The Ins & Outs of THRIFT SHOPPING in San Francisco

I’m sure by now, you all know (due to my incessant reiteration throughout the life of DL), I happen to be a relentless thrift shopper. You could say, as many others have, that I am, in fact, addicted to it. This dependency has been, for the most part, a highly enjoyable and profitable hobby, but to be honest there have been some disadvantages. For one, I have been spoiled by the unpardonably low prices, actually to the point where buying a $20 pair of jeans from F21 seems like a rip off. Secondly, I am broke all of the time now. I know I just said that it was one of the least, uhm, financially demanding habits (well, compared to being a heroin addict…), but you’re probably underestimating how often I go thrifting. The advantages of thrift shopping overall are so infinite that I won’t even get into that, I can, however, tell you about what the scene for second hand is like in San Francisco.

Let’s break it down now.

PROS:

1. Compared to Costa Rica, the chic-meter is notably higher in SF, this means that there are more fashionable people to donate clothes to Goodwill, or wherever they should choose to donate to.

2. Compared to Costa Rica, the overall wealth of the city is higher so people can afford to supersede their wardrobes seasonally and shop first-hand.

3. The city is divided into so many sub-cities so different from one another and the thrift stores in each of the areas reflects the personality of the area. For example, the Goodwill on Haight street is divided into thrift and vintage in keeping with the plethora of edgy vintage shops practically right next door whereas the Goodwill nearest Union Square/Downtown on Geary street has a lot of past season H&M garments.

4. Everyone here has such a different style to begin with, I mean that there are so many different subcultures that when, through trickle-down, their clothes end up in thrift stores, there is room to play with elements of each group. Imagine a fisherman vest and Hot Topic-esque leggings.

5. When you shop at Out of the Closet, you get a free condom with your purchase.

CONS:

1. I reiterate, the chic-meter is much higher in SF, this also means that the people who frequent thrift stores have a much keener eye for those exciting, unique pieces so some thrift stores have a feeling of having been picked through or combed over a few times before you got there.

2. There is a large thrift shopping community especially among college students which is sort of a double whammy because not only is there more competition, but the competition is also sort of poor (everyone knows college kids are always broke).

3. There are TONS of vintage shops, similar to #2, this pretty much means that there are even larger forces out to get to the good stuff before you.

4. There really aren’t even all that many thrift stores in the city to begin with, I mean at least not as many as you would think. A quick google search will show you that there really is a limited number.

5. Bed Bugs are back in California if you hadn’t already heard. Shopping at second hand stores is an easy way to bring this new trend back to your home. Remember to always wash used clothes when you bring them back with you. Bed bugs are gross, no one wants them.

 

Look out for a post on the SF thrift shopping skinny coming soon – the best and worst thrift stores in San Francisco, scandal will surely ensue.

Who needs Alexander McQueen when you have DIY?

This part 6, I believe, in a series of designer vs. DIY posts. The series also includes Alex Wang, Marc Jacobs, Martin Margiela, Luella, and Balmain. This is a series that is intended to showcase alternatives to the high-priced originals and the highly-immoral fast fashion knock-offs (*cough* Forever 21 *cough*).

IT’S ALIVE!!!

On the blog, the word “hiatus” has been grossly misused. For the past five months, almost to the day, my attentions have been turned away from this little project of mine, something that would not have happened if more tangible circumstances in my life had not dictated it. When I last wrote to you, I was a high school senior living in Costa Rica. I speak to you now as a college freshman in the great city of San Francisco. I hope that there are still some of you out there that will read this blog once it is fully resurrected and back into the swing of things. In effort to lure readers back to the Dirt Laundry institution and share knowledge about the San Francisco fashion scene, I will amend my mission to include all stylistic aspects of geographical interest and to double my exertions within the blog.

It is easier to see what aspects of DL are successful in retrospect and I will take that into account and gear my writing towards some of my more popular topics such as DIY projects (my own and those of other bloggers), thrift shopping tips, and offbeat and avant-garde trends I have spotted in person and throughout the “blogosphere”. Hope to see that there are still a few fish biting out there. Be prepared for the first real comeback post, coming soon.

lingeronmyfingertips.

sources: various

BLUEtooth.

sources: Susie Bubble, NY Times Magazine, Google images

Bustier, thrifted // Skirt, thrifted men’s shirt // Shoes, somewhere in New York

Shirt, Michael Stars // Skirt, thrifted // Harness, DIY // Coat, vintage // Shoes, vintage

REDhead.

sources: facehunter, stylebubble, LIFE

Pants, MNG // Cumberbund, thrifted // Shoes, hand-me-downs // Shirt, __

Dress, Zara // Belt, vintage // Pants, MNG // Shoes, mother’s

Monochrome Take-2

My adoration for monochromatic outfits has not lessened whatsoever since I dared myself to do the weeklong monochrome challenge. I think my adoration has grown because I realized that this style was, in fact, entirely wearable! Scandalous, indeed. If you gys would be willing to overlook some of my terrible failures (I can’t believe I only had two good days), then I think I might be able to start this bitch up one more time. I should keep in mind, however that I will only post looks that I am completely satisfied with this time around to avoid humiliation. Feast your eyes over these beauties…

sources: Facehunter, Style Bubble, Hel Looks, Street Peeper, Garance Dore

Flora/Laura

Top to toe in chaotic floral prints. Possibly somewhat inspired by Susie’s jeggings post. By the way, I hate the term, but I love the garment. I think I like them better a la Topshop than a la American Apparel. I hate how Susie always seems to post things exactly when I’m thinking of doing the exact same thing, she just gets there sooner. For example, I hate the amazingly original idea (pshh) to do a OD on leopard print post, but lo and behold, later that very week, Susie done it. But, then again, what doesn’t she do? Just so we get this straight, if she starts rocking one-legged pants and DIY epaulettes, thats proof enough that she’s reading my mind.

Outerwear, unknown // Dress, thrifted // Corset, thrifted + customized // Tights, unknown // Shoes, Buffalo Exchange

How To Refine Your Self-Portraiture [Part I: Polishing Your Look]

After seeing Emily’s post on how to look ‘runway ready,’ as she put it, or in other words, polish up to take outfit pictures, I was inspired to compile my own list on the same topic. Although this is a hotly pondered topic in the fashion blogging world, it also applies to those few people nowadays who don’t have a blog. This, in my most humble opinion, is a good guide to cleaning up the loose ends in your outfit.

DON’Ts

1. Wear sunglasses indoors. When you’re taking an outfit picture in your house before you go out and want to indicate that your outfit also includes a pair of glasses, take your sunnies off of your face and either hold them casually in one hand or slip them onto the front of your shirt (if appropriate). Covering your eyes with them or setting them on your head is amateur.

2. Advertise your wet hair. That’s just tasteless, no one wants to see your soggy locks dampening your probably otherwise perfectly decent outfit. If you’re in a hurry, run the blow-dryer over the fronts of your hair and pin it up with a banana clip: it’ll look sophisticated & runway-esque.

3. Pose with cigarettes or alcohol. No, however great you may look in your photos, you’re not a model and that means that you’re not getting paid to endorse smoking and drinking. It looks contrived and you end up looking desperate.

4. Fasten up your outer-wear all the way. What you’re wearing underneath (unless you’re a flasher) is important also. Leave your coat/jacket open in the front, hang it off your shoulders, or carry it in the crook of your elbow.

5. Hide your shoes under your trousers. Even though skinny jeans are en vogue, people are still wearing wide-leg pants which leaves them at risk for ‘eclipsing’ the shoes they’re wearing and giving the effect of having no feet at all, and seriously, who wants to look like they have no feet? Bear in mind that skinny jeans are still a risk factor.

6. Wear flip-flops. I know this is a popular VICE commandment and I just have to agree. It shouldn’t take too much effort for you to put on real shoes, now, should it.

7. Have a hairband on your wrist. I know I often fall victim to this one rookie error, but I’ve realized it make so much of a difference and makes you look polished if you don’t have bobby-pins clipped to your collar or a hair-tie on your arm, you don’t want people to think that you have a ‘back-up plan’ for your hair or whatever.

DOs

1. Keep your sock situation in order. Keep your little socks hidden and your long socks unbunched. If they’re too thick to fit in your shoes, they’re not supposed to go there in the first place.

2. Dress weather-appropriately. When it’s August and you’re wearing a fur hat and a scarf because it looks great with some jacket, you know you’re going to end up taking off some of the add-ons. Posting this as an outfit you’re wearing is only half-true because you only really wore part of it. Plus, wouldn’t you rather be comfortable?

3. Pay attention to non-clothing aspects of your ‘look’. For example, keep your nails trimmed and painted (clear gloss or colour), skin healthy, and teeth clean.

4. Explore the versatility of each garment individually. Look at what you are wearing right now. Do you see how much you could do with it? Even a simple blazer or oxford shirt has innumerable ways of wearing the lengths of the sleeves, your trousers could be cuffed inwards or outwards, your shirt tucked in or out. Don’t go overboard with the combos but don’t neglect the alternative possibilities.

5. Play with accessories, but don’t go overboard. Moderation is the key element, so pick a statement piece like a bold necklace that will complement your neckline or a notable bracelet for exposed wrists.

6. Be bold and shy away from the nude lip. Red lipstick has been one of the key elements of high-fashion for decades, so why is it suddenly fading away in favor of clear gloss? Fight the norm and go with a red or even orange lip colour.

Trashion Show

My school hosted a recycled-materials fashion show last month in honor of Earth Day. Each of the outfits was designed (half-heartedly and in the spirit of mockery) by my environmental science class. These were the fruit of our labor. In any case, mine was the outfit in the third and seventh pictures.