Leaving empty handed from Lucky Shops last week left me as unsatisfied as a puppy who doesn’t get petted. So sad, right? Lately, I’ve been having dreams of vintage dresses and thrift shopping in general, so I knew my mission for the day: target vintage/thrift-store-row in my very own neighborhood. I had only been in this part of town once before, so I wasn’t quite sure it would be a successful trip. The first local find was a store called “It’s a Wrap: Production Wardrobe Sales,” which offers up a drool-worthy heap of designer steals in a wide range of price points to match any budget. It seems that they knew I was on my way, since everything in the store (save a few select items) were 50% off. For added charm, all items tagged have a key code that lets you know what TV show, movie, or production studio your picks hail from. Such a fun factoid that makes for a great conversation starter! Here’s the loot I ended up with:
I’ve been dying to own a trench for the longest, but my petite stature always proved unflattering in them. This lovely piece has broken the curse, and I’m giddy with joy. All it really needs is a quick tailoring at the sleeves, and it will make the greatest coat for my European excursion.
DKNY Trench Coat New with Tags (from Disney Studios); $25
I knew if there was one thing I needed to get on this bargain hunt, it had to be a new summer dress. This darling number has a slinky weight in a quality material and extremely flattering cut. As I was grabbing this and that off the racks, I really wasn’t paying close attention to sizes. To my surprise this fit like a GLOVE around the bust and the length is perfectly above the knee, plus it’s labeled XS (such a confidence booster!)
BCBGMAXAZRIA Halter Dress (as seen in the TV series “Men of a Certain Age”); $16
This velvety, cropped snake-print jacket by Anna Sui makes a killer piece for a night out on the town. It’s funky in a cool 90’s way, and the color keeps the overall appearance understated. Once I tried it on, there was no question I was taking it home.
Anna Sui Cropped Jacket (from the set of Law and Order); $5.50
I found this vintage hand-beaded handbag from an adorable store called, “The Best of Times.” The store owner, Laree, said that the bag was circa 1940’s from Japan, which made me love it more. I found a chain shoulder strap to attach to it for functionality, and Laree could not get over how it updated the look.
Richere beaded handbag; $15
Drum roll, please! Below is my favorite purchase of the entire day. This vintage leather handbag by Nicholas Reich is so elegant, and is in near excellent condition. The best detail about this bag is it’s foldable metal handle (see detailed photo insert.) It has such a timeless shape, and can dress and outfit up and down with grace.
Vintage framed clutch by Nicholas Reich; $25
EDIT: Structured handbags are this season’s trend, which is why vintage is the way to go for unique, classic purses. I actually passed this one up on my first trip to The Best of Times, but couldn’t stop thinking about “the bag that got away.” I snatched it up as soon as I could this morning, and gave it a quick shine.
There were a few other items I snagged like a turquoise Express dress shirt ($17.50,) two leather belts from Banana Republic (both under $5,) and an Italian leather belt by Claudio Orciani ($4.) Don’t be fooled, though; it took me two and a half hours of sifting through a haystack of just stuff. Bargain shopping is definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s a dangerously addictive pastime, and only the strong-willed make out with the prize.
Suite 707 