Two months ago, Lynn Hazlewood, our Hudson Valley Home editor, was wearing a very cute cherry-red cardigan with little pockets. Lynn always dresses incredibly chic, and that day was no exception; she received compliments from nearly all of the women in our office. Hoping to emulate her look, I asked her where she found the sweater. “Oh, I bought this ages ago,” she laughed. “You should save everything that’s of good quality and style, because every 20 years, the fashion comes back — even faster now.”
There couldn’t be more truth to this statement. Are the leggings from the ’80s not one of the biggest trends these days? And aren’t we expected to don high-waist pants (circa-1970) this season? So it seems that if you want to keep your closet up-to-date, you’ll take Lynn’s advice and be, well, outdated: Always keep things in the back of your closet because past fashions are always revived, she says.
Though I appreciate her wise words, there’s little I have from 20 years ago that I could work with these days (unless bibs and onesies somehow become all the rage for twenty-something-year-olds). If you find yourself without 25-year-old boots and tops, what’s your next line of action? Raid your mother’s selection of vintage pieces, of course. However, if you’re like me, her belongings are all stored away in the attic of your grandmother’s farmhouse in Ohio, leaving you out of luck once again. So what do you do if you don’t have your own vintage or access to your mother’s? The obvious answer is: thrift stores.
These shopping destinations are apparently something our Creative Director, Bob Supina, knows a lot about. Everyday Bob looks so fashionable and cool in his Justin Timberlake/Ryan Seacrest skinny ties (pictured below). And when he heard about my yearning for vintage, he confessed his little secret: he finds them all at secondhand shops. Now that these ’50s and ’80s neckties are redux, he says, the only way you get them affordably is at thrift stores or the Salvation Army.
Bob with his vintage ties
I must admit: I’ve never actually shopped in a secondhand store. In fact, the only time I’ve ever been in one was this summer when I was unloading my unwanted clothing and shoes. But now, with proof from both Lynn and Bob that “what’s old is new again,” it became clear that I must investigate this concept via thrift stores.
I’ve ventured out into this unknown territory, and for the past several weeks, I’ve been scouting the area for these so-called fashion goldmines. I’ve found that the items you see range anywhere from fabulous, one-of-a-kind treasures to extremely bizarre. But it seems that if you dig through the piles of shoes and racks of jackets long enough, you’ll find that designer, retro piece for which you’ve been searching. And how can you beat the price? Earlier this week I was in the Salvation Army Family Store on Route 9 in Wappingers Falls and I didn’t see one shirt for over $4! Plus, the store clerk informed me that on Wednesdays, everything (except for electronics and furniture) is half-price!
Though the stores can vary quite a bit in terms of quality and brand — and sometimes price point — there’s no doubt that you’re getting a bargain. And aside from a great deal, you can also feel good about your purchase because a lot of these shops donate their proceeds to charity. I’ll be sure to update you on any great finds — and please, let me know if you’ve discovered any fantastic stores!
“These ties are from the ’80s. I got them all at secondhand shops in Poughkeepsie.” — Bob Supina
Here are a handful of thrift shops that are located in the Mid-Hudson Valley:
DUTCHESS
Goodwill
1271 Route 9, Wappingers Falls
845-298-0311
Junior League Bargain Bow
794 Main St., Poughkeepsie
845-471-5330
Nearly New Shop
8 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie
845-454-0255
ORANGE
Classic Reruns
61 E. Main St., Pine Bush
845-744-6976
Cottage Consignments
2391 Route 32, New Windsor
845-534-5150
PUTNAM
Eagle Eye Two Thrift Shop
Route 6, Mahopac
845-621-5962
ULSTER
A Second Glance
783 Ulster Ave., Kingston
845-339-1433
Salvation Army
61 N. Chestnut St., New Paltz
845-255-9852
