Adventures in Thrifting: A Dream Come True

I think every woman has a dream thrift find in mind every time they walk into a thrift store, vintage store, or consignment shop–that one piece they’ve been looking for for years, at just the right price, in just the right size.

For me, that dream piece was a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, for under $100. Yes, that’s right: I said was. Because last week, on a random walk exploring the East Village one evening after work, I walked into Cadillac’s Castle and naturally, made a beeline for the $25 sales rack. And there it was: an original Diane wrap dress, in the perfect color, in my size, for $25. After checking the tag at least 3 times, sputtering to Joe in disbelief, and asking the owners if they were sure it wasn’t a mistake, I cautiously tried it on and then happily handed over my debit card at the register. “There’s a slight discoloration and we take these things very seriously,” the owner said to me, somewhat apologetically. I didn’t notice any kind of discoloration, so I thanked him and almost ran out of the store, convinced he was going to change his mind and come running after me.

I wore the dress out to dinner and dessert in our neighborhood that Friday and I’m looking forward to wearing it for years to come.

Shopping secondhand is definitely a challenge, but sometimes the reward is well worth it!

Do you have a dream thrift piece? (My new one is a pair of Frye boots).