2025 Resolution: Shopping my own Bag and SLG Collection

[papertiger]

Do wet want some new challenges in August?

How about wearing one non-black neutral per week (whatever is a neutral for you)

 

[FizzyWater]

Back on topic, I’ve been totally failing to carry purses lately, just stuffing wallet/keys/phone in my pockets.

I did get a mini-vacation a few weeks ago, and carried my green Trim, and even my new-to-me bronze-ish Rodo clutch to a fabulous restaurant. Fancy!

I’ve been buying lovely, ornamented, delicate blouses that aren’t anything like my usual basics, and realizing that they really need a nice basic tank underneath. There’s nothing decent in the stores, so now I have a pile of silk tanks coming from Vinted to play with, to see if I’ll actually wear these blouses out of the house.

 

[FizzyWater]

If a store is well run, that's fine. Same as in any business IMO. Well done for your volunteering, that's a wonderful service!!!

I don't see why the volunteers shouldn't have first dibs if the things are priced first. In this case the manager told me all my things must have sold when there wasn't even an hour between me bringing them in the night before and the opening in the morning. That's why I was so surprised she thought they could have been sorted, priced and put out, tried on and sold already.

I’m sorry. That does sound suspicious. I absolutely have taken a piece as it came in, priced it, and put it right on the floor, and then joked with the buyer five minutes later about their perfect timing, but… not that often.

 

[papertiger]

I’m sorry. That does sound suspicious. I absolutely have taken a piece as it came in, priced it, and put it right on the floor, and then joked with the buyer five minutes later about their perfect timing, but… not that often.

and it was a whole bag of stuff for different sections: A book; breaded jewellery; two dresses (one Summer one decidedly wintry); cashmere jumper; framed print; vintage tie and so on. I went through the entire shop looking for the dress, nothing of mine was on the shop floor

 

[cowgirlsboots]

You are touching on some concerns I have about donating these days locally. I feel comfortable with furniture being sent to Habitat for Humanity but many of the thrift/charity stores give me pause with respect to where my donations will go. I’ve looked at an “upscale “ charity shop where I had previously dropped off some very nice items. What I have found in there does not fit the bill with rare exception (mostly nicer furniture). The clothing and accessories are nowhere close to what I donated. Where is that stuff going?

I think most charity shops sort all donations by a) stays in the shop for sale and b) not good enough, will be passed on for free to a commercial place that then sells on for sale (wholesale for second hand shops) or for recycling ( like insulation made from clothes) and trashes what can't be sold.

 

[papertiger]

Back on topic, I’ve been totally failing to carry purses lately, just stuffing wallet/keys/phone in my pockets.

I did get a mini-vacation a few weeks ago, and carried my green Trim, and even my new-to-me bronze-ish Rodo clutch to a fabulous restaurant. Fancy!

I’ve been buying lovely, ornamented, delicate blouses that aren’t anything like my usual basics, and realizing that they really need a nice basic tank underneath. There’s nothing decent in the stores, so now I have a pile of silk tanks coming from Vinted to play with, to see if I’ll actually wear these blouses out of the house.

So you've been the one carrying a clutch . You are already an advanced bag carrier.

The silk vests sound lovely. I've been shopping from my own closet full of silk camis, I don't know how I acquired so many. I have also bought a couple of cotton tanks to wear with jeans, some with built in bras and some without. Everything else I agree, I think that's why I've gone back to looking at basics like jeans or sweater dresses. Designs are either so boring or over designed.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

I’m sorry. That does sound suspicious. I absolutely have taken a piece as it came in, priced it, and put it right on the floor, and then joked with the buyer five minutes later about their perfect timing, but… not that often.

I've been this buyer several times!

And today when I came in they had put a fabulous skirt suit that had just come in up in the window hidden in plain sight to show to me. I bought it! Two skirts I also bought came straight out of a fresh bag of donations, too.

 

[880]

Back on topic, I’ve been totally failing to carry purses lately, just stuffing wallet/keys/phone in my pockets.

I did get a mini-vacation a few weeks ago, and carried my green Trim, and even my new-to-me bronze-ish Rodo clutch to a fabulous restaurant. Fancy!

I’ve been buying lovely, ornamented, delicate blouses that aren’t anything like my usual basics, and realizing that they really need a nice basic tank underneath. There’s nothing decent in the stores, so now I have a pile of silk tanks coming from Vinted to play with, to see if I’ll actually wear these blouses out of the house.

💯 agree on all of the above I have a green trim too (a vintage Trim II that I bought for 600 or 800USD). The rodo clutch sounds very nice

I have a few silk blouses*. I like to wear them with cargo pants (sometimes half tucked, though a thread entitled trends informed me that the half tuck is out of style lol)

*they are flattering cut and can be worn as a shacket over another top (like a ribbed tank from COS, a long line athletic top, or on their own. By Charvet Pret. I buy one a year, and they have better cost per wear than any bag or coat or sports coat.

True workhorses that I can roll up into a packing cube. I believe @cecchetti may also wear Charvet or a comparable brand, though hers are bespoke. My favorites are navy with white chalk stripe and navy with small polka dot. And, I’m not a polka dot person.
View attachment 6219587

 

[FizzyWater]

So you've been the one carrying a clutch . You are already an advanced bag carrier.

The silk vests sound lovely. I've been shopping from my own closet full of silk camis, I don't know how I acquired so many. I have also bought a couple of cotton tanks to wear with jeans, some with built in bras and some without. Everything else I agree, I think that's why I've gone back to looking at basics like jeans or sweater dresses. Designs are either so boring or over designed.

Don’t be too complimentary - I’ve now worn one clutch this year, and added at least two to the collection!

I’m actually thinking of putting away a shelf of teacups in my china cabinet and setting out the evening bags for display. At least they could be properly admired there. (The teacups aren’t getting used, either. Sigh.)

I am looking forward to playing with the tops. I’ve been living in jeans/trousers for something like a decade and recently tried to get back to skirts. I just realized that I haven’t been wearing them because the skirts I’ve been picking up are more stretchy/pencil and all of my blouses are too stiff to go. Nicer knit/drapey tops will work better!

 

[whateve]

If a store is well run, that's fine. Same as in any business IMO. Well done for your volunteering, that's a wonderful service!!!

I don't see why the volunteers shouldn't have first dibs if the things are priced first. In this case the manager told me all my things must have sold when there wasn't even an hour between me bringing them in the night before and the opening in the morning. That's why I was so surprised she thought they could have been sorted, priced and put out, tried on and sold already.

I've been to stores where the volunteers have to wait a week with the item on display before they can buy something.

 

[whateve]

and it was a whole bag of stuff for different sections: A book; breaded jewellery; two dresses (one Summer one decidedly wintry); cashmere jumper; framed print; vintage tie and so on. I went through the entire shop looking for the dress, nothing of mine was on the shop floor

I've been to thrift stores where a group of buyers waits while the new things are put out onto the floor. They swoop in and get everything new as soon as it is put out.

Other thrift stores I've gone to shift items to other thrift stores of the same brand, so the place you donate isn't the place where it will be sold.

 

[880]

💯 agree on all of the above I have a green trim too (a vintage Trim II that I bought for 600 or 800USD). The rodo clutch sounds very nice

I have a few silk blouses*. I like to wear them with cargo pants (sometimes half tucked, though a thread entitled trends informed me that the half tuck is out of style lol)

*they are flattering cut and can be worn as a shacket over another top (like a ribbed tank from COS, a long line athletic top, or on their own. By Charvet Pret. I buy one a year, and they have better cost per wear than any bag or coat or sports coat.

True workhorses that I can roll up into a packing cube. I believe @cecchetti may also wear Charvet or a comparable brand, though hers are bespoke. My favorites are navy with white chalk stripe and navy with small polka dot. And, I’m not a polka dot person.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Now I’m feeling a bit defensive.

I’ve been volunteering at a local (but nationwide) charity shop to improve my German for the last few months. Perhaps because it is a larger organization, there are strict rules for acceptance/pricing/disposal. Volunteers have to pay the marked price and record the buyer and seller in a book at the counter.

Are there ways around the rules? I’m devious by nature, so sure I can think of a bunch of them. But generally they’re straightforward enough that it’s just easiest to follow them.

And, yes, buying pretty things is a known danger. Especially after staring at said pretty thing for a long boring shift with nothing else to do.

(ETA there is usually a lot to do, but some days drag.)

You are doing my dream job! I'd love to volunteer in a charity shop. Not only for seeing what comes in first (and having the chance to buy it paying the shop price) but also for playing with the clothes, decorating and styling and helping people to find their personal treasures.