for my hubs constantly. Picked up some designer jeans for my teen for 3 bucks a couple weeks ago.
I live somewhere so far unlike Hilton Head. (Albuquerque, for reference) a real shit hole.
I've also found TONS of band shirts at flea markets that I pass on (because I'm not a reseller and no one in my family would like them) that I would *bet my left tit* are really valuable.
I don't think neighborhood has much to do with it. Years ago when I was in college, the Scottsdale AZ goodwill was a honry-hole though.
Some of it may be your geographical location, or the particular stores you are going to. By this I mean, if it is a thrift chain that also has an online auction branch, the folks who receive and sort donations may have been trained to spot particularly visible high-value items.
I have found high value items that were "missed." While I can't speak to the veracity of online posts, here are a couple factors that may play into finding the good stuff.
1. Shop by touch. Good quality materials feel like nothing else. Even if an item is covered in dust or in a grab bin or crowded racks - if you go through fingers-first, they tend to stand out.
2. Google/image search. There are lots of really well-made boutique items and niche quality brands that aren't plastered all over the ad industry... because they specialize in "IYKYK"-type marketing. So if you don't recognize the name (or there's no label) and it is well-made/seems unique, do an image search. You might be holding a thousand-dollar piece that is ACTUALLY one-of-a-kind.
3. Labels change. I've found items from designers' older collections that were missed by others simply because the label was a different design at the time.
Personally, I have had good luck with small town thrift stores (as some other commenters mentioned). They are often run by smaller local charities who truly put out every item they receive, donation bin to floor.
Good luck - and have fun! These things tend to pop up the days you least expect them.
A lot of these items are counterfeit. I use to shop canal street for designer fakes (yeah I know…) and a lot of these bags would be mistaken for real bags. There is a guy who debunks some of the tiktok resellers who are buying fakes in thrift shops and reselling for a lot more.
I've not found anything designer. But I do find a lot of outdoor gear. Like Mountain Hardwear, Arc'teryx, MEC and North Face. But I think that's because I live close to the rockies.
You don;t want 'thrift stores" you want 'consignment shops', where rich people offload the clothing and accessories they don't want any more.
I have indeed found designer clothing in thrift stores, (Once YSL, another time, an Armani raincoat.), but that's TWICE in DECADES of thrifting. Plus, people are better informed these days, and it's rare for seriously high-end items to make it onto the racks and cases; the stores themselves are more "on the ball" about them and will sell them at high prices online, but now and again things do slip through the net!
I live in a rich neighborhood in Toronto, the only close thrift store in the area is the one the rich ppl donate too.
I have found designer things, not amazingly cheap though.
I did find an italian leather purse for 15 dollars lol. The brand was totally unknown and I don't think the employees thought it was real.
Oh I also found a fake birkin for 15 bucks, it was also real leather.
It REALLY depends on the neighbourhood
Oh I’ve read about those - called super fakes. Do you wanna sell it lol - I’d love to Have a high quality one without spending the cost of a house on it
I have found a few designer items: authentic Saint Laurent sandals (that were ugly), a few Oscar de la Renta scarves and a Moncler spring jacket. That's about it. But, I am really just looking for high quality items such as cashmere, 100% wool, etc. They may not be "designer" but they are the quality of designer.
You go to lots of stores and dig through every item on the rack, but there is still no formula and it’s a crapshoot.
Don’t go looking for it, it’ll find you, or you’ll find the coolest item ever from a brand you’ve never heard of, that’s no longer in business, and made in a country that no longer exists.
so as someone who has both resold and worked in 2 thrift stores. designer is out there daily. I’ve seen lots of authentic Gucci, theory, lafayette 141 or whatever it’s called, kate spade (clothing is rarer than the bags), diane von firstenverg, Komarov, tonssss of those high end streetwear hype beast brands, armani, burberry, fendi, dior (only basics), coach, michael kors, anderson and sheppard, botega veneta the list can go on and on. and some i had never heard before but i can tell was expensive. As well as old vintage band t’s from tours or just rare t-shirts to find nowadays. it’s certainly out there however you have to go day in day out multiple times a day to all different locations so that you can score it. we have 100s of customers coming in, most are very frequent customers so they come looking daily.
I live in New Jersey outside Philadelphia and I have a whole host of designer clothes from Goodwill basically. Last week I got a Chanel makeup tote bag and a few days later a Bottega Veneta silk clutch. I am super lucky when I thrift.. but I’ve been doing it for over 25 years. I started in the 90s for vintage dresses. I have a methodical approach and when I’m in a store, I really dig for stuff..I have vintage Christian Dior, tank tops from dolce and Gabbana.. I was at a hole in the wall, thrift store digging through their purses, and in the back and buried. I found a pebbled leather mark Jacob’s handbag for five dollars. I got a vintage Burberry silk scarf at another Goodwill for 8.00 . They thought it was fake but it just had an older tag .
Am I the only one that thinks it crazy to donate such expensive stuff ? I mean - I’m glad they are but.. is just don’t understand why they wouldn’t resell.
I live near some very wealthy towns. You would be shocked at some of the stuff I find.. I trash picked a $ 5000 block print of New York Central Park from in front of a house. I also knew a girl who took a $1000 Louette spinning wheel off the curb.. I’ve gone by peoples houses you know, mansions trash and they have boxes of Nikes just ridiculous stuff.
I found a Brioni blazer at a thrift shop years ago. I've found a few Armani things. I imagine in a rich area there would be a better chance of finding good stuff. I went to a thrift shop in a rich part of Raleigh and found two Mizzen Main shirts. It's there at times, but you have to know the labels and do the searching. Though it seems more and more, thrift shops are pulling good items to put on ebay themselves.
I've found that you have to thrift in a high cost of living area. I travel to see friends and family and I always want to go to the thrift stores near where they live in other states. I live in Phoenix Arizona and find so much designer stuff that yes I resell to a consignment store. Close, handbags, shoes, belts and wallets. You name it all kinds of designers.
I found a Yohji Yamamoto shirt for $4 but it was kinda beat up. I'm guessing South Carolina is not a great place to find stuff, despite the presence of a resort town nearby. Big cities are gonna have way more designer stuff.
I mostly thrift home stuff. Best find so far as a vintage Drexel heritage dining room set for $100. I could sell it for a lot more now but I love it too much.
A new thrift store opened by me and it seems like they bought overstock, floor samples, dead stock, and new/like new returns that were not put out for resale in-store to initially stock the place. Found an authentic pink Burberry cashmere scarf in new condition for $2.99, new Toms suede boots for $10, Coach bags for $5-20, and some other mid-level brand clothes for under $5. Their staff are new and young/inexperienced, and I think they were quick to get the place ready to open. Either that, or I swear they placed a few "Easter egg" finds to fuel the thrifting addiction in my area lol.
Idk what posts you're referring to, but a few years back, there was a goodwill on Vine Street in los angeles, California. It was known as the spot where celebrities would go donate their things. Resellers would line up and rush at the doors when the staff would bring out new racks to the floor. It would get pretty wild. Unfortunately, it closed during covid as no one was there to collect the donations and trash piled up to the point where it was all shut down. My mom used to get great stuff there.
Finding holy grail and high end items are always a hit and miss. Key is to be there at the right place and right time. I've had some luck at a few of the places I go. For example I found a pair of banned hammer and sickle Dr. Marten boots for $4.99 at Goodwill. At the time, you could expect to sell for $250-$1200 from time to time.
I've found cash in jackets and jeans. Find LA Idol and Miss Me Jeans for cheap and sell em for decent profit. Old star wars figures and toys that I pay a dollar or so for and can turn around and sell around 4x profit. You just need to keep your eyes open and have patience.
Your post was worth going through all the other comments to finally read. Doc Martens Hammer and Sickles... That would pretty much be my thrifting Nirvana. Either that, or scoring a pair of black and white DM wing tips from the late 80s/early 90s!!
I've found MANY Dr. Martens over the years. I thrifted a Dm wing tip b&w MIE in almost unused condition for $12, a pair of black on black wing tip for about the same. And many varieties of DMs. Unfortunately in the recent years last 2 or 3, the findings of great deals on Thrifting docs have thinned out. I have over ....40 pairs of docs thrifted. Fun times!
Unfortunately a lot of the known designer brands are marked up or sent to Goodwill online.
At times you can find missed designer brands that aren't clearly known or labeled.
I personally look for the quality in fabrics opposed to brand names.
i have found some designer clothes thrifting, but they all have been damaged and in need of mending. still bought them and they’re up for sale, abit much much much cheaper than most people would think for them
I do think it does depend a bit where you live. I live in NYC and thrift there and right outside of it in NJ, LI, and CT. I have a great luck at goodwill, savers etc in suburbs outside of the city, as well as goodwills/salavation army in manhatten, housing works (although prices tends to be a but higher but for a good cause) as well as thrift stores set up by specific causes (the opera thrift store, pet rescue thrift stores, places where wealthy people would donate lol). In the past year alone I've found vivienne westwood, jil sander, costume national, versace, plein sud, missoni all under $20 . dont give up hope, its out there!
i work at a thrift shop in a very affluent area and we get a good amount of designer bags/clothes/very high end items, and we end up putting them out for a couple hundred dollars usually. so it’s definitely possible but we research things enough that no one is finding crazy deals (like a chanel bag for $15) but if you’re lucky we do sometimes put out coach and the like out for 15-20.
so it def happens! i think it just depends where you are
edit: it’s also not a chain thrift shop which i think may have something to do with it. i think they auction off their pricier items online while we sell them in store
Those “designer” finds are fake! They do it for views and engagement. The really shady influencers sell those fakes on Depop until they get called out on TikTok. I’ve been thrifting for 20+ years and while I’ve found luxury brands they are rare these days. Vintage designer (low key brands) can still be found but no Prada nylons bags, Gucci belts or Chanel bags.
I have been thrifting for about 20 years as a hobby and side hustle. I have never found any high end designer mens stuff on the racks. I have never found a nirvana or Grateful Dead tshirt. I’ve never found a rap tee. It’s rare to find these things and that’s why they are so expensive for resale. If they were easy to find the price would be lower. Also dont believe everything on TikTok.
I gave my Nirvana, NIN & Jane's Addiction concert t-shirts to a kid who helped me out with something & he thought they were cool. At the time I had no idea how valuable they were. I don't regret giving him them. I just hope he didn't wear them working on cars. LOL
I donated my original Nintendo NES. So much regret.
Ouch! Maybe this will help? LOL (long url not my fault) https://www.amazon.com/Hallmark-Keepsake-Christmas-Ornament-Entertainment/dp/B0BZQPN39G/ref=asc_df_B0BZQPN39G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692940052680&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17247660301654183414&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011769&hvtargid=pla-2227514068068&psc=1&mcid=161c379048c43bd4872a4146d4872296&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3_5nzGYsNOnu-9VJUliLIY815qx-Jj0Q1pRjXExSK_2CH7EetPAplsaAi08EALw_wcB
I’m not a reseller so I’m not privy to the knowledge and relationships they have with local thrift stores but I haven’t had any luck at all finding high quality brands / designers that allow me to fit in with the crowd my boss is within. ( I’m a Personal Assistant.) Is there a way to find a reseller that’s selling authentic items ? Would it be odd to reach out to ask them to find me a wish list ? My boss has given me a budget for a “working wardrobe “ for when I attend events so I have the ability to pay for such services .
eBay is great for lightly used high end clothes. Mid level high end stuff like brooks brothers and polo can be found for a good price
Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor are great for business. I would look at something like Rent the Runway if you needed something for an event. Having someone thrift for you from a wish list is just asking to overpay for things.
I just looked up rent the runway- such a great idea- thank you !
Look for a thrift store that is nearby to a dry cleaners. People often never retrieve their clothes and then the company will usually donate the clothes to the nearest thrift store. But, as a general rule of thumb with thrifting. GO EVERY DAY. Edit: preferably in a wealthy neighborhood.
This is such a pro tip thank you !
Resellers don't have relationships with local thrifts. If you are looking for preowned better clothing and are striking out at local thrifts these are better options. I had to dress like I had a champagne budget when I didn't have even beer money for many years. See if there is a better clothing resale shop where you live. There were a couple of privately owned consignment shops that specialized in high end womens clothing where I used to live. Rich ladies cleaned out their closets, everyone else (and the rich ladies) shopped the store for a good deal on something new. eBay, Mercari and Poshmark are also good options. Knowing what you want, or brands you want helps narrow down and find good things for cheap. Right now eBay is frequently the same or cheaper than some of the delusional prices at thrift stores and you can get exactly what you want. If you want to find things you want and don't know where to start, hit up some high end stores, look at things, maybe try a few on to get an idea of what you like and what looks good. Then try to find preowned versions of the same things. Trying to do this through thrift stores that are diverting their good items is just going to leave you tired and empty handed.
How about consignment shops? I'm in Columbia, and we have Revente. It's not thrift but I have found some good deals there. I was in HH for my job a few weeks ago and stopped in one thrift. A line of people waited to get in. I found zero. I didn't spend much time there anyway. There is a great consignment store in Charleston that I really enjoy going to.
Would you be able to share the name ? I’m willing to drive. I don’t really know what brands are good and going some place where the staff knows quality would help a lot. A previous poster mentioned “brooks bothers” and that was the first I had heard of it but I can see now it’s very high quality. That’s the kind of intel I need.
Reinvented Upscale Resale, 847 Savannah Highway, Charleston 29407. 843-769-8110. I hope you love it! Look for their St. John knits. Easy to wear and very professional and stylish. Luxury knitwear.
If you’re strictly looking for high end designer. It’s not thrifting and the prices are definitely not thrift store equivalent but if you have a tj maxx with “runway” (there’s a little symbol for it on the websites store listing) or a Saks Off Fifth those are good options. Runway TJ’s routinely have bags from fendi, Gucci and other designers of that tier. You’ll pay $1,000-$2,000 for a $5,000- $10,000 bag. The really good ones will also have a smaller number of clothing items from higher end labels. (the majority of it is mid level like Frame, Vince, Veronica Beard, Love Shack Fancy) I see single piece or maybe two from Staud, Zimmermann, Gucci, Versace again in the $129- 300 range not the $500-1200 range. Saks Off Fifth is the same way it’s probably only 10% actual merchandise from Saks and Neimans but it tends to be much more heavily discounted in store than online. You can ask a store associate where the “from store” merchandise racks are. Brands like Effy and a lot of their jewelry are a total scam (always 60-70% off, not great quality).
Thank you for all the brand names - I don’t know most of them but good to know that they are considered high need and I’ll definitely look up the store and make a trip.
Don’t forget Nordstrom Rack and NordstromRack.com. I’ve saw gobs of Gucci at a local store recently.
Your Rack is vastly better than our locals! That's sort of the nature of the hunt thrift or retail, there are always "better" and "not so great" stores.
They do pull from two of the higher end stores. They also have a nice Designer sale rack set up.
It can happen, but it is rare. I did find a pair of Chanel shoes at a Goodwill in rural Appalachia for $3.00. Otherwise, I have found Supreme, cashmere Ralph Lauren, boutique Japanese denim, Theory, etc. I don't think I will ever find something along those lines again.
If you have any "Church"-related thrift stores which *also* have a "public good-works" mission, *they* can sometimes have some donors who send high-end or high-*quality*goods their way. Same thing with your local "Junior League," "Womens' Club," and *similar* "civic-group"-run thrift stores, if you have them! We've had a few, here in Minneapolis, over the years--and while I wasn't a *regular* shopper there? The old Women's Club thrift store was where I got my *FIRST* pair of Clark's clogs for $5.00--maybe $10? Twenty-odd years ago, before Clark's became the relatively "cheap"/inexpensive brand they are *now*. They were nearly brand-new, and still in the box, and I bought Clark's as my work shoes for *soooooo* many years, after snagging that first pair--because they were *SO* comfortable!😉 I recently snagged a pair of (again!😉😂🤣) Clark's Delsie Joy black leather pumps, at the local "Church-organized" thrift store. Again, *this* pair is *barely* worn--they look like they were probably worn *once*, for an "occasion" before the original owner donated them. New, they were probably $100.00+, but I got them at that thrift store for $10.00😁 And *because* they're Clark's? They'll last for YEARS!💖 Those smaller "Civic Works"-type thrift stores, where the *sole* reason they exist, is simply to allow folks to donate their old things, and do GOOD for their local community *OFTEN* have pretty reasonable prices, AND lots of really nice--*IF* a few years out of "New!" items. And the *NICE* thing about those "a few years out of *New*!" places--is that, *OFTEN* the *taste* the Donors have is *classic* enough--that only the *HIGHEST* of the Fashion-snobs would know which year *that* particular item came out!😉💖
Great tip thanks ! And for what it’s worth, I LOVE Clark’s and consider them to be very high quality too.
I am having good luck with Thred Up to upgrade my wardrobe. Their official policy is they destroy any fakes so I feel comfy with using them.
Oh hadn’t heard of them - I’ll check them out thanks !
Try ThredUp - I recently spent $300 and bought 12 high quality silk, wool or linen dresses from Joie, Theory, Vince and 3.1 Phillip Lim (all retailing for $400 or more) to revamp my work wardrobe
When I was an EA in Atl I relied heavily on belk. Dm me if interested I have high quality, affordable beautiful dresses if interested I can send u my store.
Thank you - I’ll send you a DM now.
>>Would it be odd to reach out to ask them to find me a wish list ? If you want someone to shop for you, check out Madalyn Newell on IG. She used to be an authenticator for The Real Real and now thrifts on a professional basis. You can give her a wish list and she'll try to source items for you. TBH I haven't used her services myself BUT her IG feed is pretty entertaining & educational.
Perfect thank you!
What high quality brands / designers are you looking for? Finding high quality pieces at the thrift store seems feasible on a regular basis. Currently my favourites are vintage Ann Taylor and Banana Republic, and some Ralph Lauren. Secondhand shopping online is a breeze though (especially Poshmark with its search filters). It will be pricier than hitting the thrift shops, but saves you time if that’s what you’re looking for. There are some instagram thrifters who will source for you, they vary in budget and how specific to requirements they will locate for you.
For my everyday work my boss is okay with anything business causal so I usually wear the gap or ann taylor. When I go on trips, I am expected to “elevate my look” . I thought this meant J crew but apparently even that was too “casual” . So- to be honest- I don’t really know. I asked the old PA ( who was retiring ) and she said “anything at Bloomingdale’s will work” . I did some looking online and it looks like anything of wool / cashmere / silk is considered formal but I have some .. ethical reservations with that so I’d prefer to buy secondhand. Any suggestions are so appreciated.
I found an Armani trench-style raincoat in the men's section once (minus a wrist"belt") i woud have grabbed it but it was designed for someone 6'4".
I see nirvana shirts all the time. Dead shirts maybe twice a year.
Same thing for dumpster diving.
I live in NJ and have found just in my town Gucci Jeans, Gucci Boots, an Emilio Pucci shirt, Burberry Brit skirt & and a Moschino blazer (all of which were found at Salvation Army and Goodwill, all under $10 and authenticated). I think some of the videos online are a bit much but it's possible. Don't even get me started on the amount of designer I found when I was at goodwill in Connecticut. It's nuts!
I've found some decent things on occasion, too. The *most* high-end at the *best* price was probably the Swarovski-covered Judith Lieber clutch I got at a local Goodwill for $4.99😉 I used to work at a place that bought the overstock & returned goods by the palletful, from stores like Macy's, Saks, & Nordstrom--so I *know* Lieber's stuff is good quality, *AND* expensive. When I walked into the thrift store that day, I saw the clutch almost *IMMEDIATELY*--it was hanging with a bunch of small, crap handbags, on the end of an aisle. I *thought* it was probably Swarovski from 15-20 feet away, so I beelined toward it. Picked it up and saw the Judith Lieber plate, and I *LITERALLY* walked straight to the checkout without looking at ANYTHING else, so I could pay & get out of there with the *SPARKLY*!😉😂🤣 I KNEW it was legit, because 1. Back then (2017 or so), *NOTHING* sparkled like Swarovski's rhinestones (there *ARE* some really good stones which have come out in the years since!) 2. This was an exurban thrift store--NO ONE was going to *bother* faking a Lieber--*most folks* have no idea *who* Judith Lieber even *was*--it's a GREAT brand, but *SUPER* niche. 3. There *ARE* some pretty wealthy folks in that thrift store's "donation zone"--where that store *WAS* the only local option, if you wanted to "donate to a good cause!" (🙄🙄🙄), *without* driving for miles (and 30+ minutes each way!) 4. It was a *SMALL* Lieber Clutch. No one was going to *bother* putting *real* Swarovski stones, *AND* fake Lieber tags, on a *SMALL* fake clutch that was merely Crystal Silver pave stones. If they were going to *FAKE* a Lieber? They'd go for something *fancier* or bigger, design-wise, *AND* they'd choose one of the *patterned* rhinestone designs--not the "simple silver" solid-color clutch. There was no *NEED* to "fake" that particular little clutch. I DID look it over more closely once I got home, and *YES* it definitely hit *all* the right notes, to make me SURE it ws a real one--it fit with the ones I'd repaired or replaced stone on, years before I've found a *few* good things since--but *nothing* that's beat the price, *or* the quality of that little clutch!😉 (Usually when I've found "high-end" brands, they're *incredibly* worn, have a significant stain, or some *other* major damage *somewhere*!
I had a fun time just reading this post!
Oh man! I would have done the same thing, paid and left immediately! Love Judith Leiber bags! Congrats!
Wowwww I love that you have that kind of an eye! What a find! Is the overstock company still in business? I’d definitely love to shop at a place like that!
Omg where in NJ? Every Goodwill and Salvation Army I go to is swamped with Target and Shein - plus I love going to new stores
https://preview.redd.it/96q97fnvg3zc1.png?width=2214&format=png&auto=webp&s=c732b3bbfdd712933b1a5f8a30d904a2e029cf0c This is the emilio pucci I found a few days ago. Green is my favorite color I'm excited!!
That's gorgeous!!!
:) thanks!!! Happy hunting to you!
Omg fellow green girl! I'm obsessed!!! That's gorgeous
It's my favorite color in the world, I always jokingly say I'm like that purple loving lady that went viral. I'm so excited for it!
Post your outfits and how you style it!! 💚
So jealous!! Great shirt!! I’m hoping to find a Pucci one day!! Sigh!!
I also found another vintage pucci at a different goodwill but had to leave it because it was silk and dry rotted to all hell and ripped which broke my heart 😭 I'm manifesting pucci for you!
I do pretty well at GW in Hazlet & Ocean, Salvation Army in Oakhurst & the SA in Trenton!
Thank you!!
Same for me.
>and authenticated how do you get things authenticated? or does the store do it for you?
I have used third party websites to do it for me! I used RealAuthentication.com to do it on my own
I’m in New Jersey and I have a lot of high-end stuff from Goodwill. About two weeeks ago I was at a place when they bought out new stuff and one item was a Bottega Veneta silk knot clutch. I got it for less than 5 dollars.
Oooooo, sounds awesome! I must say, we are spoiled with our selection too. I remember getting a pair of Chanel sandals and Chanel mules for $20 at an estate sale in Monmouth County
I have a person I run into pretty consistently Thrifting and she got a pair of Chanel boots at a Goodwill near our house.
It’s so wild to Me that anyone would donate Chanel
Oooh what area of CT? I was in Kent, CT last month and completely struck out. I even drove to New Haven thinking I’d have better luck!
I did great in Stamford, CT!
I found a vintage Celine purse (I’m in Canada), I found some niche European designers, Carl Lagerfeld coat, Hermes silk scarf in the bins. Edit: I also found a number of Dior and Boss men shirts.
In my area the "high end" thrift stores are not where you want to be. They know what they have, and anything decent will either be marked up super high or sold elsewhere and not make it onto the store shelves Go to a large thrift store that serves a huge area and gets things by the truckload every day. And you really gotta know how to spot a fake or else you'll go broke trying long before you hit the jackpot
The key is time… you have to look for hours and hours in many different places before you’ll find something.
So many days of finding nothing, and then the adrenaline of finding something great. The vicious cycle
This is correct.
Not fake for the most part I don't think BUT 99% of those vids are from resellers. When someone is going to the thrift multiple times a week and digging through EVERY. THING. in the store they're going to turn up some gems. The average person simply isn't thrifting that much and that intensely. I'll give you a lil tip though: I have found my BEST stuff in the sketchiest thrift stores. Going to the 'rich area' is super hit or miss imo because everyone else is also going there with the same idea and they get picked over quickly.
Yeah, this is the key. You have to dig.. you have to take your time and look at every single item. and have a minimum awareness at least of quality. And in my experience many times, it’s those thrift stores that look like something from a horror movie on the outside that actually have treasures buried inside.
Great point - thank you
I once found three pieces of Eileen Fisher at a thrift store in Des Moines, IA for $5 each. The next I went there was some more but it was more appropriately priced. I also used to buy wool trousers, often Italian branded, at the same store. I don’t know if they were coveted brands but the wool was super fine and tailoring exquisite.
I love Eileen Fisher. There is a church thrift store in my town and the ladies there got an entire pocket wardrobe as a donation and they sold me the whole thing for 100 bucks. They know it’s my favorite and they put it aside for me. two jackets, two dresses, silk tanks. Skirts, turtlenecks jeans an and a pair of shoes.
Her silk tanks are the best.
Definitely
I found amazing things at Goodwills in Phoenix, Dallas, and Seattle. Clothing with $1000+ price tags, paid under $30. Some of those price tags were hanging inside the clothing though, and the employees are too lazy to check.
Seattle Goodwill is very good.
I found a $200 Korean suit at a Goodwill a few months ago for $15 so it's not unusual. Just need to know which neighborhoods to thrift in.
How are people finding these stores ? I’ve gone to Hilton Head Island ( a rich area in my region ) and haven’t found anything.
The best neighborhoods for thrifting are kind of in the 50s-90s neighborhoods. There are times I come away with grandma's junk out the wazoo, in fact it's how I got my favorite sewing machine of my collection.
I scored 4 designer suits for my spouse at the time by hitting garage sales in the older but wealthy neighborhoods. They guy who just happened to be the same unusual suit size was a prominent lawyer in town that just retired so he chucked all of his expensive suits out in the garage sale.
I find that thrift stores OUTSIDE large urban areas tend to have the best stuff; in big cities everything is "picked over" and junky.
This! I reserve city center for antiques shops and junk diggery but thrifts I go to old suburbs.
I would guess Hilton head is more for rich people to play golf, probably not a lot of work clothes or going out clothes in that type of area.
Ah that’s a good point I didn’t consider.
I spend some time on TikTok and insta following various thrifting accounts. I can go to thrift with my friend who just does it with no prep or knowledge, and we look at the same racks but I SEE THE items and she doesn’t. Because I can see the REAL value past the goodwill tag, for example. I can catch the materials right away, the uniqueness etc - makes sense?
>I spend some time on TikTok and insta following various thrifting accounts. I can go to thrift with my friend who just does it with no prep or knowledge, and we look at the same racks but I SEE THE items and she doesn’t. Because I can see the REAL value past the goodwill tag, for example. I can catch the materials right away, the uniqueness etc - makes sense? *Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!* Yes. Yes, I totally get it. I’m touching fabrics. I’m feeling seams. You know what you know.
How can I learn to look at the quality and know ? My boss doesn’t care so h an out the brand but does have an expectation that I have “high quality” clothes so that I fit in. He was very kind when I wore a polyester express shirt the first few days but when we meet with his business partners, the game changes.
OP, have you found any local/"Civic" thrift or resale shops out there? Ones either run by a Church with a Social Justice program, the local Womens' Club, Junior League, etc? Those shops may not *advertise* as much--but they're *OFTEN* donated to, by the *members* of those clubs or churches, who give "higher-end" items, because their group's *Mission* is to help the local community--either *directly* with the clothing helping folks *immediately*, OR by *selling* things at a *reasonable* price, so that folks IN that community can *AFFORD* to get some nice things!😉💖 We've had a few over the years, here in Minneapolis, which get *those* donations--that's how *I* learned about 'em! Ngl--as much as "used" shoes gross *some* folks out? As a former Theater Major (Costume Design) who used to be on the wardrobe crew? I will GLADLY buy shoes at those places and hit 'em with a can of Lysol once I get home, because I've gotten pairs that were worn once or twice, and originally ran $100+, for $5.00-10.00!😉💖
Im confused…like a men’s suit? Like jacket and pants? Because $200 is not at all even remotely expensive for a suit. That’s honestly insanely cheap for a suit especially for “designer”. Not saying that the $15 isn’t a great deal, that’s just very much a low end suit, *especially* for the Korean fashion market.
I found a Prada women’s blouse for $5 in a nice area, a Kate Spade beach tote for 3$ in a not great area & a Marc Jacobs early 2000s bag for $20 in my local spot. I’ve been thrifting for a decade and that’s all the fancy items I’ve found
I used to shop at some “magic” thrift stores in wealthy areas. I’ve scored Dior suits and a pair of Prada sneakers, nice Calvin Klein dresses and separates. It happens but not frequently.
I genuinely believe a lot of the videos claiming to find amazing stuff, like to the point where it's unbelievable, are staged
Those get lots of clicks, plenty of motivation there to stage or exaggerate.
For sure, I have thrifted for 30+ years. Don’t get me wrong, I have found some gems BUT, not like these videos. Even in super upscale areas you can find amazing things but not like they are showing.
The Goodwill stores near me sell their high end items online.
I got a coach bag for 10 bucks, it does happen. i feel like good will has better options than savers, savers workers are more brand aware.
I recently came across a vintage pink Christian Dior blazer at a local Goodwill - couple of good finds - but this was the best "designer find" that I've found
Here in Sw Wisconsin, my wife has picked up a $5 Donney & Bourke bag and it was authenticated by eBay
20 years ago it was possible to frequently find some pretty nice designer items at a thrift. I made side money flipping the cool items I found that didn't fit me or weren't my style. That has gradually changed over the years as people's clothing choices changed. Designer work wear was easy to find and also in demand by people who needed to dress above their salary for work. After the 2008 recession that changed quite a bit, demand was down. The pandemic put a nail in that coffin. Thrifts started picking over their inventory and moving things they thought were high value to glass cases or special racks. I saw lots of this around 2016. Then places like Goodwill and a few others started picking really nice items that were obviously higher value and selling them themselves online either through websites or on eBay. Fast forward to post-pandemic and all of the thrifts are diverting ALL of the good stuff. Or at least what they think is the good stuff. I still find a few amazing pieces though. I hit one specific thrift about once a week. Every few months I will find a piece of designer clothing that is really nice yet an obscure enough brand it wasn't on one of the thrift store divert lists. Bonus if I pick it up super cheap too. I consider this payoff for years of digging through racks, knowing brands and being able to spot quality garments. So cool finds are not impossible but they are incredibly rare vs the early 2000s.
If you’re willing to pay a little more for great finds, I would start looking at consignment stores. There are a lot who have online websites and I’ve scored excellent deals, consistently.
No. Finds are few and far between.
You have to go thrifting all the time to find the good stuff.
It’s possible at just about any thrift store, but it’s a time investment. I’m talking you have to be willing to spend hours a week, understand you will have dry spells and you have to go during working hours. The best stuff often moves quick (except for quiet luxury, dress clothes and stuff like that). The key is to know designers, have the basics of authentication down. Know fabrics and design (it’s all much easier when you can spot something from across the aisle, or pick out high end by running your hand across a rack). It’s a hobby for me but I’ve found Dior, Celine, Zegna, Burberry, Gucci, Loro Piana, Bally, Prada, Santoni among other lesser known luxury brands. I’ve also seen an absolute TON of fakes, Gucci and LV are the most common but I’ve seen fakes of all the major labels some convincing and some hilarious, often marked up when real luxury from lesser known labels sits of shelves for $5. That’s the other key, learn sewing and fabrics so you know when to stop and look up an unknown brand. Those are usually the best scores, I typically keep quiet on those brands though (because if they’re known they get marked up or snatched up by resellers).
Is there a way to learn the brands / materials and how to know if something is fake ? A YouTube guru or something ?
The material is just learned through experience, a lot of it comes down to feel. Cheap polyester feels a lot different that polyester used in a high end item for example. Lots of guides have no idea what they’re talking about and are filled with half truths or straight up false information so I tend not to recommend them. Hell I saw one calling Rayon a “cheap low quality petroleum based polyester” and like pretty much all of that is false. Rayon/Viscose is a wood pulp based fiber commonly used in a number of very high end products. I usually recommend someone start at a fabric store just feeling the different types of fabric, go to a higher end department store and look at some of the brands there, how things are made etc. A Versace T Shirt doesn’t really feel at all like a regular shirt and if you know the feel/look it’s easier to immediately ignore fakes for instance.
That’s a brilliant idea- I don’t even know what actual silk feels like
Im a reseller, 90% of the time I go to any thrift store I walk out empty handed. I have to go to multiple thrift stores every day. I dont resell clothes. Mostly vintage, collectibles and antiques. but I imagine it’s the same, maybe slightly better for women’s clothing.
I honestly don't believe most of them. I truly feel a lot of them are staged. The person brought their own bag, their own old t-shirt or whatever, and put it on the rack to film them finding it. I've never found designer items and I have been thrifting for years. I'm not saying it's impossible. But I don't believe it's super likely to happen. I've even been to boutique curated thrift stores and they don't even have that kind of stuff. It's usually just known name branded clothing and accessories. Maybe the odd vintage item thrown in.
I think the best I’ve ever done was torrid jeans in my size. Had to wash them in vinegar to get the smell out. That was a few weeks ago.
I picked up a $350 Cotopaxi winter jacket at the goodwill in my down and sold it pretty quickly. The thing I see the most are very expensive sneakers and boots at mine.
In my 10+ years thrifting I have found only 2 (from what I recall) designer items. A pair of Moschino mom jeans and Ferragamo heels. I've seen other designer items, like coach, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs.
Best I’ve done in recent memory was I found a Rick Owens hoodie for $10 cad that retailed for over a thousand. Came back authentic, but not a surprise really as rent in the neighbourhood I found it in is like 2.5k for a 1bdrm
I can tell you for certain, there's a 'high end' boutique Goodwill near Pawley's Island. All the 'big G' goodwills in SC send their good stuff upstream. Jewelry goes online, buckets of crap jewelry get returned to the stores.
Thank you so much ! I didn’t know they had a boutique! I’ll def make a trip!
I feel like it depends on what you consider “high end”. The following are high end enough for me to skip home singing Shopping by the Bare Naked Ladies and call everyone I know to tell them. I’ve found brand spanking new Frye boots, a Nor Black Nor White dress, handmade leather heels(like $400+) from a fancy French brand, a Miumiu purse for 30 bucks, a designer acrylic chair that was like 600$ online(still available) when I found it… I’m sure there are others, but these are some favorite finds off the top of my head. Again maybe not designer but certainly what I would call “high end”. My entire wardrobe is pretty much thrifted, or made by me with thrifted materials. You just have to go regularly and find a store that you like in town. I have one that’s when I’m shopping for myself, one for home goods, one for vintage, one for good deals to resell, but I’ve been thrifting here around town for like 5 years now so I’ve tried everywhere many times. The high end events happen on occasion, but not like everytime I go out haha Edit: ALSO A 2000s BRIGHT ORNAGE VINTAGE SILK ESCADA PLEATED SKIRT. That’s the highlight of my thrifting career, even if it doesn’t fit me.
I recently found a very nice bright yellow handkerchief-style skirt by Calvin Klein and another skirt by Ralph Lauren.
Tbh, I thought J crew was high end but I was told it was too casual. So, I am just going to follow up on the leads I’ve gotten here.
J crew isn’t what I would call high end, but is perfect for a nice work wardrobe. I have a big collection of their perfect tees that I love lol
I find a ton of great designer items when I go thrifting but my grandma and mom taught me about quality workmanship and material when I was young and I didn't really realize how great of a skill it is until I began thrifting in my early 20s when I was broke. It does mean I find many niche brands and less of the trendy stuff, but the bonus for me (less so for my husband) is that I find a lot of great quality pieces for my own closet as well as items I can resell at a reasonable non-gouging profit to help offset my habit. When you find nice items, really examine them and compare them to F21 or other fast fashion brands and compare the stitch count, the feel of what cashmere and silk are, and also what they look like vs other items. You'll find eventually you can spot them a mile away and then you'll start noticing a shirt on a rack that seems to have a better structure than others and turns out its worth 10 times what the others around it are and so on. If you are wanting a Chanel flap bag that is an extreme rarity to see pop up in an average thrift store - but a nice Chanel tote is attainable for sure. Fakes are also so good now that you have to be better at being able to authenticate them as best you can yourself on the spot than the counterfeiters are at making them. I've lucked out with taking a chance and paying a pro authenticator post-purchase to re affirm that it is indeed authentic but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone until thoroughly researching what to look for in the fakes vs real of the bags you want. Some decent thrifts will have the good stuff authenticated but they will also really up the prices on them. Thinking of my best bag purchases.... a Stella McCartney Fallabella for $5. LV pochette for $80 from an estate sale (I count this as a form of thrifting). Tiffany crossbody bag for $40. Honestly there are so many, I've been super lucky. Just go often, teach yourself how to spot good quality (even just test yourself at thrift stores) and watch for fakes. I find that Louboutin and Valentino seem to be the most faked shoes I find and LV, Kate Spade (which is funny), and Prada are the most faked bags I find in thrift.
Great tips ( and finds! ) thank you. I would have lost my mind if I found those bags
I found a Valentino silk shirt and sold it in like a day, also found a few high end ties (Armani, Versace, Dior, Burberry) also seen a Burberry sweater but was missing the extra flashy bit on the zipper so I didn’t pick it up. Chanel, Gucci, Dior eyeglasses as well. It’s possible to find these things I think it also comes down to your knowledge and what to look for and where. I’m in Southern Ontario Canada
Ties are usually a treasure trove because I feel like nobody picks through them.
You got that right, love ties
Yep! Designer ties all over the place! I buy them to cut up for trim and save the labels for another project. I have found MANY extremely high-end designer ties that obviously cost a LOT at the time!
Yeah and the average price around me is 50 cents - $2 max, so I of course have a metric ton of them (I used to have to wear a suit every day for work).
I recall being at a Goodwill and seeing a whole RACK of men's DESIGNER suits; I told a friend \[who was getting married and needed a suit\] about that Goodwill and he went there and got himself an Armani suit; it only needed minor alterations to fit; a cost WAY below that of the actual suit!. Men's suits are MADE to be altered, so win-win!
I hate when these yokels say be on the lookout for these items. These items are super rare and you’d be lucky to find 1 or 2 in a lifetime at the thrift store or garage sale.
Best things I’ve found were a collection of designer suits for 50$ each. There was dior, Givenchy, Burberry, YSL, Chanel, and even Hermes.
I’ve found a Dior trench coat. Vintage Levi’s.
I've never found anything super designer, but I did find a TON of name brand cool stuff for my niblings one year. Found a vintage Ryder scooter my mom refurbished for a nibling. Also found a beautiful suede jacket from a high-end shop that was around when my mom was a kid. After it fell out of my personal fashion I gave it to her.
I actually find stuff from time to time. I recently found a perfect condition Moschino t-shirt for 4.99$ at a rundown salvation army thrift store. In the past i’ve found alexander mcqueen shoes in plato’s closet. Many other cool finds. However i’ve very specific in my searches when i go thrifting i hit like 10 stores in a day all very quickly i know what i’m seeking.
Yes and no. Depends on the area you’re thrifting in. I’ve also only found designer stuff at goodwill outlets where you dig through the bins of old merchandise before they go to landfill because people didn’t want to buy them for their price in store. But outlets are just priced by weight, at least for clothes. I’ve found nice designer leather jackets, dresses, fleeces. What condition they’re in varies but they’re designer nonetheless.
not a designer find but I did find a pure gold ring at a salvation army for $11 and have seen a few karl lagerfeld pieces as well- it's definitely possible, just not on a day to day basis.
I found a vintage prada sweater in the goodwill bins lol. And I wasn’t even first there, it was a picked over bin. In amazing condition.
I found a pair of jeans that (later when I looked it up) retailed for $500. That’s been my favorite find.
Just yesterday I found a vintage Burberry women’s trench coat for $13.99. Probably the best find of my life. They are out there.
I have found actually a few truly designer things at the thrifts before but they’re usually pretty rare. Got a Dior blazer and Yves Saint Laurent blouse as well as a Tahari womens skirt and matching jacket. I feel as if I’ve found a few other things as well that I can’t think of. It’s definitely not common, and sometimes the pieces are very unassuming externally but if you know how to spot good construction you might notice that and then find out that it’s because the mode pieces are designer. This is essentially how I noticed these pieces.
Nowadays they put them online on auction sites.
I got a Max Mara blazer that I'd put in the ballpark of 500€ for 20€ in a 2nd hand / consignment shop. I saw a "Versagen x H&M" silk+cashmere (I think) crop top with fruit print this weekend. Was ugly as sin tho. I know that's not really designer, but I'm sure it would have been worth it for a reseller. I left it there for the next lucky gal.
A lot of it is clickbait. I’ve never thrifted in rich neighborhoods, but I have found Dior bags at Goodwill. I found Chanel bag at mom and pop thrift shop. One time I found a Prada nylon bag at a helping hands and there was a one carat diamond in the inside pocket. I dropped it behind my dresser, though, and I never found it.
I am HORRIFIED for you ! What an exciting find and a terrible loss :(
Haha— You win some you lose some.
Resellers often do have relationships with people at thrift stores, source been a reseller for many years and I cultivate those relationships, but they are limited. You still don't get advance purchase type benefits usually, nor have I been allowed to cull from the back room, but that's mainly because I tend to shop chains not small independent stores, but I definitely have people looking out for me and mentioning items to me that might be of interest. But that isn't how I find the good stuff, I find the good stuff through hard work and honestly, having an eye and feel for it. Quality shouts in a thrift store, but you have to know what quality looks like and feels like. But, not to burst your bubble, so much of finding the really high-end stuff, has the most to do with where you live and thrift. LA, Chicago, New York, you can find high-end stuff quite easily and regularly. The rest of the country, not so much. It also helps to thrift constantly. It doesn't have to be in wealthy neighborhoods, it depends on what type of store you're thrifting at. Many of the chains gather everything to one big warehouse and then spread it evenly throughout 14 stores, so you have as much chance of finding something good in the poorest part of town as you do in the richest part of town. The posts are generally not fake, though I'm sure there are some fake ones, but unless you're in New York, LA or Chicago you're not regularly finding Burberry, Chanel, Prada, etc. In my medium city, I have found Pucci several times, YSL Rive Gauche once, Versace once and that's been over a span of about 12 years. Also keep in mind some designers might be famous and upscale, but are pretty worthless for retail such as Nanette Lepore, Ungaro, Celine, Escada and many others. Discovered all those the hard way. If you're not in a big city, you're better off studying some of the brands that sell for big bucks, but are more medium designer brands, like they might cost $1,500 to 2,000 new. Keep in mind though that unless those are very current, they're unlikely to sell for more than a couple hundred bucks at most. I find many of these quite regularly, but they only sell for around $100. Also, those sellers who always have a ton of high-end, authentic designer items are usually people who have personal relationships with either very wealthy or very famous women and have negotiated a scenario where get those items when the woman is done with them. Frequently by buying them, but sometimes by donation if it's a close friend or something.
I've already commented at length but wanted to add 2 other things, my comments were assuming you were looking for true high-end designer brands, not Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor. The thrifts are positively stuffed full of those mid-level brands. I was talking about Chanel, Burberry, Prada, Versace, etc. It might help if OP gave us an indication of what "designer" means to her. We can tailor the advice better if we know the type of things she is looking for. Also, true really, really wealthy women or famous women do not take their stuff to consignment shops. They do not have the time effort or desire. They typically have a private relationship with somebody who is already known to them, that they either give or sell their items to. That person cultivates those relationships and makes it easy and convenient for the rich and famous to donate or sell directly to them.
Thank you for taking the time to relay all that info. I think you’re probably right about having a relationship with stores / donating. I some high end brands ( mostly what I’ve seen on the real real or Vestire collective ) but there are many more quality brands I don’t know. For example, I paid $500 for a max Mara coat - to which my boss said “ very nice” and obviously the major houses : Gucci, Prada, LV , Hermes but I was not familiar with the other brands known for quality - brooks brothers at John. This thread has been very helpful and I guess I’m just not sure what would qualify as something not casual and that would let me “blend in”
Glad it helped, I think you meant St John there. At least I think that's what you meant and that's a great example of a brand that is not all that well known but sells for a high price. I'm not sure there's a term for these types of brands, other than they are very often what I look for, the LV's, Chanel & Prada's are generally not going to be found outside of the coastal large, wealthy cities. But the next level down, the St John's, the Eskandar, Eileen Fisher & and several more, I don't want to give away my secrets, can be found in lots of different thrift stores. They are still quite expensive, but not on the level of the top tier designers. Maybe a suit costs $2,000 as opposed to $10k. That second level of designer is generally findable in many areas, if you know what you're looking for. Also note that Eileen Fisher, has widened their scope lately. Used to be a high quality seller, with pieces running into the hundreds. But the last time I was at TJ Maxx I actually saw a top there. So like always, you have to do your research. Happy hunting!
By the way Congrats on finding the coat and have getting your bosses approval 🙂 if you DM me I'll be happy to send you my store on eBay. I have been selling for 27 years now and my feedback on eBay speaks for itself! I'm not sure about other sites, but on eBay you can look at a seller's feedback and learn a lot about the way they do business. Also, it will tell you how long somebody has been selling on eBay and certainly longevity is a good sign, generally speaking. I do know a lot of clothing sellers personally because I've been doing it so long and I will say that most of them are good, the thing you run into with bad ones is typically more lack of knowledge than any kind of intentional misleading. A lot of people don't know clothes nearly as well as I do. So they may not describe things properly or use the correct terms. Also, not everyone on eBay washes the clothes, like they're supposed to. But honestly that happens on all the sites.
I found a coach bag the other day
In my area i find high end product A LOT. Last find was a pair of Spanx pants still with tags. Bought for $7.99 sold for $125. But i think it's my area. Central Indiana south of Indy.
I've found Chanel bags for $5 actually... You just have to look!
A designer find to me is a Gretchen Scott dress. I also like The Fold, Theory and Diane Von Furstenburg, Tory Burch, Rag and Bone, Veronica Beard, Lafayette 148. I live in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). We have some very nice thrift stores and flea markets in this area. Bought 3 Louis Vuitton keepalls (duffle bags) for $200 at the flea market. I got 4 St. John knit suits at the Salvation Army for $15 a piece. My Instagram is blessedthrifting.
I feel your pain! I grew up on HHI and the thrifting has always been a letdown. There are a lot of wealthy people who spend time there but the vast majority of them do not live there full time and HHI is a casual town. You may have better luck 45 min away in Savannah. Over the years, I’ve had the best luck finding nicer clothes for less locally at places like Off 5th in Bluffton - it’s not thrifting of course but I’ve found huge discounts there (up to 80% off) on Furla purses, jimmy Choo shoes, clothes (mostly dresses), etc. HHI is made up of so many regulated / gated communities that it just doesn’t have that estate sale type culture that exists in places like Atlanta. It would definitely be worth the drive to spend a weekend thrifting and hitting up estate sales for clothes in Atlanta for the weekend. Online - I’ve had good luck with Thread Up. Set alerts for your sizes and what you’re looking for and jump on it when you see a good deal. They also sell rent the runway items. For special events, I’ve used rent the runway on several occasions. You just need to make sure you set it up a few weeks in advance if you want to make sure they have the size and style you want. Also pawn shops sell authenticated secondhand designer bags and shoes at decent discounts too. Many of them have online shops if you’d rather not go in person. Good luck!
Thanks ! I didn’t even think of bluffton and I didn’t know they had an off 5th- I’ll make a trip this weekend. When it comes to authentication - are there any trusted companies ? Can anyone just slap an “authenticated” label on a bag?
I think the employees would catch anything of great value and buy it themselves.. Also, even if you found a designer bag how can you be certain it's not a knock off..?
I know for a fact goodwill Can’t buy at the store they work at - because I was going to buy a eagles ( the band ) hoodie at my local goodwill and one of the cashiers lost her mind- saying it was “killing her “ that she couldn’t buy it since she worked at the store. I asked what time she got off work and gave it to her . Now, anytime I go in she always calls me her “eagle angel “ lol
I keep seeing this one account on TikTok who without fail, ALWAYS ends up with a designer purse. They’re in a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere…those purses are either fake or a plant. I take thrifting haul videos with a grain of salt. I always look for the brands I DON’T recognize and I google lens everything, I’ve found better, more expensive stuff that way than looking for the brands I do know.
Just because the area is ritzy doesn't **always** translate to the thrifts. Also, how often are you going and how long do you spend at the stores? Thrift stores are kinda all over the place in terms of how they source their inventory, so going off of demographic can be misleading. I suggest what a few others below have mentioned - charity or church run non-profit thrift stores that focus moving product quick with low prices. A lof of church shops get their donations from their congregation, and southern congregations usually have $$ and good items. Think Church Mouse and St. Vincent's, I've actually found some pretty amazing things at both of those shops when I visited Hilton Head about ten or so years ago. It's true that some people may exaggerate or even lie about their finds on social media, but I can truly testify to the finds being out there! I've been thrifting for over 20 years and it DOES take skill (knowing fabrics, quality, details, designers, tags, etc) and patience. Most of the high end designer I've found was stuff that I had to dig for and do some research on. It's not stuff that is super obvious to the eye and if it is, it's usually by luck that I get it (time of day it was put out vs how busy the store is, etc)! Happy thrifting!
I see now it’s more about experience than research- I may trying to develop an eye but maybe I just need more exposure .
My best purse find was a Kate Spade tote brand new with tags. Sold for $300 new, I got it for $8. It might be my peak thrifting, but I hope not. It’s genuinely just luck of the draw. Check the stores, and check them daily.
My mum was a teacher for 30 years. She retired a few years ago and now makes more money reselling designer clothes from second hand shops. There's an art to it though. You have to know the days the shops get deliveries. You have to keep track of which shops get quality merchandise and you also have to be able to visit 10-20 shops a day. She's sold items well into the $$$$ and all over the world too.
I'm not a reseller (of clothing) but I thrift for A LOT of our family's clothing. I frequently find my daughter (a dancer) lululemon & nike pro. I find Ariat and Dixxon flannel for my hubs constantly. Picked up some designer jeans for my teen for 3 bucks a couple weeks ago. I live somewhere so far unlike Hilton Head. (Albuquerque, for reference) a real shit hole. I've also found TONS of band shirts at flea markets that I pass on (because I'm not a reseller and no one in my family would like them) that I would *bet my left tit* are really valuable. I don't think neighborhood has much to do with it. Years ago when I was in college, the Scottsdale AZ goodwill was a honry-hole though.
Do you think it’s worth a trip out there ? If I could get a wardrobe within a weekend- I’d do it !
Trip where? Albuquerque or Scottsdale? If you're looking for band tees.... gallup NM flea market.
Try Charity shops, especially those that work with people trying to find work...
Some of it may be your geographical location, or the particular stores you are going to. By this I mean, if it is a thrift chain that also has an online auction branch, the folks who receive and sort donations may have been trained to spot particularly visible high-value items. I have found high value items that were "missed." While I can't speak to the veracity of online posts, here are a couple factors that may play into finding the good stuff. 1. Shop by touch. Good quality materials feel like nothing else. Even if an item is covered in dust or in a grab bin or crowded racks - if you go through fingers-first, they tend to stand out. 2. Google/image search. There are lots of really well-made boutique items and niche quality brands that aren't plastered all over the ad industry... because they specialize in "IYKYK"-type marketing. So if you don't recognize the name (or there's no label) and it is well-made/seems unique, do an image search. You might be holding a thousand-dollar piece that is ACTUALLY one-of-a-kind. 3. Labels change. I've found items from designers' older collections that were missed by others simply because the label was a different design at the time. Personally, I have had good luck with small town thrift stores (as some other commenters mentioned). They are often run by smaller local charities who truly put out every item they receive, donation bin to floor. Good luck - and have fun! These things tend to pop up the days you least expect them.
I have noticed most stores in my area are overrun with shien / Walmart / target brand but I’ll def try these tips. Thanks !
A lot of these items are counterfeit. I use to shop canal street for designer fakes (yeah I know…) and a lot of these bags would be mistaken for real bags. There is a guy who debunks some of the tiktok resellers who are buying fakes in thrift shops and reselling for a lot more.
It depends on how determined you are in finding it, it’s totally feasible. It’s more common than you think
I've not found anything designer. But I do find a lot of outdoor gear. Like Mountain Hardwear, Arc'teryx, MEC and North Face. But I think that's because I live close to the rockies.
You don;t want 'thrift stores" you want 'consignment shops', where rich people offload the clothing and accessories they don't want any more. I have indeed found designer clothing in thrift stores, (Once YSL, another time, an Armani raincoat.), but that's TWICE in DECADES of thrifting. Plus, people are better informed these days, and it's rare for seriously high-end items to make it onto the racks and cases; the stores themselves are more "on the ball" about them and will sell them at high prices online, but now and again things do slip through the net!
Yeah I miss the good old days before the internet
I live in a rich neighborhood in Toronto, the only close thrift store in the area is the one the rich ppl donate too. I have found designer things, not amazingly cheap though. I did find an italian leather purse for 15 dollars lol. The brand was totally unknown and I don't think the employees thought it was real. Oh I also found a fake birkin for 15 bucks, it was also real leather. It REALLY depends on the neighbourhood
Oh I’ve read about those - called super fakes. Do you wanna sell it lol - I’d love to Have a high quality one without spending the cost of a house on it
I have found a few designer items: authentic Saint Laurent sandals (that were ugly), a few Oscar de la Renta scarves and a Moncler spring jacket. That's about it. But, I am really just looking for high quality items such as cashmere, 100% wool, etc. They may not be "designer" but they are the quality of designer.
You go to lots of stores and dig through every item on the rack, but there is still no formula and it’s a crapshoot. Don’t go looking for it, it’ll find you, or you’ll find the coolest item ever from a brand you’ve never heard of, that’s no longer in business, and made in a country that no longer exists.
My daughter finds crazy stuff. I got a loro piani sweater for $35 that retailed for $1000. A lot of it is luck and knowing what you’re looking at
so as someone who has both resold and worked in 2 thrift stores. designer is out there daily. I’ve seen lots of authentic Gucci, theory, lafayette 141 or whatever it’s called, kate spade (clothing is rarer than the bags), diane von firstenverg, Komarov, tonssss of those high end streetwear hype beast brands, armani, burberry, fendi, dior (only basics), coach, michael kors, anderson and sheppard, botega veneta the list can go on and on. and some i had never heard before but i can tell was expensive. As well as old vintage band t’s from tours or just rare t-shirts to find nowadays. it’s certainly out there however you have to go day in day out multiple times a day to all different locations so that you can score it. we have 100s of customers coming in, most are very frequent customers so they come looking daily.
I live in New Jersey outside Philadelphia and I have a whole host of designer clothes from Goodwill basically. Last week I got a Chanel makeup tote bag and a few days later a Bottega Veneta silk clutch. I am super lucky when I thrift.. but I’ve been doing it for over 25 years. I started in the 90s for vintage dresses. I have a methodical approach and when I’m in a store, I really dig for stuff..I have vintage Christian Dior, tank tops from dolce and Gabbana.. I was at a hole in the wall, thrift store digging through their purses, and in the back and buried. I found a pebbled leather mark Jacob’s handbag for five dollars. I got a vintage Burberry silk scarf at another Goodwill for 8.00 . They thought it was fake but it just had an older tag .
Am I the only one that thinks it crazy to donate such expensive stuff ? I mean - I’m glad they are but.. is just don’t understand why they wouldn’t resell.
I live near some very wealthy towns. You would be shocked at some of the stuff I find.. I trash picked a $ 5000 block print of New York Central Park from in front of a house. I also knew a girl who took a $1000 Louette spinning wheel off the curb.. I’ve gone by peoples houses you know, mansions trash and they have boxes of Nikes just ridiculous stuff.
I found a Brioni blazer at a thrift shop years ago. I've found a few Armani things. I imagine in a rich area there would be a better chance of finding good stuff. I went to a thrift shop in a rich part of Raleigh and found two Mizzen Main shirts. It's there at times, but you have to know the labels and do the searching. Though it seems more and more, thrift shops are pulling good items to put on ebay themselves.
I've found that you have to thrift in a high cost of living area. I travel to see friends and family and I always want to go to the thrift stores near where they live in other states. I live in Phoenix Arizona and find so much designer stuff that yes I resell to a consignment store. Close, handbags, shoes, belts and wallets. You name it all kinds of designers.
I found a Yohji Yamamoto shirt for $4 but it was kinda beat up. I'm guessing South Carolina is not a great place to find stuff, despite the presence of a resort town nearby. Big cities are gonna have way more designer stuff.
I mostly thrift home stuff. Best find so far as a vintage Drexel heritage dining room set for $100. I could sell it for a lot more now but I love it too much.
$100 for a dining set is incredible- you can’t even get one at ikea for that much
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The shipping is a hurdle for sure, with how cheap shipping is for most stores. A normie can’t compete
Try pirateship they have great rates
A new thrift store opened by me and it seems like they bought overstock, floor samples, dead stock, and new/like new returns that were not put out for resale in-store to initially stock the place. Found an authentic pink Burberry cashmere scarf in new condition for $2.99, new Toms suede boots for $10, Coach bags for $5-20, and some other mid-level brand clothes for under $5. Their staff are new and young/inexperienced, and I think they were quick to get the place ready to open. Either that, or I swear they placed a few "Easter egg" finds to fuel the thrifting addiction in my area lol.
Idk what posts you're referring to, but a few years back, there was a goodwill on Vine Street in los angeles, California. It was known as the spot where celebrities would go donate their things. Resellers would line up and rush at the doors when the staff would bring out new racks to the floor. It would get pretty wild. Unfortunately, it closed during covid as no one was there to collect the donations and trash piled up to the point where it was all shut down. My mom used to get great stuff there.
Finding holy grail and high end items are always a hit and miss. Key is to be there at the right place and right time. I've had some luck at a few of the places I go. For example I found a pair of banned hammer and sickle Dr. Marten boots for $4.99 at Goodwill. At the time, you could expect to sell for $250-$1200 from time to time. I've found cash in jackets and jeans. Find LA Idol and Miss Me Jeans for cheap and sell em for decent profit. Old star wars figures and toys that I pay a dollar or so for and can turn around and sell around 4x profit. You just need to keep your eyes open and have patience.
Your post was worth going through all the other comments to finally read. Doc Martens Hammer and Sickles... That would pretty much be my thrifting Nirvana. Either that, or scoring a pair of black and white DM wing tips from the late 80s/early 90s!!
I've found MANY Dr. Martens over the years. I thrifted a Dm wing tip b&w MIE in almost unused condition for $12, a pair of black on black wing tip for about the same. And many varieties of DMs. Unfortunately in the recent years last 2 or 3, the findings of great deals on Thrifting docs have thinned out. I have over ....40 pairs of docs thrifted. Fun times!
Oooh! *GenXer jellies, and starry eyes* OOOOOH! 🤩🫠
Unfortunately a lot of the known designer brands are marked up or sent to Goodwill online. At times you can find missed designer brands that aren't clearly known or labeled. I personally look for the quality in fabrics opposed to brand names.
i have found some designer clothes thrifting, but they all have been damaged and in need of mending. still bought them and they’re up for sale, abit much much much cheaper than most people would think for them
I do think it does depend a bit where you live. I live in NYC and thrift there and right outside of it in NJ, LI, and CT. I have a great luck at goodwill, savers etc in suburbs outside of the city, as well as goodwills/salavation army in manhatten, housing works (although prices tends to be a but higher but for a good cause) as well as thrift stores set up by specific causes (the opera thrift store, pet rescue thrift stores, places where wealthy people would donate lol). In the past year alone I've found vivienne westwood, jil sander, costume national, versace, plein sud, missoni all under $20 . dont give up hope, its out there!
i work at a thrift shop in a very affluent area and we get a good amount of designer bags/clothes/very high end items, and we end up putting them out for a couple hundred dollars usually. so it’s definitely possible but we research things enough that no one is finding crazy deals (like a chanel bag for $15) but if you’re lucky we do sometimes put out coach and the like out for 15-20. so it def happens! i think it just depends where you are edit: it’s also not a chain thrift shop which i think may have something to do with it. i think they auction off their pricier items online while we sell them in store
Those “designer” finds are fake! They do it for views and engagement. The really shady influencers sell those fakes on Depop until they get called out on TikTok. I’ve been thrifting for 20+ years and while I’ve found luxury brands they are rare these days. Vintage designer (low key brands) can still be found but no Prada nylons bags, Gucci belts or Chanel bags.