Breaking my rules: dresses, dresses, and more dresses!

I'm ashamed to admit it, but in the last couple months I've frequently broken rule #1 in my Tips for Successful Thrifting - thrifting without purpose.

This is especially true when it comes to buying dresses. I need more dresses like I need a hole in the head and yet this summer I have purchased 9 new-to-me dresses. My justifications include a wedding, congratulating myself on a new job, my birthday, lack of "summer" dresses, lack of "fall" dresses, stress, and boredom. And the all time justification - at least I'm not paying retail prices.

I could have gotten through all of these things with dresses and clothes that I already own, but when it comes to dresses, I'm a sucker. Any justification, no matter how lame or poor, is enough motivation for me to buy. Granted, I've tried on many more dresses than I actually bought, but still. I can go into a thrift store looking for pants and instead of walking away when I don't find pants I like, I look at the dresses instead.

It should come as no surprise that this morning I went to the Economy Shop with zero purpose and walked out with two dresses and three books (why do I need books? I work in a library! Sigh). My justification: I had not been to the Economy Shop since they reopened after their annual summer hiatus. I just wanted to look around and also make sure I didn't miss out on the good stuff that tends to be easier to find at the beginning of a sale season. Sometimes I suffer from fomo (fear of missing out).

So here's what I got:

A Calvin Klein animal print dress for $16.

A gray, made-in-the-USA Bailey 44 dress for $14 (retail around $170).

So despite the fact that I broke one of my rules, these were great buys, fit well, and I anticipate wearing them to work this fall. Besides, they're not really "rules" so much as "guidelines" anyway.

The weird and unusual

Thrift stores are notorious for the strange things they stock. Here are a couple I've seen recently.

A wig at the Economy Shop in Oak Park, IL

A pile of hangers at Fashions Anew in Oak Park, IL

Oak Park Vintage Market

The Oak Park Vintage Market definitely doesn't fall into the category of thrift store. There is nothing thrifty about this place. It is a well curated store of truly vintage items.

If you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry - this is the place. The jewelry selection is large and heavy on silver, turquoise and very nice costume jewelry.

Aside from the jewelry - which is their primary business - there is a lovely selection of small-scale, vintage furniture, art deco vases and curios, purses, and boots. If I was able to afford it, I would have happily walked out with a silver bracelet or two and a mid-century modern chair.

Economy Shop - Oak Park

In the interest of full disclosure, the Economy Shop in Oak Park, IL is my favorite thrift store. Beyond all the stuff jammed into this place, there are so many things for which they are to be commended including volunteerism, charity, and of course, great prices! 

The Economy Shop

A little background: It all started in 1919 and the shop has been at its current location since 1924. It is volunteer run, all the merchandise is donated, and all the proceeds are divided between six Oak Park charities - The Day Nursery of Oak Park and River Forest, The Children's Clinic, Thrive Counseling Center, Hephzibah Children's Association, The Animal Care League, and OPRF Senior Citizens' Center.

 Now to the stuff!

Hats on display in the accessory's room.

The Economy Shop is housed in a large residence at the corner of South Blvd. and Grove. The stuff is sorted into rooms: women's better clothes, women's leisure clothes, men's clothes, gifts, antiques, housewares, accessories, shoes, books, toys, crafting supplies, and children's clothes, oh my! Each room supports one of the six charities and you pay as you go. Find a cute dress in the women's better clothes room? You pay for it there. Find a birthday card for your mom in the gift's room? Pay for it there.





















They really do have a little of everything which means that you could spend several hours looking through stuff. Like most large thrift stores, you'll have to sift through some of the bad to get to the good. On the plus side, they rotate the clothing by season, so you won't be sifting through winter sweaters in the spring.

The first few times I shopped here, I stayed way too long and bought a few things I didn't need and never used. Now, I always go in with a plan. I decide what I need and what rooms I am willing to look through before I even walk through the door. Otherwise, I risk walking out with an 80s-style party dress (black velvet and teal ruffles!) or over-the-top fur coat (whoa!).

The major downside is that the Economy Shop is not open 7 days a week. It's really only open once a week or every other week. They keep an updated schedule posted on their website, so plan accordingly. It is well worth a visit!

What is this? I have no idea, but it costs $25.

Clara Sun Woo Dress

Yesterday evening I stopped by Trends, a upscale consignment shop in Oak Park, IL. Trends is one of my favorite places to thrift. The prices go down the longer items stay on the rack. The pricing is fair to begin with and with a little luck and good timing it gets even better.

My find yesterday was this Clara Sun Woo dress for $11.99. A little online research indicates that this dress would retail in the neighborhood of $80 or $90.

The ruching detail in the front is particularly interesting.