Food, Home and Style

Capital Thrift—Finding Clothing Bargains in Washington

One of the first things I gave up when I lost my job was buying clothes. Since I only needed jeans and t-shirts to wear around the house and a few suits for interviews, I didn’t have a valid excuse to shop. But, within a few months, I was itching to refresh my wardrobe. The weather was warmer and I wanted to add some color to my closet. So I decided to bend the rules. I called my friend Frances, who’s also unemployed, and asked her to join me for some shopping—thrift shopping. D.C. isn’t the most obvious place to find cool clothes, and I wasn’t sure if we’d find anything worthwhile, but at least for the afternoon it would be a distraction from the job hunt.

The last time I shopped for used clothing was in high school, back when the grungier the jeans, the more worn the flannel, the better. This time around, Frances and I were hoping to find more upscale duds. Maybe something to wear on an interview or the next round of networking events.

First stop: The Remix, located in D.C.’s Eastern Market neighborhood. Two steps through the door we were oohing and ahhing over a rack of vintage tea dresses—until we saw the prices, in the $45 to $65 range. A steal if you’ve got a job, but since we’re both walking the bread line, we shuffled over to the accessories, where we discovered a bowl of colorful vintage earrings at $6 a pop and heaping baskets of vintage scarves for $5 to $10.

We bumped into the store’s stylist, Amber Lucas, wearing a bright blue sequined beret, clip-on earrings and a floral dress. I’m not sure how she pulled the look off, but it was totally working. I asked Amber what used items were the most popular. She said that younger women are looking for maxi dresses, guys buy vintage t-shirts, and older women come in for cocktail dresses. She also corrected my terminology. Those in the know don’t call their finds “used” but “recycled.” Amber showed me their latest postcard campaign: “Recycle vintage clothing for a bright future. We believe in Green.” As someone trying to live a more eco-friendly life, I was hooked on the concept and promptly purchased a “recycled” vintage headscarf and earrings for $10.

13 Trift Store Shopping Tips

Frances and I headed across town to Meeps in Adams Morgan. There we found a less glitzy showroom, but far more affordable items, ranging from $12 to $40. In less than 15 minutes we were headed to the dressing rooms with heaps of dresses, skirts and suits. That’s where I discovered one of the drawbacks of used clothing: sizing. Several outfits were totally my style, but either a size too big or small. There was a vintage lime green suit with bell sleeves that Frances goaded me to buy, but my butt popped out like Cameron Diaz’s on “The Cougar Den.” Not exactly officewear. Frances did manage to nab a gorgeous plaid suit for just $16. It was vintage, but definitely something she could wear to work (when she gets it).

Up at the register, Liz Maestri, a Meeps employee and lifelong thrifter, agreed  that the green movement is helping to make used clothes cool again. She also offered us an inside tip on a thrift store on the corner of Mt. Pleasant and Irving Street, where she’s found deals on newer items—suits, dresses, shirts. Frances went for the plaid suit, and we headed off.

We must have passed by the shop twice before seeing a mannequin wearing a halter top in the window. And now we know why Liz couldn’t remember the name of the store—there’s no sign out front. In fact, we’re still not sure the place even has a name. But inside, we found a treasure trove of name-brand goods: J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, all for $7.99 or less and in spotless condition. I found a gorgeous pink and brown reversible sleeveless sundress ($5) and long purple flowered headscarf ($2).  Frances purchased a dress for $7, skirt for $5 and top for $4.

All told, it was a great shopping day. I came away with two scarves, a pair of earrings and a summer dress for $17. Frances found a suit, dress, skirt and top for $32. It’s not the used jeans and flannel of my youth, but the prices are just as good. Plus, I feel a sense of accomplishment having helped “recycle” some fabulous goods in need of a new closet.

Some tips for a recycled clothing date of your own.

• Know your price range. There are great consignment shops and vintage stores that carry high-end labels, but you’ll pay more for the quality. On the flip side, thrift shops have lots of great finds, but it will take you longer to sift through the racks.
• Dedicate several hours. Buying used clothing takes longer than buying new, so plan on spending three to four hours to thoroughly cruise the selection.
• Go with a friend. Not only does this make the trip more fun, it’s useful to have a second opinion since most stores have a no-return policy.
• Ask the sales staff where they shop. Most of the people behind the counter are there because they love it. Get the inside scoop on where to go next.

Katie Kemple is a PR/marketing professional who now divides her time between job hunting and writing. You can read more about her adventures in unemployment on her blog, Love Your Layoff.