Let me tell you a little anecdote.
One day not long ago, I arrived at a birthday party and a guy who was a little drunk immediately asked me where my clothes came from. He doesn't care about worldly affairs. He has a look of defiance on his face, as if he had his finger on the red button of the atomic bomb. And it is directed at me. I'm not the belligerent type, so I answer all sugar and sweetness.
So I detail my outfit to the point of talking about my green and brown camouflage shirt, found like a rare Pokémon in the tall grass of a thrift store.
And it's there, when I blurt out the forbidden word "thrift store" that he laughs like a braying donkey, does the theater actor playing a theater actor, it's Inception without a budget. And, suddenly stopping his gigantic laughter, he looks at me, disgusted, and downright calls me disgusting. In the hygienic sense of the term, not moral. Well, I don't think so.
My heart skips a beat, but I act as if nothing happened. And the actor continues, excited by his own words.
According to him, second-hand clothes stink. Wearing second-hand clothes that belonged to other people - obviously dirtier - than him is pure madness.
And there, the coup de grace: he adds that thrift stores are “for hipsters” anyway and that real people in real life buy Zara.
Ah! We're coming! So this is the war he wanted to wage against me! He thinks I'm the ridiculous king of my little kingdom of vanity.
Instead of my poignant urge, in my gut, to shoot crushed ice from my cocktail into his eyes, I give a wide, fake smile and wait for him to leave. A bit like the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, like if I don't move, he can't see me and he'll end up leaving.
This anecdote, as happens to me quite often, made me question the reasons why I buy from thrift stores from time to time. And why, it's not being a hipster to do that.
Four excellent reasons to hunt for your clothes
1. Buying in thrift stores allows you to experiment, at a lower cost
The first item of clothing I bought at a thrift store, around 2010, was a Levi's Type III denim jacket like you can find by the thousand. It was economical for me and a way as a student to have fun inexpensively.
Always faithful, on my shoulders, and very practical. I love him with love. Photo taken live from the BonneGueule offices, as I finished writing my article. Photo taken by Antoine. It’s 7:20 p.m. and I’m heading out to the terrace.
Even now, some months, I shop when times are tough or I have other budgetary priorities than buying clothes (e.g. tax audits or fines for exhibitionism). Last month in particular, I got my hands on a sky blue striped cotton/linen cardigan that I love to wear.
Is that being a hipster?
2. It allows you to give authenticity to your outfits
Interesting use of camouflage pattern. And when I say “interesting,” I mean it makes me tremble with joy. Literally.
Dressing entirely vintage doesn't really make sense. No more than dressing with new things. In the first case, we set ourselves up as a living anachronism, in the second we carry ourselves around like a window mannequin, without soul.
However, using a vintage piece in your outfit, a piece that really suits us morphologically gives coherence to the whole. Like for example, a jungle jacket over jeans and t-shirt or 1950s Italian navy shorts with a shirt and sneakers.
In short, thrifting allows you to inject a little sentiment into the way you dress. It’s putting your hands on a fabric that ancestors have touched. People who died in war. It is the silent legacy of strangers selling us their privacy at a discount, the wardrobe that has survived them.
The basis of the hipster's approach is to be out of step with conformist society. His dearest desire is to stand out. Whereas for you, it’s a truly personal work that has nothing to do with the view of others. Your approach is authentic.
3. This allows you to have access to a rich clothing heritage
Levi's 501 Big "E" seen on Broadway&Sons (meaning that the "e" of the Levi's brand on the red label is capitalized)
The thrift store is a calm temple where everyone seeks and few find. Professional gold diggers and graduates of the graduate school of sartorial disappointments. Everyone prays to find the nugget they are missing.
This search game is not in vain, because the objective is not to differentiate yourself from others. It's the journey that matters, not the destination.
Those who shop with their heart want to come across Levi's Red Tab big "E", the A-2 bomber of their dreams, German army sneakers (the GAT), the vintage M-65 field jacket, the embroidered jacket he deserves .
4. This allows you to taste quality and consume differently
I bought a long camel overcoat this winter, with almost indecent large peak lapels, rollino shoulders, full interlining, in a heavy Italian wool cloth that twirls all around me when I walk down the street. It definitely looks good. For sure, I feel bulletproof when I wear it. Well, if next week there was a spectacular drop in temperatures, I wouldn't even be angry because I could take it out again.
Tasting this type of quality piece really feels good. I mean, a new fully canvassed coat, with these finishes, is out of my reach, or at least I have to save some time.
This is the coat in question. Don't try to buy it, it's currently in my cupboard. Every morning, on my way to the bathroom, I touch him to wish him a good day. Notice how well detailed this coat presentation sheet is on Le Vestiaire du Renard.
And then, why buy new, always new, when quality parts already exist? Pieces that have a story, that are full of charm because they are worn just enough. A slightly worn collar, slightly worn pockets, sneakers that aren't so white anymore, well that excites me.
And so, for all these reasons, and as we are not all lucky enough to be able to physically go to a thrift store, I have selected e-shops for you to browse in abundance!
Before jumping happily onto these sites, I advise you first of all to:
- Check the general conditions of sale of each of them (can you return the part if it does not suit you and under what conditions?)
- Measure clothes that fit you perfectly so you can compare those measurements to the clothes you want online. This will save you a lot of disappointment. For example, more than useful measurements are: shoulder to shoulder distance, armpit to armpit, waist circumference, hip width, thigh width, sleeve length, back length and neck circumference. So ! Indeed, it is somewhat restrictive the first time, we tell ourselves that we will come across the right part directly anyway but that is not the case. Is it better to spend a little energy once and for all taking measurements or going back and forth to the Post Office?
- Be patient and dig like an insatiable archaeologist.
The best e-thrift stores
1. Generalists
Broadway and Sons
Broadway and Sons
Broadway & Sons was my gateway to the world of online thrift shopping. The site is clear and well done, as is rarely the case. If you are unsure about a size or have a specific request (for example, if you want a particular length of pants, contact customer service, who are friendly and responsive).
Prices are often high but the parts are worth it. When it's a rare piece, it increases, it's forced. But you can find chinos, shorts and shirts for a very reasonable price.
Brut Clothing
Brut Clothing
Very nice selection that of Brut Cloting . I like to walk there from time to time, as I would have done in a physical thrift store.
In addition to the e-shop, it is a showroom with which you can make an appointment (especially for fashion professionals) and also a brand with Project 18 which creates reproductions of period clothing using vintage materials (I have just added this linen sculptor's jacket to my permanent wishlist).
Prices vary depending on the origin and quality of the garment.
Second Sunrise
Second Sunrise is physically located in Sweden (in Stockholm). Like Broadway and Sons elsewhere (but in Gothenburg)!
The guiding idea behind this company is really to consume responsibly. And therefore consume less. Their DNA is that of Americana workwear filtered by Japanese culture. This is what they express themselves. In short, few pieces but only good ones!
The Dustbowl Vintage
The Dustbowl Vintage is an online store on Etsy, based in the real world in Luçon, West Central France. Fairly extensive selection and careful work. There are vintage pieces from the Swedish Army, from the 1970s, tweed jackets from the 1940s from the Ivy League, typical Hawaiian shirts.
Jinji
Well, Jinji is a physical and online store that doesn't only offer vintage, far from it. However, buried in the remarkable and cutting-edge selection of workwear clothing and accessories, a few vintage traps selected by them surface. Often military, with workwear accessories such as bandanas. In short, it's eclectic and it's beautiful.
2. Hunt for the military
As we have already suggested to you in an article showing you how to bargain hunt , here are some ideas for interesting military pieces to look out for:
- Military overshirts
- Field jackets (including the famous M-65 of course)
- An A-2 bomber
- A sukujan
Paratrooper
This is all pretty pointed huh. We will even find helmets, compasses, medical equipment, Eisenhower's sexy underwear and all kinds of war accessories. If you have a historical film project taking the Second World War as a context, this is the place to come.
You can also find at Paratrooper , very well-made reproductions of the most iconic clothing
The Quartermaster
On The Quatermaster , so many interesting pieces, such as this bomber , this very useful jacket or this Battaglione San Marco jacket, unfortunately already sold. Being on the lookout, searching, knowing what you are looking for and acting quickly, these are the qualities of a good hunting dog, but also of a good bargain hunter.
Saunders Miliaria
On Saunders Militaria , the curation work is really on point. The pieces can sometimes be a little expensive, but that's because they are in good condition and from the period. And I just realized that there was an independent e-shop that is as cool as it gets. Wow, that's classy. There are exceptional pieces for lovers of second-hand clothes.
Most of the pieces offered are unworn originals.
And boom.
3. Shop for workwear
Rospo Indigo
Rospo Indigo is based in London and focuses on French and Japanese workwear. On this e-shop there are simple pieces that can easily be integrated into our contemporary wardrobe (for example this jacket ) and then there are UFOs (from Japan) like these completely crazy pants. It goes away very quickly, but it's deserved. Keep your eyes peeled.
Ah, I don’t know about you but all these discoveries excite me!
My Blue
No ! Mon Bleu is not a friend of cheese lovers. No no. However, it is a very nice eshop which presents quality, durable pieces from France. Lots of pieces that we can easily appropriate, I think. You just need to find the one that speaks to you.
It's a little expensive, but once again, I offer you products whose quality you will not be disappointed with.
4. Hunt for sportswear
Well, here I admit, we are falling a bit into thrift shopping as the hipster sees it. The thrift store of opportunity. The fashion thrift store that doesn't worry so much about quality. As you know, this is not our vision of things at BonneGueule.
That being said, Mint Clothing is an endless source for 1970s, 1980s and 1990s themed costumes.
Generally affordable second-hand clothes.
97th Vintage
What music festival are you doing this summer? No, because if you want to put together a Coachella-like outfit, you've got what it takes! 😉 I kind of intentionally showed you that there was a “ Festival Shirt ” tab on this site to support my point.
In short, here, it's second-rate second-hand clothing , quite hipsterizing. But I present it, because certain pieces are a source of fun, such as the sweatshirts section in which I find clothes that I could see myself customizing for my (rudimentary) sport practice.
Affordable second-hand clothes.
5. Find tailoring
A Fistful Of Vintage
Etsy is full of stores like this. I'll give you a few, but the best is still to explore this great, magnificent brothel that is Etsy and find your own nuggets, like a truffle pig. Okay, I promise, I'll stop with the animal names. It's getting annoying.
I ordered 4 items on AFistfulOfVintage , and I am very happy with them. I was even able to negotiate shipping costs with Alexander, who is a very accommodating and charming merchant. I therefore recommend its online store. And warmly too. He probably won't see this little tribute, but thank you Alexander.
Some jackets are barely €40. What hurts are the shipping costs. I therefore advise you to purchase several items in order to amortize this additional amount to spend.
The Fox's Locker Room
Le Vestiaire du Renard is my favorite with Brut Clothing and Broadway & Sons mentioned above. I was talking to you earlier about my camel canvas coat. Well, it was on this eshop that I found it, for the modest sum of €215.
For the record, the entrepreneur behind this e-thrift store is also the author of the blog Le Paradigme de l'Élégance which he no longer maintains but which remains an inexhaustible and beautifully written sartorial source.
Be careful, beautiful pieces sell at the speed of light.
But, good news, the founder of Vestiaire has teamed up with Croquis Sartoriaux and launched a new site in October 2020: Vulpilist .
This is a site for purchasing/reselling second-hand pieces in tailored and formal styles.
Savvy Row
I haven't yet had the opportunity to try this superb e-shop, but I would really be surprised if the customer experience was bad or if the products were disappointing. How many times have I drooled over the magnificent, impeccable, English-style canvas suits from Savile Row.
Frankly, for tailoring, Savvy Row is a hit. And I hope to have the opportunity to buy something from them soon.
Some pieces that my eyes are eyeing: this sports jacket , these pants , made for Prince Rupert Zu Lowenstein, the manager of the Rolling Stones (yes, yes) and one of these tuxedos just to wear one at home in the evening, with a cigar and a cognac. And fall from fatigue in front of Arte.
The final word...
We live in wonderful times all the same. Where clothes older than us are just a click away. This is a really nice advantage, especially for people who, like our editor-in-chief Christophe, don't feel very comfortable in thrift stores where you have to rummage through and where a certain smell lingers.
Finally, the only thing that bothers me a little is that I sometimes have the impression of being a usurper: because it is not me personally who has patinated certain pieces that I wear.
But I console myself by imagining the story of this same item of clothing, a story that he would never have had if he had waited for me to wear it. He can't tell me anything, but he experienced the war, he experienced what we talk about in the history books and that is enough for me.
And you, are you the type to hunt for pieces in thrift stores or never in life?
