Thrifting and gifting
While my dislike of re-gifting is intense, I view thrift-gifts entirely differently. (Does that make sense? Maybe not.)
Many appealing objects end up in thrifts because of moves or purges; the wiliest thrifters keep their eyes open all year long, because thrifts do get heavily picked in the fall. Increasingly, families who use the "Secret Santa" approach specify that the gift be secondhand, a welcome shift from brand-mania. And there's always an additional "gift": the thrift-gift keeps stuff out of landfills.
I've dressed the windows today in thrift-store finds destined as gifts... and gifts-to-me.
For family and friends
Left to right:
1. For our little grandson: Babar and Babar ABCs book; total, $3. One of my favourite thrift finds ever; Babar is a huge favourite of mine, despite the criticism of his colonial autocratic rule.
2. Etched crystal candy dish with pinecone motif, $2.50
3. Paperback edition of "To the Lighthouse", new condition, $1.50
4. Pair of kitty trinket dishes, $1.50
Gifts to me
By applying the same rules we use for shopping sales (Would I buy this full price? Does it work with my wardrobe? Is it in perfect condition?) I found a few things for winter:
Left: Moss green cotton velveteen Lady Hathaway jacket, $6
Centre: Luisa Cerano (a Berlin-based brand) marinière, $5
Right: Mohair scarf, made in France, $2
While riffling the rails, I chatted with a young woman who told me she buys only at thrifts, but recycles everything after several months. "I like to change up my clothes", she said, "have something different. So I wear it awhile and then bring it back!" That's a consumption style I'd never considered, but it beats retail fast fashion.
Here comes the season when we're enjoined to buy, either for Christmas, or via the hype of Black Friday. I am not immune to deals and dazzle, but am ever more drawn to what can be found by dedicating a few hours to considering others' castoffs.
Should the item I've chosen not delight a family member, he can re-donate, or give it to his twin brother. (Looking at you, Etienne.) But I have a good enough hit rate, from bathtub toys to toques, to keep picking up things for those I love.
Do you thrift-gift? How do you find your treasures? Or do you prefer to shop retail?
Many appealing objects end up in thrifts because of moves or purges; the wiliest thrifters keep their eyes open all year long, because thrifts do get heavily picked in the fall. Increasingly, families who use the "Secret Santa" approach specify that the gift be secondhand, a welcome shift from brand-mania. And there's always an additional "gift": the thrift-gift keeps stuff out of landfills.
I've dressed the windows today in thrift-store finds destined as gifts... and gifts-to-me.
For family and friends
Left to right:
1. For our little grandson: Babar and Babar ABCs book; total, $3. One of my favourite thrift finds ever; Babar is a huge favourite of mine, despite the criticism of his colonial autocratic rule.
2. Etched crystal candy dish with pinecone motif, $2.50
3. Paperback edition of "To the Lighthouse", new condition, $1.50
4. Pair of kitty trinket dishes, $1.50
Gifts to me
By applying the same rules we use for shopping sales (Would I buy this full price? Does it work with my wardrobe? Is it in perfect condition?) I found a few things for winter:
Left: Moss green cotton velveteen Lady Hathaway jacket, $6
Centre: Luisa Cerano (a Berlin-based brand) marinière, $5
Right: Mohair scarf, made in France, $2
While riffling the rails, I chatted with a young woman who told me she buys only at thrifts, but recycles everything after several months. "I like to change up my clothes", she said, "have something different. So I wear it awhile and then bring it back!" That's a consumption style I'd never considered, but it beats retail fast fashion.
Here comes the season when we're enjoined to buy, either for Christmas, or via the hype of Black Friday. I am not immune to deals and dazzle, but am ever more drawn to what can be found by dedicating a few hours to considering others' castoffs.
Should the item I've chosen not delight a family member, he can re-donate, or give it to his twin brother. (Looking at you, Etienne.) But I have a good enough hit rate, from bathtub toys to toques, to keep picking up things for those I love.
Do you thrift-gift? How do you find your treasures? Or do you prefer to shop retail?
Comments
The most I spent at once was about $65 for my friend Marina (about which I posted last summer). There was no option to return (as I'd have passed the time limit), but I figured what the hey, the charity store is a good cause and I had such fun picking. M. would have just redonated the things that weren't right (but everything was!)
With kids' books, I treat thrifts as a lending library with a dollar or two donation attached.
My husband and I differ on whether a used item is appropriate for gift giving. He does find bargains though! I prefer to give gifts that are unique to our area and are consumable. Most people just have too much stuff! I also give cash. Who doesn't love a little fun money for a treat?
I received a used, crystal candy dish for a wedding gift. It still had crumbs in it!
I have, though, found things you can use up in thrifts: art supplies, those bound blank notebooks, and just last week, a container of bath confetti that gradually melts, to amuse our grandson. And books, if you count those.
mater: I forgot to tell you about my girlfriend Jeanne who visited last summer and we found a new Rudsak wool and leather car coat, unworn condition- and then a designer blazer (absolutely current) and a sundress. Total cost $24. She could not believe it, as had never thrifted.
But I have my limits: walked into a vintage shop that smelled so heavily of mildew that I fled. And junk stores don't do it for me.
Plants: have seen at yard sales.
It is a brilliant idea to buy clothes for a trip to a locale or a setting where you are unlikely to get use of the things once you are home. There are always lots of tees in excellent condition. A friend who was a fly fisher used to buy lightweight cotton pants and shirts at thrifts, and wear them fishing, then discard.
I've found some lovely things for friends at charity shops, bazaars and other thrifts, and for myself. But the pickings of some items (silver jewellery) seem slimmer and nowadays there is a lot of throwaway tat. I missed St-Madeleine d'Outremont last week (working); a male friend found a beautiful casual woollen jacket. I've bought very high quality clothing for babies and small children there.
I've been clearing out a lot in recent months, so I've been more involved in taking items to charity shops and bazaars than buying there. Imperative to keep a small flat tidy, when one isn't particularly thus. By bicycle, by bus, a couple of time by a neighbour's car - though I gave her some very nice antique chairs in exchange; don't want to be an eco-leech.
It is easy for avid thrifters to bulk up their cupboards. (There I am, holding, say, a handpainted butter dish, that is less than the price of diner coffee. But would I use it?)
These posts that report interesting finds probably do not represent the number of times I come home empty-handed. You know what a small condo means, no more "bring it home and see if I wear it"!