5 Items Currently on My Thrift List & Why I Want Them
Gucci loafers, a Jacquemus dress, a logo-print purse, Chloe horse dress, and gold statement earrings.
Here’s a story for you: I grew up thrifting with my grandmother and loved it. It was love at first sight of the discounted racks. My mother, on the other hand, loathed thrifting. For context, she grew up extremely poor and saw thrifting as a status thing. Like, “only poor people buy secondhand clothing” and what not. The thought of it traumatized her. I didn’t grow up as poor as she did, but I didn’t grow up wealthy either. Needless to say, it was my dad’s mom that taught me how to thrift.
To me, thrifting isn’t about status. I’m sure some people would say I’m privileged to even think that… and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, to me, thrifting is more about the environmental factor. And saving money is a bonus that happens along the way. I wasn’t raised rich, and by no means am I rich now. I just love to thrift.
Usually I head to the thrift store with an open mind. Other times, I go with specific items in mind. It doesn’t always work out, but that’s part of the fun. The thrill of the hunt. Although, it can also be part of the misery when you leave empty-handed on a day your hopes were higher than a pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos. I always have a list going in my phone of what I’m hoping to stumble across. Right now, I have a handful of extremely specific items I’d like to procure. Will I find them? Time will tell.
However, if that woman was fortuitous enough to find Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding dress (!!!) at a thrift store, then I have a sliver of hope that I’ll be able to find these very specific items as well. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. Do you sometimes have to be a tad delusional when thrifting? Of course. Like, yes I’ll be able to find what I’m looking for! Of course I will. (Ha, ha.)
But anyone who thrifts knows that you can be playing the long game when it comes to things you want to find. And you may never find them. It could take years. I recently read an article in Vogue about one writer who’d been searching for a certain pair of Mary Janes she’d seen on the runway in the early aughts and after extensive browsing and having some of the best contacts in the vintage business, she still hasn’t been able to find them. Sigh. It is what it is.
Anyway, here’s what I’m looking for. If you see any of these, share the links in the comments please and thank you.
5 Items Currently on My Thrift List
Jacquemus Valérie dress
Picture this: you’re watching the Jacquemus Fall 2020 collection strut down the runway. The Hadid sisters are in the show. And they’re both wearing dresses that make you gasp for air in your living room as your eyes feast on each. That was me. I love the timeless, subtly sexy aesthetic of the Valérie dress, worn by Bella. Five years after seeing it for the first time, my desire to own it hasn’t dampened. I think I could easily wear it with sneakers, stilettos, flip-flop kitten heels, or knee-high boots. The versatility! The other dress, the one Gigi was wearing, ended up being the one I wore to get married in. Here’s a look at it:
Brown & gold Gucci loafers
For years, I never thought I’d be a loafer girl. I guess I should say, before kids I had never been a loafer girl. However, as Belinda said in The White Lotus season 3 finale, circumstances have changed for me. And although I won’t be leaving Thailand tomorrow, I will be stepping into a pair of comfy, worn-in loafers. When you have twin toddlers who run at full speed in public, comfort is key. Loafers could help me chase them while still looking super cute. My eye is set on a vintage pair from Gucci. Since it could be ages until I find the perfect pair, I might settle in the meantime for these square-toed ones from Jacquemus.
A logo-print Fendi bag
This—or something similar to this—bag has been on my wishlist since I first watched Sex and the City when I was sixteen. In those early seasons, Carrie was pretty much the Queen of Fendi. (And let’s not forget Manolo Blahnik, too. But this is about bags.) Since I’m not as irresponsible with my money as Ms. Bradshaw seemingly was, I’d invest in a classic, pair-with-everything edition. If I had extra money to burn, I’d absolutely buy her famous purple version too. I love it.
Chloe spring/summer 2001 strapless horse-print dress
Like (one of) my style icons, Bella Hadid, I’ve always been a horse girl. I didn’t grow up on a ranch, but my parents did manage to scrape together enough to gift me riding lessons for my 7th birthday and I was over the moon. Or perhaps, into the saddle. I’ve been hooked ever since. This dress is iconic. I’d love to have one in my wardrobe. The main character in my short story Back at Chestnut Ranch owns one and that was a little wishful fiction on my part.
Gold statement earrings
Big, bold earrings are a major part of my accessory rotation. Mainly in gold, maybe in a silver pair or two. But really the only time I’ve worn statement silver was to Renaissance World Tour. I especially love vintage earrings. For example, the ones above on the timelessly elegant Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. I’d wear them a sickening amount if I owned them: dinners, dates, daytime outings, lunch, brunch, Erewhon, and everywhere in between.
What items are on your thrift list?