There is a special kind of joy that comes from walking into an estate sale and spotting a pile of something wonderful. For creator @feralcathomereno, that something was a big pile of cozy sweatshirts, the kind many of us remember our grandmothers wearing to run errands, tend the garden or play cards on a chilly afternoon.
The caption says it all: “Granny sweatshirt motherload,” followed by a note that 17 of them came home and the closet now needs some space. In the clip, the shopper and a companion excitedly sort through the pile. Someone asks how much they cost, and the answer comes back: five dollars each. “These are all amazing,” the shopper says. “Every single one.” The shopper also points out that they come in every color. There is a count along the way, with the number reaching 14 on camera, and there is a joke about having hung some of them in the wrong spot, since the linens were over in another part of the sale. The clip ends with a happy sigh over “this glorious pile.”
Because the clip does not describe brands, sizes or exactly where the sale was held, we will not guess at those. What it does give us is a wonderful picture of how fun an estate sale can be when the right items turn up at the right price.
See the pile for yourself in the original post.
@feralcathomereno
Why granny sweatshirts are having a moment
The caption includes the hashtag “grannycore,” a name for the fashion trend that borrows from the wardrobes of past generations. Think soft cotton, cheerful colors, seasonal designs and comfortable fits that were made to be worn rather than admired. For years these were the sort of things that ended up in donation boxes. Now younger shoppers are looking for them on purpose, and prices at resale shops and online have followed.
For many of us, that is a little funny. The sweatshirt your mother wore to a school pickup in 1992 is now somebody’s favorite thrift find. But there is something nice about that. Clothes that were made to last, washed hundreds of times, and loved by one family can go on to be loved by another.
How to tell how old a sweatshirt really is
If you pick up a sweatshirt at a sale and wonder whether it is truly vintage, a few simple checks can help. One guide on dating old shirts, from the vintage seller Keep It Classic, focuses on t-shirts, but many of its clues apply to other cotton tops as well. Here are the main ones, with the caution that you should look at several signs together, because no single clue proves anything.
- The stitching. Flip the garment over and look at the hem and cuffs. A single line of stitching on both usually points to something made before 1996, while double stitching is typically later.
- The tag. Different brands used different tag designs in different decades, so a quick search of the logo on the tag can help you narrow down the era.
- The fabric. The guide notes that a 50/50 cotton and polyester blend was common through the early 1990s, and that 100 percent cotton became standard later.
- Where it was made. A “Made in USA” label was dominant through the late 1980s, and tags from other countries show up more often in later years.
- The print. If a sweatshirt has a graphic, a copyright date near the design shows the earliest year it could have been made.
Of course, you do not need to be an expert to enjoy a five dollar sweatshirt. If it feels soft, fits well and makes you smile, it has already done its job.
Tips for making the most of an estate sale
A pile of sweatshirts at five dollars each is a bargain, but good finds like this usually go to the people who plan ahead. Blue Moon Estate Sales offers a short list of tips worth keeping handy.
- Arrive early. Many sales use a sign-up sheet to manage the line, and getting there early improves your odds on popular items.
- Bring cash. Most sales accept cards, but the company says cash is still king, and small bills help the checkout move faster.
- Measure first. If you are shopping for furniture, keep your measurements on your phone.
- Travel light. Large purses and backpacks may not be allowed inside.
- Be respectful. Sales take place in someone’s home, so stay out of blocked-off rooms.
Another shopping guide from The Everygirl notes that prices often drop as the weekend goes on, for example full price on Friday, 25 percent off on Saturday and 50 percent off on Sunday. The catch is that if you want something specific, it may be gone by then. Her advice is to go on the first day if there is a particular item you hope to take home.
Washing and caring for secondhand sweatshirts
Once you get your treasures home, give them a little attention. Check the pockets and seams, then wash in cool water on a gentle cycle, especially if there is a printed or appliqued design on the front. Skip high heat in the dryer, which can crack prints and shrink older cotton. Hang them to dry or tumble on low. If a garment has a stubborn odor, a soak in cool water with a little detergent before washing often does the trick.
And if you end up with 17 sweatshirts like our shopper, you have a nice problem. Keep your favorites, pass along the extras to friends and family, or list a few online. Either way, the real prize is a closet full of comfortable clothes that came with a little history and a very small price tag.
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