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18 January 2010

Off Season: Summer in January

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: thrift shopping knows no seasons. In order to do it successfully, you've got to be receptive to the things that find you, not the the things you find. It also requires the patience to grab some good stuff a full 1/2 year before it's time. Gives you something to look forward to, right? Besides, the whole idea of instant gratification is an ugly American disease we could all stand to outgrow.

And so, with a fresh layer of frozen sleet and snow on the streets and sidewalks of the Greater Boston area, I give you:

Madras slacks, flat front and cuffed, with a narrow leg...
real madras, the kind with a soft linen-like quality...

Serious vintage L.L. Bean. The tag may say hand wash or dry clean only, but I'm willing to bet these trews bleed beautifully in the washing machine. Can't wait.

And... Black and off-white hounds tooth jacket, in pure raw silk...
by Polo..the good stuff...made in U.S.A.

Total cost for the two: $10.49.

Stop looking for stuff in season. The pickings are better if you can learn to see things out of their proper context.

This July, I plan on convincing my Dad to buy a snow-blower. Get it?




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18 comments:

  1. Young FogeyJanuary 18, 2010 at 10:33 PM

    Good work! We all envy your thrift stores. If that jacket had shown up in one of my regular haunts, it would have been priced between $30 and $60. At a "thrift" store!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enzo AGCJanuary 19, 2010 at 4:40 AM

    Those pants are killer...

    ReplyDelete
  3. RebeccaJanuary 19, 2010 at 4:49 AM

    Point well taken! Congrats on your find. (I mentioned you in a Fels Naptha related post of my own. If you're upset, let me know and I'll remove it.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diane @ Haute FlashionJanuary 19, 2010 at 5:47 AM

    Truer words were never spoken! On any given day, you are at the mercy of whoever just cleaned out their closets.

    Having tunnel vision for a certain season will blind you to some amazing gems!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2010 at 7:54 AM

    Ab Fab post! I am afraid I am a victim of the "ugly American disease" but have not time to find a cure - namely no thrift stores in my area and no time to travel out to any. What do I do Doc?

    ReplyDelete
  6. davidslJanuary 19, 2010 at 8:55 AM

    i think i need to move to new england...the thrift stores in my area have got nothing like this! of course if you want a nylon sports jersey in xxxl....

    ReplyDelete
  7. FredJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    I had a jacket like that in the '90's. The shop called it a "Glen Check Plaid". Was a technician at the time, hid ink and grease quite well.
    Fred

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2010 at 11:29 AM

    I love it, the internet is aglow with LL Bean Signature, it's everywhere, and lo and behold Mr. G finds some 5 buck vtg LL pants that absolutely kill all that Signature business. So jealous.

    ReplyDelete
  9. spoozyliciouzzJanuary 19, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    The jacket is a beautiful catch...the trousers would be too heavy for me, though.

    Once again a lovely find!

    www.kleidsam.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gregorius MercatorJanuary 19, 2010 at 1:12 PM

    That's one helluva pair of pants.

    On an unrelated note, I hope you get out to vote today for Coakley.

    Happy Election Day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. David M.January 19, 2010 at 1:27 PM

    nice score, you bastard!

    ReplyDelete
  12. dandy nihilismJanuary 19, 2010 at 1:42 PM

    G-boy still has time for the blog? I've had to come back since I am cash poor at the moment. Happy thrifing!

    p.s. found a 3/2 roll at j crew; who knew?!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM

    careful machine washing those, if they're like any of the old madras pants I've thrifted, the "dry clean only" tag has more to do with the fact that the lining and inner waistband stuff shrinks at a much different rate than the madras fabric.

    You could get a sweet bleeding pair of pants, or end up with a puckered, tiny pair with a lining too big for the pant leg.

    be careful

    ReplyDelete
  14. David G.January 19, 2010 at 10:10 PM

    I wish we'd find madras pants in my part of the world. Summer wear is just too basic in Quebec, people are afraid to buy nice summer clothes since they'll only wear them 3 months a year.

    Nice finds, though! lucky guy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. GiuseppeJanuary 20, 2010 at 6:32 AM

    Anon.,

    It will definitely be cold water and no dryer for these pants. Your advice is much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Young FogeyJanuary 20, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    To anonymous January 19, 2010 7:54 AM:

    Make time to travel to thrift stores in affluent neighborhoods. There's no other way. Prepare by googling areas of interest for thrift stores.

    To Gregorius Mercator:

    Martha Coakley was part of the worst witch trial in modern America. Because of her, an innocent man spent an additional four years in prison.

    It doesn't matter where on the political spectrum you are: this woman has no place in public life. I'm happy that the good people of Massachusetts chose someone else.

    Now, let's get back to the real issue: great clothes on the cheap!

    ReplyDelete
  17. kckclassicJanuary 20, 2010 at 2:23 PM

    Those pants are wicked, I'd love to find something similar, if just to confound my friends!
    The hardest thing about off season shopping is waiting to sport the new finds. I just scored some NOS walkover's dirty bucs, but alas its been grey and rainy here for days. Ah well, spring comes soon enough

    ReplyDelete
  18. CLGJanuary 20, 2010 at 9:58 PM

    I came across a few great finds this past monday...vintage L.L Bean pieces definately made my day

    ReplyDelete

An Affordable Wardrobe strives for an open discussion of all the topics presented here. All opinions, whether in agreement with the author or not, will be considered for publication. Please present your points in a clear and adult fashion. Negative comments of an overtly crass nature will not be published. Besides dressing like grown ups, let's behave like them as well.