Bettie Thrifts Boston!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was able to do some thrifting during my last trip to Boston.  My bestie had to spend some time working, so I figured what better way to kill time than to shop!?

I decided to make a quick stop in Cambridge on my way into the city.  My friend had previously taken me to Garment District, which I loved, and I had also read about Boomerangs.  Both were within walking distance of each other, so it made for the perfect shopping trip!

I parked by Boomerangs and stopped there first.  I was really excited to check it out - Boomerangs is a small chain of thrift stores throughout the Boston area run by the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, and proceeds from sales go directly to their efforts.  In addition to purchases going to a great cause, reviews and write-ups I read online raved about Boomerangs, so I felt like it was a must-see.  

The size of the store in Cambridge was pretty small, but very organized.  There were sections for furniture, home knick-knacks, men's clothing/accessories and women's clothing/accessories.  I was really impressed by the selection and quality of furniture.  Everything was in great condition, and very reasonably priced.  Some of the items were very unique.  If I lived locally to Boston, I'd definitely look here for some good home thrift finds!  Also, added bonus: Boomerangs has a monthly promotion calendar on their website.  The weekend I was visiting was "Moving Weekend" so all furniture was 10% off, 30% off if you took it with you on the spot.  Not bad at all!

However, aside from the furniture, Boomerangs was a bit of a bust for me.  I'm not sure if my expectations weren't correct, or if it had just been cleared out that day.  I wasn't searching for anything in particular, but nothing really jumped out at me.  I came across many sweaters and shirts with holes in them, and a lot of the shoes looked dirty and dusty.

I purchased a huge $3 spool of yarn for a project I'm working on, and a small cross-body for $6, but overall I would say Boomerangs was a bit of a disappointment for me.  If I lived locally I'd stop in now and then, especially for housewares, and would check out their other locations.  I'd always like the opportunity to support a good cause! However as an out-of-towner I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to make a stop back.

My other Cambridge stop was at Garment District.  My bestie had taken me there last time I was in town, and I had loved it!  I was excited to stop in a second time to give you guys a proper scoop.

Garment District labels itself an "Alternative Department Store".  It's decked out in fun colors and random props.  The first floor is actually a costume store with anything you can imagine (not thrift, new items), and the second floor is the second-hand area.  There is a women's section and a men's section, and then different racks broken down by category (even down to an entire section of acid wash, flannels, jerseys, etc.)  They have A LOT of merchandise, and I think a pretty good, fun selection.

Pricing is fair, but not crazy cheap, thrift pricing.  As an example I thought these heels were to die for; they were in great shape and $18.00. It's a good price, but not the lowest I've ever seen.

In addition to regular second hand, they also have a vintage section in the back of the 2nd floor.  The section has a fun selection of 80's and 90's clothes - think ugly sweaters galore!  They also had a small section of vintage dresses, shorts, and blouses.  Most items seemed to be from the 60's and 70's, not too much prior to those eras. They also have a 'special vintage' section at the front of the store behind the cash wrap that you have to ask to see.  I didn't notice those items until it was too late!

My find of the day, which I LOVE, was this cream sweater dress:

I felt like I had never seen anything like it, and for $24, it was a no-brainer! I can't wait to wear it with some festive pumps and a bright red lip this winter!

I definitely had more fun and more success at Garment District during my Cambridge 'thrift stop'. I was disappointed I didn't have time for the ultimate adventure there: By-The-Pound!  Garment District has a room on the first floor where they just dump a bale of clothes, and you can fill a bag and pay by the pound!  Would definitely like to take some time trying that another day. Even though I didn't have much luck there, you can never turn down an opportunity to shop for a cause, so I'd recommend giving Boomerangs a go as well if you're ever in the area.

Are you a Boston bargain hunter?  If so, where else is on your must-shop list?  I'll definitely be back, and would love any and all of your tips! :)

Until the next adventure,

xoxo, Bettie

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!

Unbeknownst to me, today is one of the greatest "holidays" of the year: National Thrift Shop Day!  I've been seeing great deals advertised by thrift and vintage stores all over social media to celebrate.  Unfortunately I'm confined to my cubicle today, and have a painting-the-walls date with my bedroom later, so I'm not going to be able to participate in any of the fun!  Let me know if you make any great finds today - Happy Thrifting loves!

xoxo, Bettie

Friday Finds Weekly Roundup: August 7

While I was in Maine I did a lot of shopping!  I'll be writing about the second vintage shop I visited (and LOVED!), but I also made some great finds at other places along the way.  Here's my Friday Finds roundup for this week!

$4 Blazer from A Touch of Class Too Thrift Shop in Farmington. 

$10 BCBG flats (looked barely worn) from A Touch of Class Too.

 A Touch of Class Too is run by Work First, Inc., an organization that provides jobs and support to people with disabilities.  Can't beat good finds for a good cause!

$20 Superga Sneakers from Marden's.

Marden's is the size of a Wal-Mart and is kind of like TJ Maxx, just way more disorganized, and you have to dig to find the good stuff.  The store is fun for both men and women, and for all ages!  I actually think men would do even better here - they had basic t-shirts for $1, lots of sports teams items, and I saw tons of Nike jackets and sweatshirts for just $25.

On the way back on a day trip to Pemaquid, we stopped in the adorable town of Damariscotta. There were tons of great little boutiques. My brother and I loved Seawicks Candle Company, a husband and wife team that make and sell their own soy candles.  Their shop is awesome; they sell their candles, but also purvey unique antique pieces and other goods by local artisans.  The store itself has such a great relaxed, seaside vibe.  Their candles are on the pricier side, but I think it's worth it to 1) get a great product and 2) support a local business!  If you're ever in Damariscotta, definitely stop by!

 

Weekend in the 'Burgh: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix + Hey Betty!

Hi darlings!  I'm writing this update fresh off of my car ride returning from my second home, Pittsburgh PA.  My mom's a native to the city, and I went to college out there; I love everything about it, from the food to the shopping, from the Yinzer accent to the skyline!

 I mean, really, swoon!

 

My honey and I specifically took the trip out for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, an International Car Show and vintage car race that takes place at the biggest park in the city.  People travel from all over the world to show their cars and/or be a spectator.  Literally every type of car, both vintage and modern, is represented.  I was beyond excited when I found out that my dream car, the Thunderbird, was the Spotlight Car this year!

One day.....(wearing my $5 top from Arden B. and $23.00 shorts from LOFT!)

The event is held for charity, and is entirely free! There was a $20 charge to park our car at the official event parking, but if you park elsewhere in the neighborhood, there is zero charge to be a spectator.  Talk about beyond a bargain!

We spent a full day at the Grand Prix, and then spent a second day visiting our favorite neighborhoods and trying some new places to eat.  Here are a few highlights from our trip!

How adorable was the Airbnb where we stayed?  It had a rooftop deck!  PLUS it was only $55 a night!  If you're new to Airbnb like I was, definitely check it out!

Ice Cream at our favorite place, Dave and Andy's!

View of Downtown from my morning run.

Enough about our vacation, let's get to the good stuff:  where I went shopping!  Because we had such a short time frame I planned out two stops ahead of time:  Hey Betty! Vintage Clothing in Shadyside and the Community Thrift Center in the West End.  

After a scrumptious brunch at Cafe Moulin in Shadyside on Sunday morning, we decided to walk the 15 minutes to visit Hey Betty! on Ellsworth Avenue.   Not going to lie, the name may have had an influence on me deciding to stop by!  However, as soon as I walked in I knew this was the right place to spend our precious time.

Hey Betty! has been open since 1988, and the owners have been buying and selling vintage since 1980.  The store is so well known in the area that celebrities have been known to stop by; vintage lovers Chloe Sevigny, Helen Mirren, and Jamie Lee Curtis have visited, just to name a few! You can see where the reputation comes from immediately when stepping inside.  The store is packed wall to wall with amazing vintage; literally anything you could possibly be looking for, from all different eras.   

One thing I noted right off the bat was the offering of men's clothing and accessories.  The immediate left side of the store is dedicated to shirts, jackets, coats, shoes, pants, hats, and even glasses for men.  So far on my travels many of the vintage shops I have visited have been curated by women and have mostly sold only women's items, so this was definitely a treat for my honey as well!  

On the woman's side, the first section seemed to be a mix of featured items on hangers, underneath a display of hats and other accessories.  Other sections seemed to be a bit more defined: there was a rack of sweaters, a rack for dresses, and one for skirts and pants.  Towards the back of the store tucked by the dressing room is a smaller closet-like area with vintage sleepwear and slippers (amazing!).  They have a separate back room for larger evening gowns and heavier jackets.  Intermixed throughout are handbags, gloves, hats, and even housewares!  A glass case front and center hosts jewelry, pillboxes, and cuff links.  

We spent some time taking everything in.  I absolutely LOVED these two jackets:

 

The light blue brocade jacket is still haunting me...it was slightly too small, but I can't stop thinking about it!  It was priced at $60, which I think is a GREAT price for such a beautiful jacket in mint condition.  Oh dear, writing about it is making me want to call and buy it over the phone!

I ended up purchasing this beautiful mosaic ring.  It caught my eye out of all of the items in the case!  Since we were on vacation I just wanted something small to remember our trip by, and this was totally perfect!

How cute are the matches from Hey Betty!?

Overall I LOVED Hey Betty!.  It's clear why it's a stop for celebrities and others passing through the Burgh!  It's definitely going to be a regular stop for me whenever I visit the Steel City.

I had planned a second stop at the Community Thrift Center in the West End, which I was also excited to check out for some great deals.  For some reason I thought the store closed at 5:00PM, so when we arrived at 3:50 I was surprised to hear they were closing in 10 minutes!  I was only able to skim over part of the selection; the store is large, and is comparable in feel and organization to a Goodwill or Salvation Army.  As they were ordering us to bring any final purchases to the registers I grabbed and bought this dress, without trying it on:

For $5.99, I think it was definitely worth it!

Have you done any thrift and vintage shopping in Pittsburgh?  Let me know where I should go next time I'm in town!

That's all for now darlings!  Until next time...

xoxo, Bettie

Unique Memorial Day Madness!

 Hand-me-down shirt from mama, $1.50 brooch from Unique, $2.00 vintage shorts from Unique, $15 sandals from Marshalls

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope you've been enjoying your long holiday weekend - here in New Jersey we've definitely been lucky with some gorgeous summer weather.  Instead of being down the shore like most of my Jersey counterparts I've been stuck at home studying - scheduling a licensing exam the Friday after MDW definitely wasn't the smartest decision I've ever made! However, you better believe I made sure to give myself a shopping break!  I started my morning yesterday by checking out Unique Thrift's Memorial Day Sale. 

If you're not familiar, Unique Thrift is a pretty large thrift store chain that currently has 30 locations, with a large amount of them here in New Jersey.  What's fun about Unique stores is that they are HUGE - I would say the size of a Marshall's/TJ Maxx, and carry EVERYTHING; clothes, shoes, jewelry, toys, furniture, electronics, accessories, housewares, you name it.   As they say on their website "...a quick trip to Unique Thrift store has been known to turn in to a day long adventure", and they're not kidding! You could easily lose track of time there. Prices are definitely good, especially for what you may come across tucked in their racks - shirts and blouses range from $3.99 to $6.99, dresses for less than $10.00, and shoes in the same range.  They also have a "special section" of sorts behind the registers where they keep more expensive items such as designer brands, fine china, and smaller electronics.  

What drew me to Unique this weekend was their holiday sale.  Every long holiday weekend the entire store goes 50% off on the holiday, with a special preview day for their VIP Loyalty Club members the day before.  Being in the Loyalty Club is totally free, and is similar to most loyalty programs at other retailers; you earn points for your purchases, and in return have access to sales and receive additional discounts and coupons.  This weekend they had an additional incentive - if you downloaded their Unique VIP App to your smartphone, you could enter the store an hour earlier on preview day.

I wasn't sure what to expect, so I arrived at the Union, NJ location around 9:45 AM; 15 minutes ahead of the early access time.  Others clearly had the same idea as me, which I was expecting!  There were about 20-30 people already patiently waiting for 10 o'clock.  The line would continue to grow before they opened the doors.  At exactly 10 they came out and began letting people in, checking each person's smartphone for the app.  People rushed in and grabbed precious shopping carts, ready to load them up!  I wasn't coming in looking for anything in particular, so I took my time wandering the aisles and sections.

There was a lot to look at in the jewelry section; they had multiple cases, all pretty packed:

A lot of it was fun costume pieces, and everything was very reasonably priced. I've been getting into wearing brooches lately, so I picked up these three cuties, along with some fun beads!:

 With the 50%, I paid $9 for the three necklaces and the three pins!

I also came home with an adorable handbag, a pretty vintage scarf, and a nice Ann Taylor top.  However, my find of the day was definitely these vintage shorts!:

 

How cute are they!?  I was giddy when I picked them up off the rack, and even more so when they zipped up perfectly!  They were priced at $3.99, so with the discount they were $2.00!

Overall it was definitely a successful shopping trip, and I would absolutely go to a 50% off event at Unique again.  After doing it once though, I have some advice:

• If you're planning on trying on clothes, come wearing a tight camisole and leggings/tight shorts.  Unique only allows 3 items in the dressing room at one time, and you're required to leave your cart outside the dressing room. Some people were stealing items and entire carts from people trying on!  To avoid this and having to go back and forth from my cart, I ended up trying on only the bottoms in the fitting room, and tried on all of the tops over my cami in front of another mirror in the store.  Next time I wouldn't even bother with the fitting rooms.
• Definitely try to get there early.  Once they opened the doors at the normal time of 11am, there was a huge rush of people.  By the time I left around 11:30, the racks were noticeably more empty.  To get the best selection, and to to shop with a little more ease, it's worth it to get there for 10:00 am.  
• Come patient and ready to be around tons of people!  You'll be constantly maneuvering amongst other people's stuffed carts, and sometimes waiting for an associate to be available to help you at any of the counters.
• Don't hesitate to flip through every item on the rack!  Sizes can be in the wrong spots, and you never know what you'll come across!

If an event like this isn't for you, definitely check out Unique any day of the week!  The prices and selection are definitely worth it, even without the 50% off.

Even though it's been low key for me, it's definitely been a well-spent Memorial Day Weekend.  Enjoy the rest of your holiday loves!  Until next time....

xoxo, Bettie