I'm not a regular thrift shopper, but over the years, I have made the occasionally foray into the stores and had some good finds - a cage for budgie a friend found in the street, an Irish sweater still in the airport shop bag, and very inexpensive replacements for wine glasses my dishwasher seems to eat. My mother and her retirement community friends in So. Florida enjoyed it as a hunting expedition. I think the pickings were better there than here in CA. I have a local favorite where I take my better items for donation. I need to complete my year end purge and visit them again soon. With my retirement, there are lot of things I am not using and don't need anymore.

We have a ”high end” consignment shop nearby. I sometimes bring stuff in to be consigned. They don’t take everything because, well, even what I consider good quality might not be something they take. But it works out well enough that I often have a credit there, so I can get stuff ”free.” It is fun!

I have had some hits and some misses from Poshmark. I did just get this dress, which for me was a hit! It is ”vintage” Liz Claiborne LOL but NWT. It fits me just right.

(Don’t look, mtn.)

Closeup

I did the same thrift shop trips to find clothing for theater costumes. Goodwill stores were hit and miss -- some stores definitely better than others, and there was one large independent store that was the best of them all. I got a London Fog raincoat with a zip out lining for $9 because the zipper needed repair. My son asked me to keep an eye out for a trench coat for his Halloween costume, so I didn't really care about the lining, but later decided to replace the zipper -- cost me another $8-9 and was easier than I had feared. I've also searched for old wool sweaters to felt and vintage tablecloths are popular items with creatives these days. As far as donating goes, we spilt items between several groups, including 3 local ones.

I don’t thrift much for clothing because I’m hard to fit, but I do find some treasures at the fancy churches’ rummage sales! A friend is an estate sale maven finds some wonderful items. If she gets home and they don’t fit, she offers them to me. If they still don’t fit, off to our thrift store they go.

Estate sales are a great way to find items useful, beautiful, giftable, resellable, or all of the above, for good prices, and do a little house-snooping at the same time!

Great summary for buying from thrift stores, Mtn. I’ve been buying a few things now and then from PM for several years. DD has been selling for a good while, which means she has been shopping thrift stores religiousy. There are several here besides the usual Goodwill, including several that support animal rescue efforts and a St Vincent DePaul thrift and consignment store. She is very brand-award and knows what to buy when she finds it and what it will likely bring on PM. Being single, the extra income has been nice for her.

I have sold a few things, all from my own closet at home, plus I donate a lot and have also consigned a few things at SvDP that didn’t sell right away. At one time the lady that runs the SvDP consignment shop ran her own consignment shop in town and I loved to go there. A few years ago, her lease was about to expire and she was ready to slow down, so she closed and is now volunteering 1-2 days a week. She runs that place just as if it were hers. At PM I have bought many NWT Athleta and Lulu items (they have lots of employee sales apparently), random sweaters, evening bags, and several jackets (not NWT) that were in beautiful condition. I also bought my MoG formal there after searching online for months and sending back a lot of dresses. The former owner had worn it once to her daughter’s wedding, had it cleaned (cleaning tag was still attached), and it fit perfectly as she had done no alterations to it.

Selling on PM might be a little different if you have not done so in a while. They are doing some things differently, and imo it is not for better. DD is thinking about shutting down her PM selling, at least for a while.

I totally understand everything you said, mtn. I don't disagree. It's just my hangup and I think I'm too old to get over it. I have only ever gotten one item of clothing used. It was not for me but for my teenage son. I may have told this story before. My niece was getting married and it was black tie. I planned to rent a tuxedo for DS (I know, I know, renting is used clothing! Again, I never said I was rational). Anyway, DH saw on our local facebook free site someone listed a tuxedo which appeared to be a size that would fit DS. He sent me the link. I said absolutely not. He worked on me and convinced me after I studied that picture. Peeking into the room behind it to see the home it was in. DH picked it up. We had it cleaned. DS wore it and looked fabulous. I actually don't remember what we did with it after that. It might still be in his closet.

So there was a success story but I still can't bring myself to do it again.

When I sold my previous house, the buyer was a friend. She needed beds for the guest rooms but didn’t want to buy the beds that were in my guest rooms. She thought it was icky to buy used beds (a premise that I heartily agree with). I pointed out to her that she had slept in those beds numerous times as a guest in my home. We all have spots where rational thought fails us.

A thought just occurred to me. Would a really needy person be vying for the same items as Mtn?

eld, never knows. But another use of thrift stores is generating money to serve its mission. It doesn’t matter who buys it, as long as someone does.

"A thought just occurred to me. Would a really needy person be vying for the same items as Mtn?"

Absolutely, 100%. I shopped exclusively at thrift stores in my 20s and 30s because it was all I could afford. I loathed competing with people in the store who could obviously afford to shop elsewhere. (Yes, you can tell who is who.) I wished they'd just shop at consignment stores instead.

I also loathed the vintage store owners who were at thrift stores cherry picking the good stuff to sell at huge mark up at their boutique "thrift" store. Everyone has a right to shop where they want to shop. Just saying it was hard for me to stomach because thrift shopping was such a time suck and chore.

Now that I can afford to shop elsewhere, I can't stand thrift shopping. I have a hard to fit body (giraffe legs and short torso). There is a real luxury to being able to try on something in different sizes. I hate that even quality items from a thrift store pill or go to holes faster because they are pre-worn.

It is so much better for the enviroment for sure. But, I count on making up for it by purchasing fewer items and wearing them for a decade if possible.

I do love that my hatred of shopping and desire for less is more can now just be called having a capsule wardrobe. :) Whoever came up with that is brilliant.

If you have children (or grandchildren), the JBF Sales (I think they are nationwide) are wonderful.

I'm not sure my children have EVER worn a new item of clothing. I get Ralph Lauren and all the designer brands, I go on half-price day, and I pay like a few dollars an item at most. I buy a LOT of clothing because I don't like to pack, so I buy items for FL, PA, and camper so I don't have to move clothing around.

I feel like this broaches the issue of the absolute glut of new retail apparel nowadays. Resale and discount stores are everywhere it seems, and generally doing well. A friend told me it's a.k.a. 'bottom feeders', which isn't very nice, but might be rather accurate.

Beagles, that just reminded me of the ’kids market’ my DD used to buy from when her DD was little. Yes, she could afford to purchase new things and often did. Twice a year some women organized this huge garage sale, for lack of a better description just for kids clothing, baby equipment, videos and toys (no car seats). The workers are people who donate items and who work a certain number of hours during the week pre-sale sorting through items by gender, size, etc and putting out for display. The ones who work have the privilege of shopping first. DD almost always came home with designer/boutique items, great play clothing and good deals on things I could have on hand at my home for the kids too.

There are 2 million FaceBook pages that re-sell children’s clothing. I’m an admin for one that limits the brands that can be sold to high-end, boutique items. It is a private group and nothing is cross listed on Marketplace. All of the admins are volunteers. Unlike PM or ebay, there are no listing fees.

Finally got to my computer so I can opine (one of my least favorite words) on the topic. Feel free to SOB if you don't feel like reading a manifesto tonight.

For context, I'm 60.

I have worked retail, have a friend who ran a thrift store and have been a lifelong buyer and seller of used goods, including fashion, vehicles and home goods. I started buying to resell a few years ago as a hobby to share things I find with others, provide structure to my "life after work" and make a few bucks.

Most resellers you see on socia media purporting to make a fortune reselling actually have a strong revenue stream generated by social media followers in additon to their actual sales profit. In my case, every year we meet with our accountant to do the taxes, he raises an eyebrow when asking if I still have this business.

More on Reselling:

I help other people who do not have an eye for finding interesting things in thrift stores, but who love and value style over fashion, add to their wardrobe. My experience with sewing and selling fashion helps me find interesting things that others might overlook. I have a rule that when I'm shopping and find things I won't buy is to put them promininently on the return rack for others in the store to find.

My service has value in time, effort and money devoted to locating and preparing my items for sale. I also take time and care in shipping so they will look their best when you receive them. There's no guilt involved because I'm not cheating anyone. I'm shopping just like you. Store's making their money, which is most useful to charity unless they are bringing free clothing to those in need. And I make a little money too.

On buing pre-loved fashion.

If you compare the quality of pre-recession clothing to post recession clothing it was universally better. And Covid made the poorer quality clothing even worse. I worked at Nordstrom, Brooks Brothers and regional high quality tailored clothing stores in the 80s and early 90s and when you compare the pricepoint to the construction and fabric quality between that period and now, it's obvious that almost all manufacturers have reduced overall quality to manage pricing.

Today when I go into all stores - high and low - I'm saddened by the low quality poorly made merchandise. The fabrics are bad, the construction and finish is lacking and the fit is just poor. That's how new clothing today is mostly made.

Even the quality of high end designer brands has suffered - not that I can afford to buy a new Chanel jacket, but the things I own from pre-recession backwards are better quality than what's available today.

On pre-loved furniture and home goods.

Similar story about quality. But the real reason I don't buy new is that I don't like sets, don't like to buy somebody else's idea of what my house should look like and I don't believe in place-holders. In the front of my house, the only new items are upholstered goods (minus my French Art Deco dining chairs), the living room rug and some pillows. Some things are hand-me-downs and most are sourced over years to create a space that speaks to me. In some cases, the pre-owned items cost way more than a copy-cat would be new. With home goods, it's not always about saving money.

On all the various online platforms

Back in the dark ages, I bought and sold in the Pennysaver. I've been on eBay since the early 2000's and find their customer service and search engines to be superior. That's also the only platform I sell.

I just recently stopped using Poshmark. With new ownership, their customer service is terrible. I recently had to do my second ever charge back request via American express because their service is so bad. I also find their sellers often exert very little effort to share valuable information and package their goods.

I've shopped The RealReal and Vestaire both. Vestaire will charge the buyer the commissions like an auction house, but I've been able to find bucket-list items from across the world on their platform. One was a 2001 Chanel skirt from Russia!

The RealReal can have issues with accurate measurements and descriptions, expecially when it comes to altered goods. I've learned how things fit their mannequins and, in additon to knowing how certian brands fit, can usually make good picks. A friend bought a fake Prada and had to fight hard to get them to take it back.

On how to best buy online

Make sure you buy brands that you know how the fit your body and/or be willing to accept sometimes things won't fit. If you're buying designer, spend a lot of time researching counterfeit "tells" before you even start looking. When shopping, look closely and ask questions. If it looks too good to be true - like a listing talks in depth about the brand, but the photos are blurry and the price low - then think twice. Accept that most sellers like me do not take returns. We're here to help you make a good purchase the first time.

The underlying difference is that I enjoy shopping. I like to see, touch and feel what's out there. I have patience to wait for the perfect thing and the superpower to eventually find it in my pricepoint (because it seems I have a taste for the fancy things). I don't have to always buy, and often don't, but pretty things are very calming for me.

If the process doesn't bring you joy, then don't. If you get weirded out by buying used, I get it. I think it's one of those things like camping....easier if you start young and sometimes you still grow out of it. If you still want interesting vintage things, then use a personal shopper like me.

A final thought.

Of the goods donated to thrift stores, at least 30% goes straight to the trash. People will donate goods so they don't feel guilty for tossing them. But the process of sorting and selling is time consuming. And as a buyer, still tons of stuff end up in stores that have passed their life span. The fashion system is broken. Buying "Hauls" is a broken promise of false joy. Until buyers find different motivations, there will always be more stuff than can reasonable be useful.

bbstx I would assume stuff costs a lot more than a couple dollars on most of the groups or it wouldn't be worth even bothering to post?

My kids are really hard on clothing because they are always painting or playing outside or playing in mud puddles, and I really do buy a lot since I have 3 separate places to do wardrobes for... I don't want to spend more than a couple bucks an item because I don't care if it ends up grass-stained or with tomato soup on it or whatever.

OutsidePlaying the kids markets sound great. I could buy my kids new clothes, but I don't want to.

Aside from the fact that they are hard on clothes and I have to buy for multiple places, spending so little on their stuff allows me to get much bigger wardrobes for them without feeling like I am "wasting" money.

We have like 25 Christmas outfits, for example, and they wear a different halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas outfit every day during October, November, and December.

I get sooo many comments all the time on how they are dressed and how cute their stuff is too!

I enjoy thrifting, or treasure hunting as I think of it. My first experience sold me, I went to a local thrift looking for something to wear to a 50's themed dance. I scored a 50's circle skirt and beaded cardigan that fit me perfectly and I was a very tiny thing back then. A great find for the occasion, at an excellent price. I also think that come by this hobby through my families interest in used items. My dentist grandfather's hobby was what he called junking, he basically bought used things at auctions and resold them in a store he co-owned. Primarily art and collectables. My aunt was an antique dealer. She did not thrift, she bought through private sales but again another fan of used things. When my kids were young I resold thrift finds. Not a huge number of things but it helped us with the extras when my husband was part of a start up company. I primarily sold higher end clothing both current and vintage, a small number of high quality pieces. These days I rarely find anything as fabulous as I used to find, but then again I do not shop at thrifts as often now, although I do still enjoy it occasionally.

"I don't have to always buy, and often don't, but pretty things are very calming for me."

1929Spanish-GW I also love shopping. It's an activity I enjoy and I often don't buy anything. I just like to look.

I used to go to many yard sales and estate sales and I furnished my house back in the day. 30-40 years ago you could get good solid furniture or vintage accessories. I went to an estate sale recently that had tables full of Home Goods dishes, vases and stuff. The homeowner was 90 and I would have thought there would have been better things, and maybe the family took those, but someone in that house really enjoyed shopping at discount stores.

Thrift stores around me have racks of used clothing with Target, Kohl's and JC Penny brands. Vintage and consignment shops have better quality but I don't have much luck. I think they are the kind of shops you have to go to often to find a treasure.

When we moved into THIS 6400 sq ft home, we needed everything! Then I wasn't sure we'd like the area, not sure if we were staying. I didn't want to go over board and spend thousands...then move out to a smaller place. So I thrifted almost everything! Habitat Restore in Denver had wood blinds, any size $5ea. I found 2 real alabaster light fixtures. Score! One person tried moving their HUGE coffee table into their new condo, didn't fit. Score! Guy with a double arch bookcase, didn't fit. Score! A neighbor ordered a NEW dinning room table + 6 chairs. Delivery guys dropped the table damaging it. She got a full refund, gave away the set to someone who could fix it...me!

FWIW, my 2 sisters and I grew up with hand-me-downs from cousins and each other. Getting that box of clothes our older fashionista cousins had outgrown was always fun.

And I buy most of my work pants from thrift stores. Since I invariably get glue or paint or marker on them, I don't want to waste money on something new just to spoil it.

P.S. Just want to point out that when you get new clothing from a store, you have no idea who may have tried that garment on before you, and the circumstances of its manufacture, shipping and storage.

I got clothes from my older sister and then they were passed on to my younger cousins.

By the way, does Poshmark not take returns? I mean if it doesnt fit or you dont like it, you cant return it.?

@dedtired, PM does not normally allow one to return purchases unless there is an issue with the item. An issue might be something misrepresented (as new vs used for example), wrong size sent, or something along those lines. In fact, I had to open a case today on a purchase I made. I had specifically asked about the condition of a pair of pants and the color as the photos appeared washed out by a flash. The seller responded that the pants were ’nwot’, new without tags and gave the color name, which was one I was searching for. They arrived and no, they are not the correct color, they were more of a cream than the ’mushroom’ or darker khaki, and they have dirty marks around the bottoms of the legs and had obviously been worn or tried on in a very dirty place. Yes, I would have washed them even if they looked pristine, but the color and the obvious misrepresentation was terrible.

To echo 1929Spanish, ’I just recently stopped using Poshmark. With new ownership, their customer service is terrible’ and ’I also find their sellers often exert very little effort to share valuable information and package their goods.’ I have to say I agree. It’s as if there is a whole new generation of PM sellers and they are all using the same AI to sell whatever they have. No more measurements given, details are omitted, they just copy whatever they can find online to write about, and sometimes that is only 1-2 sentences. And if you ask a question about an item like overall sleeve length, you may or may not ever hear from the seller.

As I said before, I’m not a big seller but have sold a little bit in the past of my own things. DD does shop thrift stores for quality items and has done well over the past few years on PM but she is about to quit.

Other than ebay, is there another site similar to Poshmark but accepts returns? When I search on ebay, I always filter by Accepts Returns.

Im not taking a chance on an expensive handbag sight unseen without the ability to return it.

Yes, the inability to return has to be weighed against the enormous discount vis a vis returnable options. This is probably why someone above advise not to buy clothing unless it is from a brand you have familiarity with. Case in point, when I found a Gretchen Scott top locally that was too large, I searched on PM and bought it NWOT in a smaller size. Little risk there.

You can return things if they were misrepresented in some way. Condition, authenticity, etc.

I think this is fair. Small sellers cannot take on the burdens of processing returns. After you return an item, it is typically sent to a processing depot where it is inspected. From there, it may be restocked, sold at a discount, refurbished, donated to charity, or sent to a liquidator. If the item cannot be resold or donated, it may be sent to a landfill or for energy recovery.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/30/business/online-shopping-returns-liquidators

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/21/the-hidden-cost-of-free-returns

I mentioned my DH's thoughts on thrift shopping because I thought it was noteworthy. But the more I think about it, I think he is entirely wrong. They have offered something for sale, and that is their model. Other entities have different models (like my church's coat and boot drive). Clearly it would be wrong for me to show up and help myself to a coat. But buying something is morally neutral, and my consistent habit is to always donate cash while I am there, which I also urge anyone of means to do.

And the idea that I am grabbing something someone else wanted, like some 1970's sitcom, is kind of far-fetched really.

PS I don't think you can compare buying used clothing to the fact that other people try on clothes. So I get @jsk's reluctance and share it.

Also, when I buy something from a retailer online, it often arrives in packaging that indicates it has never even been tried on.

In thinking about it, I rarely buy used clothing and when I have it has been something I could assess in person and something truly vintage/irreplaceable, like my 1960s Sears car coat, fully washable. But that is rare for me

Purchasing from a thrift shop when you could afford to pay retail is not grabbing something from the hands of a needy person. I believe there are organizations such as Career Closet that have that as their mission. Thrift shops exist to raise funds for their cause, be it a hospital, church or a cure for a disease.

From Goodwill’s mission statement: ”Goodwill works to enhance people’s dignity and quality of life by strengthening their communities and helping those having difficulty finding employment reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.”

Junior League redistributes the income from their thrift shop to different causes.

No doubt thrift shops allow those on tighter incomes to buy goods at affordable prices but the income is whats important. Resellers, of course, are for profit.

Remember that Poshmark, Ebay, Mercari, Vestaire, Depop and the others are simply selling platforms. They do not set the rules for individual sellers. You will never find a reseller platform that universally allows for returns.

As a hobby business, I can't support the type of shopping where we buy 5 items to try on and maybe keep one. That is not my business model.

I have a total of less than 400 items listed at any time. If 20 people buy 3 pieces over 30 days and return half of them, then 15% of my stock is potentially on loan or off platform while someone makes up their mind. And when I do take an occasional return, at least 25% of the time it's been damaged and I can't resell it. Like the sequin jacket that someone kept for over a week, returned as defective because it was covered in their cat's fur. Not to mention having to explain to a buyer why they have to pay $10 to ship back a $50 item. It just doesn't make sense. I also can't afford at my prices to cover free shipping.

Part of the pricing for stores that allow for these policies is they increase the price of the item to cover the overhead for returns and free shipping policies.

The RealReal, being a consignment platform does allow returns on some items. You have to read the description for each item because it varies by applied discounts and category. But TRR also often sells their goods at higher prices, again to cover the overhead.

I believe I once saw differentiated pricing for the option to return on TRR?

I donated an old slow cooker to a thrift store rescue that takes care of and adopts out cats and dogs. I will not say how long it has been in a box in my garage. It worked fine when it went to the garage. I had read, true or not, that the older cookers are not as safe as the newer ones.

I saw it a day or so later on Marketplace for $50 then reduced to $30. It is still there today. I KNOW it is mine, for several reasons.

Do I mind someone bought it and is trying to make a profit? No. The rescue group got free money right away when she purchased it. They can use that for vets or food.

@mtnrdredux_gw it's a newer option they offer I've seen on handbags....something like a 10% premium price for the ability to return. I don't shop jewelry, so not sure if the same applies. Have not seen it for shoes and apparel.

Adding that when I've seen it on designer bags, the premium is in the hundreds of dollars. Again, to support the business model.

@Sherry8aNorthAL. Our local BuyNothing had a big kerfuffle over resellers.

I have no issue with it. Resellers perform a function and can add value. Anything that gets it off my doorstep and in use is fine by me.

Let’s just guess it had been in the garage for 15 years doing nothing. (You know, going to have a gatage sale, lol.) The Rescue made whatever they sold it for, pure profit, maybe they spent a little time and water cleaning the dust off. It was clean from food, but I did not worry about the dust. I had also donated a coffee pot and a bunch of toddler toys and books. So some animal ate or got to see a vet. I got some room in the garage!

ETA: If the lady that bought the slow cooker, makes a little money, she will come back and buy more. The rescue wins! What they are sellling costs them nothing!

When I search on ebay, I always filter by Accepts Returns.

Whether or not the seller accepts returns, one can return an item on Ebay for a refund if it is not as described, but (if they don't accept returns) not if you just don't like it.

@lucillle people lie all the time to get around a sellers policy. Ebay is relatively good in protecting sellers from these situations. I'd say my denial rate is about 50% when a buyer makes a false claim. It used to be higher.

I am a huge fan of buying used/ vintage furniture and ceramics. I may be exaggerating, but I think the only items in my home purchased new are mattresses, pillows, linens, luggage and cookware. My Heath Ceramics dinnerware is mostly second quality, purchased at discount. Although I used to buy clothes in local specialty thrift stores, now almost all my clothing (apart from socks and undergarments) is purchased on resale sites like eBay and TRR. I have a very small handful of small designer brands I love and could/ would not afford to buy new- indeed, I’d never be able to find them in a store here in the Bay Area! I know how these brands fit and know the quality of the fabric and design. I’d say over 95% of my wardrobe is purchased in this way. I love the serendipity! I care not a whit that they may have been worn before. I enjoy boutique shopping, but usually don’t buy anything- I look for it online at a reduced price, and am usually successful. I strongly dislike shopping for clothing in large department stores and chains. Vintage/ brocante shopping is one of my very favorite things to do when I travel. I love looking at beautiful old things, even if I’m not buying. I love sifting through dusty old items to find a treasure. I find it relaxing and fun. What can I say, I love a bargain!
I resell things on TRR, although I’m sure I’d do better financially if I took the job on myself.

I just want to clarify -- I would have no problem buying used wood furniture. Whenever we go to antique stores, I'm always on the lookout for that perfect table for my foyer. 30 some odd years later and I still haven't found it (we don't go to antique stores very often).

I could never buy a used upholstered piece of furniture. Nope. Even worse than clothing for me.

I understand buying NWT from poshmark and those places. I just don't have the patience anymore for that. I guess if I was looking for something specific (brand/style/size) I might do it, but that really doesn't happen. My very casual dress does not call for specific pieces. I buy what catches my eye.

A blurb from Bloomberg News:

Goodwill, long known for its dingy thrift stores with crammed aisles and overflowing bins, is getting more glamorous. The chain’s new stores are bigger and brighter. Some feature signature scents to neutralize items’ musty odors. By launching larger stores in more affluent neighborhoods, Goodwill is well-positioned for when wealthy donors clean out their closets. Kate King checks out the new stores.

We have a "Goodwill Boutique" Store.. They ONLY take high end, PERFECT pieces. They refuse a LOT of donations. When I first moved in I shopped there every week until something I needed showed up. This was in 2018 before COVID. They had a coffee bar with FREE coffee. It looked like a StarBucks, with foaming milk and little tables to sit & read donated books. A girl walked around with a tray of cookies.

I should add: about that Goodwill Boutique store....they later, maybe 2022, dismantled the coffee bar/reading area. They used to have to approve a donated piece before you could leave it....now....they have big wood bins outside where you can place your donation and drive off. I once tried donating a Lane leather couch, they refused it. I stopped shopping there for about 3 years after that. I wonder how many others had the same experience...? We must have been a "test" store. ??

The boutiques around me are not much - if at all - better. But they are more expensive.

I was thinking of this thread last Saturday when I went to drop off a big bag of clothes and linens at my fave store and they had a sign saying, 'Look, we're not accepting donations at this time. We are FULL - that's a good thing". So I drove to Salvation Army and dropped my stuff off there - they were having a Black Friday sale - half off everything - everything.

I did not go in - tho I was very tempted 😄

We recently attempted to donate a sewing/surger table. First we were told "we don't assemble', which we knew from previous tables donated. They can't figure out how to put legs on tables so ya sit in the parking lot and do it yourself. After calling ahead to see if they would take our sewing table we were rejected at the site. They hire disabled workers which is great-until you need something off script. The cashier on the phone is not the manager and would ok anything, so beware when going to the trouble of hauling larger items.

oh my i thought you were saying surgery table.... i am guessing you mean serger, even tho I don't sew

Yeah few places have room for big furniture

Meantime, aren't these so cute? I thought about them for DD but they were snapped up, plus they are bossy. They also look great w the carpet they are sitting on

I have a crush on this but what does one do with it?

Take that parasol out on a sunny day. More effective than a hat and better hair results.

I was wishing for one this past July 4 for an outdoor event but they procured an amazingly large tent at Monticello this year so it would not have been needed so much. Well maybe for the 45 minutes we waited for a bus to travel back down the little mountain.

Im thinking my DD1 would like it. She likes ridiculous OTT things with no clear function. Apparently there is a gene for that.

Is there any way to use it in decor? Can it become say, a chandy??

omg look, yes, plenty of people do this

A nearby Thai restaurant with high ceilings has them hanging. Don’t know how to manage in normal home though. Nice in a corner or umbrella stand by the door.

’likes rediculous things’🌝

You would need a higher ceiling than usual. I attempted something similar with a gift from grandma for my daughter's room from a trip to India but it was much too low.

I happened into a 2nd hand shop today with a friend who knows the owner and left with about $600 of pieces I probably would not have found on my own. Several pairs of pants (I have a very hard time finding my size but some higher end brand size 2 will fit). several silk blouses and a vey cool wool sweater by an Italian designer Pier Antonio Gaspari.

The pieces were mostly $60-100 each but either never worn or barely worn and much higher quality than Banana or whatever I’d tend to purchase nowadays. The difference in feel and drape of nice clothes is completely different plus I had a great person who knew her stock pulling pieces for me.

What fun! And the store owner said everything I chose was from the same original purchasor so I’ll check back in occasionally..