Skip to content

You Down With OPP?

    You down with OPP? Yeah, you know me!

    At least if its Other People’s Property of the thrift store variety (ahem).

    Staying-at-home professionally re-introduced me to the absolute joy of thrift stores. Not only do I save money and keep awesome garments out of landfills, I love the adventure. Plus, its retail therapy without the hangover.

    Did I set out to find a genuine rabbit fur-and-leather bomber jacket in size 3T last month? Why, no dear friends, I did not. Did it make my rock-star girlfriend in NYC cry real tears of fashion joy? Why, yes it did. NOT ONLY THAT. Not only that. Not only that. The too-outrageously-fabulous-for-Wisconsin piece cost me just five dollars plus a quick trip to the post office. Her equally rock-starish daughter already sports it on the playground. Because you can roll like that in NYC at two-and-a-half.

    I love surprising friends with my finds. FOR INSTANCE! For instance. [See I can’t help myself, sorry…cool down. Cooling down…] I found my teeny-hooved friend Meg a pair of perfectly worn vintage cowboy boots on the same trip. Also five-dollahhs. That’s what 50% off purple-tags can do for a friend. HOLLA! HOLLA! ON EBAY FOR ONE HUNDRED DOLLA!

    Remember Little People? I mean the little-Little People. Not the new-fangled variety that need seat-extenders. Oh yes, we’ve reclaimed the Little People in our lives. And yes, I know they are approximately esophagus-sized. But prepare yourself for the nostalgia pictured below. They don’t sing. They don’t light. (oh and for God’s sakes, they don’t mud-wrestle) And They become the hit of every play date.

    Best of all, thrifting Karma lives. Guess who walked out with her own genuine bunny jacket this week? Did I know I wanted my own bunny you ask? Why no, You, I did not know. Would I go out and buy a bunny-coat? Doubtful. Save one from a land-fill? Before you can say FOO-FOO. First I tried on a “Bitten” Sarah Jessica Parka but balked at a $29.99 tag. Er…Steve? Ahh..Barry? Bet this cost less at your digs. Considering the nice color and swell-fit I kept her with me, only to circle back later and find Foo-Foo! Her tag says large, but she’s just my size. Also for $29.99–Bite that Sarah Jessica Parka! Check it:

    Ok, so you might think I look a bit like a hooker, and you’re entitled. BUT WH-WAIT! Even if you scoff at my bunny, you must stay and hear of my lamps! O, MY LAMPS. MY DANISH TEAK, NO LONGER MADE, MID CENTURY, MATCHED SET OF LAMPS FOR $52.00. Yes for both. I found these on my vacation, by the way.

    Sorry about all that capitalization, but Come. On. People. Husband found the same exact lamp in floor-size, selling for $400 on Ebay. I think the lamps second only to the pair of original Knoll Wassily chairs in limited edition charcoal that husband scored on Craig’s List two years ago for $300. Forrrr-thhhhhe-pairrrrr.

    I’ll stop now. I’ll stop. Really, I’ll stop. I promised myself I’d write about something other than preschoolers and sleep-training, and the absolute shit-stick Husband and I have surfed for the past few days. Hope you enjoyed. Savers is open until 9:00pm. Foo-Foo and I will catch you on the flip-side (lined in satin, if you must know). Who knows? We just might find somethin’ for YOU!

    0 thoughts on “You Down With OPP?”

    1. Lisa Loo

      Living in the middle of nowhere Montana–I have been reluctant to surf the 2nd hand store. I’m just thinking that it might have been somewhere I can’t even go in my nightmares. Maybe I will get brave. ROCK ON–my brother and I had that jet! I left the bunny for last.Cuz I am just not sure what to say….it is just that amazing.
      You might want to call it your “bunnies” or Foo-Foo, Peter and Easter–cuz even in Montana we don’t grow them that big. Here in Montana–we wouldn’t call you a hooker–more like–Bear Bait–just sayin…

    4. IB

      I LOL’ed when I read the title of the post. Then I thought it would be a let-down when it turned out to be about second hand stuff…

      but THEN I saw the photo of you in the seriously SNAPPY jacket and I thought, “Now this is what blogging is all about!”

    7. Curly Muse

      I am glad you have found good finds but I must scoff at the poor animals tht died for the fashion! I love thrift stores but I have never found anything that good in Miami.

    10. Beth

      I LOVE shopping at thrift shops and consignment shops, too. I found an amazing gown for a costume that was an old wedding dress WITH FEATHERS for only $30. Both my step-daughters have used it for costume parties, too. I love, LOve, LOVE getting a great deal!

    12. Margo

      Very nice. I have no second hand store skills (or even Century 21 type) unless I’m with a pro who can keep me from analyzing everything to death. The jacket is definitely new economy enviable 🙂

    13. dizzblnd

      Woooohooooooooo what great finds for you. Especially the Little People airport. I used to have one. I love the nostalgia factor.

      I LOVE the thrift stores. I will go one every 2 months or so. I love going into work after and have people rave over my finds. Then watch their faces when I tell them where I found the stuff and how much I DIDN’T pay.

      Some of them say “I wouldn’t buy my clothes from a thrift store” I tell “them think about it.. once the tags are off you have no idea where it comes from” They aren’t convinced. Which is fine.. more for me

    14. Pearl

      Good God, what is it, in our Midwestern blood or what? Was at Saver’s yesterday and bought three new books. Usually get clothes as well but wasn’t quite up to it yet (after being sick for the last five days running) but I WILL be up to it, and SOON, knowing there was a rabbit fur jacket and I missed it!
      Pearl

    15. Roxane

      Oh how I’ve miss my little people toys!!! I wish I could find a good thrift store and if I did I would definitively go on shopping adventures more often.

    17. Coffee with Cathy

      I think some people are just thrift-store gifted. My college-student daughter walks in and finds the most wonderful and stylish pieces and I walk in with her and think, “What a pile of junk!” It’s all in the attitude, I think.

    19. A Woman Of No Importance

      I am loving the teak lamps, Ann, and the playpeople – Fab-oo-luss… What an eye you have for design!

      But the bunnies, Ann, think of the bunnies… I am de-following, tout de suite – As fast as you can shake a little cotton-tail… Well maybe not quite yet! xx

    21. anymommy

      You rock. Will you shop for me. Also, I loved little people, we played with it for hours when I was little. Or at least, that’s how I remember it and I’m sticking to that story.

    22. Andrea's Sweet Life

      Must I really go to bed with that song in my head? And I didn’t even mean to rhyme.

      My mom has a vintage rabbit fur coat in her closet… you have me thinking I may raid that closet next time I’m over.

    24. Amy@Bitchin'WivesClub

      You have totally earned bragging rights with those steals! Love the jacket, but really LOVE those lamps. Can’t believe you got TWO for that price. And the old school toys are awesome… I used to have lots of luck finding great toys like that at Savers.

    25. Rachel

      Oooohh… I found a few good deals myself over the weekend. With four kids, I can’t afford to NOT shop second-hand, but really, it’s thrilling to find something great for next to nothing.

      And OMG, I LOVE that pic of you with your new jacket. LOVE it! LOL

    29. Nanny Goats In Panties

      My God, woman. You are just all kinds of awesome with the thrift stores. I wish I had the patience to troll through all those aisles. Then again, if I’m unemployed for too long, I may just learn to have that patience!

    30. Joanie

      That’s fantastic! We go to the local Goodwill Store when we need costumes for high school plays.

      When my daughter, Gina was in high school, she needed to put an outfit together because she was competing in a competition and was singing On My Own from Les Miserables and needed to look like Eponine. Off to the Goodwill Store we go and find a vest for $3, a skirt for $5 and a blouse for $3. The vest still had the original tag on it…. Bloomingdale’s… for $88 and got it for $3!!

      Gina also once found a cocktail dress, in red, for $5 at Ross. Original price? $135!

      I love great stupendous deals like that!

    32. Simplicity

      First of all, I couldn’t see this pic on my phone, but was SO excited to write about the little people!

      Now, I see the picture and OH . MY . GOD you’re SO much more adorable than little people! You’re gorgeous!

      Ahem

      So, the little people…I have the school house with the magnets for the roof. Remember? The school teacher and the kids in desks? Yup. That one! And the pop-up Kenner tree. Love it!!

      This post took me on a trip down memory lane.

      And I love thrift stores. I appreciate quality, but can’t afford it…unless I score a brand, spanking new pair of Nine West shoes for $5 with cherries and leaves and pale pink wedge heals. Would I have looked for them? NO. Did I love them when I saw them and tried them with jeans? YES!