Has this ever happened to you?
You’re out thrifting, or shopping at your favourite consignment store and you decide to try on a fab coat or blazer.
You casually stick your hands into the pockets and discover…
SURPRISE!
a bundled up wad of well used dusty old kleenex that look like it has been there since before you were born.
Oh the joy of discovery while thrifting!
Unhappy Thrifting Discoveries
I had a surprise like this recently when I stuck my hands into a wonderful long satin Ralph Lauren robe to discover some furry grey/green pills. I am assuming the fur fungus grew over time because they were partially ingested and then spit out. I’ve done that before. I’ve been so sick and taken some meds thinking they would help relieve my fogged-mush-brain only to suddenly realize that I had just taken two extra strength flu pills five minutes before. Not wanting to break my liver I’d quickly spit the pills back out into the palm of my hand. Confused, I pondered what to do with them next. They were expensive, I didn’t want to throw them out. (Yes I’m cheap pragmatic like that.) I couldn’t pop them back in the pill bottle, they’d stick to all the other pills. Instead, I shrugged and popped them into my robe pocket where I knew would surely remember to take them exactly fours later.
Well, that was the idea anyhow.
What else have I found while thrifting?
I’ve discovered old business cards, gum wrappers, bus tickets and elastic hair bands.
I have not discovered cash or a winning lottery ticket. {sad face}
Funny how people are careful about cleaning out the cash but totally willing to leave garbage behind, happy with the thought that they are passing a little bit of themselves along as a secret personal gift for the new owner.
I didn’t discover anything in this velvet blazer which was thrifted as the pockets were still sewn shut. Sometimes you’ve got to be thankful for the small things in life. I must admit I always find it interesting when people don’t open the stitching for their pockets or the back vent of a blazer. Some people actually wear the blazer with the big “X” stitched on their bums.
What is the strangest thing you’ve discovered while thrifting?
I’ve got another funny story about personal space and a crushed orange velvet blazer here if you’re interested.
Linking up with Turning Heads Tuesdays, My Girlish Whims Wednesdays, What I Wore Throw Back Thursdays Hat Attack
I like the blazer and am even more glad that you didn’t find anything gross in the pockets.
Great blazer. Yes I have seen the X-butt as well – maybe it’s a European trend? : >
I’ve found hair stuff, metro cards, and tissues galore. Never any cash, but once I found an expired credit card. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Not the strangest thing, but I have found found cash twice in thrifted purchases. Yay me! Twenty dollar bill one time.
Many wadded up tissues!
But I found a Marmot rain jacket and tucked in the zippered pocket was a $10 bill.
So I actually made money on this purchase. The jacket was priced at $4.99.
Score!!
I haven’t discovered anything yet. I keep hoping to find $40,000 cash hidden in the liner of a jacket, stashed there by a spy or drug-dealer on the run.
Beautiful look Suzanne! I can honestly say that I have not have any fun discoveries since I don’t thrift much. I do however find all sorts of crap in my purses all the time. Unfortunately, it’s all trash that needs to be tossed and not even a forgotten $20 somewhere.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Would love for you to stop by & join TBT Fashion link up.
I love your blazer – in fact I love the whole look! The pattern mixing is fantastic! Happy you didn’t have any gross surprises in this one! I’m glad you pointed out the X in the back vent – I really think most people simply don’t know to cut it! 🙂 Always love your posts!
xx Suzanne
http://www.AskSuzanneBell.com
Great color! I do volunteer work in a charity thrift store, and we always check the pockets before things go out on the floor. We’ve actually found quite a bit of money, and our share of yucky things. Love your story about the pills!
gorgeous skirt!
stylentonic.com
That floral print skirt is gorgeous, Susan! And goes well with that beautiful velvet blazer. I like how you mix patterns too.
I have yet to find anything funky in pockets while thrifting that is worth mentioning. Just the usual kleenex, which is funky enough for me, thank you!
I did just score a fabulous black sequined 60s dressy knit tank top with gold beaded fringe. Mint condition too. These days, at least around my neck of the woods, it is not easy to find good vintage anymore when out thrifting. So I was very excited when I discovered it.
Theresa
http://www.vintagestylefiles.com
Love love love the colors in this outfit. The blazer and skirt are perfect! <3
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
that’s hilarious! once when I was thrifting I opened a bag and a moth flew out! happy to report that I did not buy that bag! lol
http://www.prettyinleather.net
I’ve seen that butt X and it made me want to sneak up and snip it open for them – I didn’t though. Kleenex seem be to norm I’m afraid. I love the colour of this velvet jacket, so rich, so you, maybe so me too. Great skirt as well. Am heading back on up now to follow that link to the other tale.
Anna
Anna’s Island Style
Gah, I just lost my comment so here goes again…
Recent discoveries include a pack of tissues, a pack of paracetamol, and a five pound note. Further back, the most horrifying discovery was a cardigan pocket full of nail clippings (eughhhh!!!). Also found a 1940s rectractable makeup brush, an employee registration card and unfinished letters from the 1960s.
This post made me chuckle a lot, the unexpected ‘bonuses’ one finds when thrifting!!
xx
When I lived in Seattle I bought an old used beat up Volkswagen. Does that count? It had a bumper sticker that said”where the hell is Puyallup?” and there was a baggie with a few joints in it under the driver’s seat. My neighbor smoked them. I was afraid they were poison so I passed them on to him. He informed me that it was “righteous weed”. Ahhhh…the grunge years. I am getting a bit of a fuzzy pill beatnik vibe from you. Love your outfit.
Ha ha! Best discovery yet!
I’m also surprised when I see people haven’t undone the stitching. Sometimes if I mention it they are surprised that they can be undone!
Oh the joys of thrifting. Such a sense of discovery! Ha!
You look glowing in this outfit.
Xo Jazzy Jack
I don’t think I’ve ever found anything interesting aside from an embroidered handkerchief, fortunately not used. A few dusty Kleenex, a spare button, etc, I always try to remember to go through the pockets before donating anything, but I did enjoy your line about people “happy to pass along a bit of themselves”.
Marvelous outfit, in both shape and colour!
A crinkled used condom, a pen, a gold ring, and a tape measure. Yup. That’s just a sad sampling of some of the things I haven’t found in pockets. Heh. I need to find those pieces with money in the pockets. Or just go in the store and stick my hands in every single pocket!
Um, no, gross.
You are the best with a fitted blazer, beret, boots, and other stuff!
Thank God! I was thinking finding a used condom would turn me off thrifting forever!
Plus what kind of a weirdo sticks a used condom in their pocket??? I think I threw up in my mouth a bit.
I am grinning here… But indeed you found a perfect velvet jacket after you took a deep breath. It looks bloody good on you. I would have worn an solid blue blouse with it, but you know I am shy of pattern mixing. The skirt is fantastic too. And the boots. I say a winning combination.
Greetje
You know me…I like to push the limits on just how many patterns I can add to an outfit : )
Hmm…let’s see. Wadded up kleenex, on one than more occasion…movie ticket stubs…but the best was when I found an empty mini bottle of alcohol in a vintage faux fur coat. Oh the stories out thrifted clothes could tell. 😉
The flattened crumpled tissue handkerchief is about as bad as it’s ever got for me, though to be fair my “thrifting” activity has diminished immensely since I’ve lived in Italy. It still hasn’t properly caught on here – sad but true.
But, I do remember I always used to leave a coin (I think the most lavish was a Half Crown), as a treat for myself in the inside pocket of my school blazer or winter mack – depending on the season. I suppose I felt that spontaneous lovely surprises were too unreliable, so I created my own; And I somehow always forgot about having done it and was genuinely delighted when I finally rediscovered the little disc of treasure.
Oh yes … I am one of the strange people who leaves coat and jacket pockets stitched up; but only if the line of the garment is worth preserving!
baci Sxx
sarsaparillasal.blogspot.com
You have me laughing, as I’ve had many a similar experience. Estate sales are famous for these surprise treasures.
Your ensemble is fabulous, as always. Love the colors, and of course, your beret. Thank you for sharing your headwear with Hat Attack!
I’ve found some treasures (and lots of trash) in the pockets of jackets and bags, sometimes perfectly ironed handkerchiefs (lovely ol’style!), a little enameled powder compact, coins that are no longer valuable… this kind of things make thrifting even more interesting!
And I’m loving your rusted-orange jacket and all those prints around it, such a fabulous color combo and also fabulous pattern mixing!. Gorgeous!
besos
For all of my major thrifting, I have not discovered anything unusual with the exception of one fake eyelash stuck in a thrifted coat dress. Sadly, I had worn the thing without washing it (violated one of my major rules), that sorta creeped me out.