Thrifters tend to say that every haul is the best one yet, and @chynnawoo admits she is no exception. She says she tells herself that all the time, and then she opens with a find that makes her stop and ask for a moment of silence: an Emilio Pucci coat, pulled from a thrift store rack, that fits her like a glove.
She has a trip to London coming up the following week, so many of the pieces she picked up were chosen with the trip in mind. Here is a walk through the whole haul, in the order she shared it.
@chynnawoo
The Pucci Coat
She tries it on, and even the sleeves fit. That matters to her because she is five foot two and says nothing ever fits her in length. She calls it maybe her craziest thrift find to date, and says she does not even want to show the other items because nothing will compare.
Coats and Blazers
Next is a purple Boden blazer in a size six. She points out that purple is the color of the season and loves the lining. She is normally a size four, and she thinks Boden runs small, but it fits her well, and she thinks it will be great for London. It is, as she says, a good day for coats.
She also found a vintage Nanette Lepore coat. She thought she had really scored when she spotted it, with a belt closure and a cute flower detail. But then she found the Pucci, so she wonders whether she needs both. It is a little heavier than the Pucci, and she is considering returning it.
Then came a vintage 100 percent cotton blazer in a color she loves that has the look of velvet. She had never heard of the brand, and the tag says size fourteen. It is oversized on her, but she kind of loves that and would wear it that way. Another blazer, from a brand called Ice, looked very Chanel to her, with bejeweled little beads, and she loved the brooch too. She thought it would be perfect for her work trip.
Sweaters, Pants and Everyday Pieces
A navy Aritzia cardigan in a small was a fun find, and she loved the white showing underneath when she tried it on. A navy Lululemon sweatshirt with a big emblem on the back is a small or medium, and she liked the blue on blue look. She thought a pair of Rag and Bone straight leg pants in a size twenty seven would be her best find of the day. They are low rise, which she says she dabbles in here and there, and she notes they are still sold on the brand’s website.
It would not be one of her hauls without Ralph Lauren. She found two button ups. One is a small, which she says is always hard to find. The other is a size sixteen and a half with a yellow and navy vertical stripe. She is going to see whether Jacob wants it, though she suspects the sleeves may be too short. It is so soft, she says, and the previous owner took good care of it, because it still has the dry cleaner tag, which she always loves finding.
She also found a Polo Jeans quarter zip sweater in gray and black, a women’s medium. She has only found that logo once before, and there is no obvious Ralph Lauren badge on the front. She says you would never know, but she loves it anyway.
A Carhartt and a Summer Dress
Her last two items were a brand new with tags Carhartt sweatshirt and a little organic cotton dress from a brand she loves finding. The Carhartt cost twelve ninety nine, which she found crazy since it cost more than the Pucci. She is not a huge Carhartt fan, but she plans to give the sweatshirt to Jacob’s niece. The sweatshirt is cropped, with openings on the side, and she describes it as super cozy. The cotton dress is an easy, throw on and go t-shirt dress for summer.
Lessons From a Great Haul
Even if you never find a Pucci, her haul holds some good ideas for your own thrifting. Here is what stands out.
- Try it on. Many of her best finds were judged by how they fit. Even a vintage piece in a larger size can work if you like the oversized look.
- Shop the coat rack in cold months. She started her haul with coats, and outerwear is where a lot of value hides.
- Look at labels you do not know. She picked up blazers from brands she had never heard of simply because of the color, the fabric and the quality.
- Check for tags. A dry cleaner tag is a good sign that the item was cared for. New with tags items are an added bonus.
- Keep your return option open. She says she might return one of her coats. If you are not sure, check the store’s return policy before you buy.
- Think about who else would love it. She planned to pass along two pieces to family, which makes a thrift trip even better.
It is also worth noting how she shops: she goes to the store with a purpose and a trip in mind, so she looks for pieces that suit the occasion. If you are packing for a trip, a blazer, a good coat and a comfortable cardigan are some of the most versatile things you can find on a thrift store rack.
Her enthusiasm is a good reminder of why so many people love thrifting. The thrill is in the hunt, and a day when everything fits, the sizes work and the prices are friendly can feel like a small miracle. Even if your finds are a little more modest, the same patience and a careful eye can lead to a wardrobe you feel good about wearing.
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