Page 29 – Be Kind, Thrift and Rewind

It is my belief that many of us who like to shop at thrift shops, vintage stores, and do things like upcycle clothing are “off the beaten path.” By this I mean we aren’t as concerned with following all the latest fashion trends and “fitting in.” We are more courageous about creating our own style. Perhaps we sew our own clothing or buy new clothes that look like vintage. What we choose to do is display individuality. The more we do this the more we are leaders, not followers.

I studied fashion design for a couple of years when I was younger at Fashion Institute of Technology. Believe me the designers are the first ones to look different, try on new looks, forge ahead and be bold. The trouble with trends is by the time everyone has caught on to them everyone is starting to look alike. I personally find that very boring. I can appreciate a trend for a while yet it never lasts as long as classic styles. Therefore most of the time I prefer classic clothing. I personally like to throw in bold trends with my classic style, and for instance a bold statement pair of New London stockings. It keeps things economical while making a fun, trendy statement.

When I was growing up I was raised by a father who often said “Children are to be seen and not heard.” I was not given a voice to speak my thoughts. I was not allowed to go out and be social in my early teens. Finally around tenth grade I was allowed to join a choir that met in the evening two nights a week. I was dropped off and picked up immediately thereafter.

At eighteen I had little idea how to make friends and be socially active once high school was over. I was no longer with those few friends day in and day out. I hung out by myself. I didn’t know what else to do so I just dealt with it. At that time in my life I wore the most outlandish clothing I have ever worn. I wore gold antique shoes with a rainbow striped air brushed cotton overcoat. I had magenta hair. I wore screaming hot pink outfits. The clothing I wore was so wild there were times that five or six people would just follow me down the streets of the Village in New York City just for fun. The only people I socialized with at all outside my family were a couple of students at FIT and one of my professors in the lunch room. I spoke through my clothing. I had a voice that was not shy. That’s what I love about rebel fashion, being bold, being different. It speaks loud whether you use words or not. There are times to conform. At work for instance one has to stay within certain boundaries. Still there remains no reason to totally lose one’s own identity and individual style.

Eventually I learned to be more social. People wanted to be my friend and I ended up hanging out on the folk scene for several years with a bunch of musicians and poets. I dressed quite wild until I was about 25. I would say eventually my attire got calmer as I found my voice and was able to speak out more.

I still like to have certain outfits that are bold statements. I don’t need to rebel as much. I can really enjoy a trip to Trash and Vaudeville in New York City to see what all the other wilder rebels are wearing!!! When my daughter was growing up she had a statement she made often, “Fuck fashion!” What she meant was that she wanted to dress as herself- she didn’t care what fashion told her to wear. She is quite stylish actually. She absolutely adores dressing like Oliver Twist. I am serious!! She is a bit of a tomboy. On days when she is not wearing a skirt she is often wearing suspenders, a newspaper boy hat, a long sleeve shirt and pants. She loves to wear old granny or depression era looking boots.

I celebrate any and all of us who like to dress the way we choose for our own individual style. Trends will come and go and we can play with them, play along and let them go when it feels right for us, or when we feel it is socially acceptable to do so. The things that we choose the most often, the outfits we care enough about to repair, hem, take to the tailor to alter and wear through the years most likely are the ones we feel make a statement about us as individuals. Despite what fashion dictates about constant changing of trends most of us have a few well cared for pieces that we choose to keep for that reason. That is what I consider real fashion. Your signature of you.

For me shopping also has to do with the whole experience. It’s not like I go shopping for clothes every week, or necessarily even once a month. So I try to incorporate it with other fun things to do in the area. For that reason one of my favorite places to shop is the St. Luke’s Thrift Shop in the West Village. It is a small thrift shop in the basement of an old brownstone. The address is 487 Hudson Street, New York, New York. The selection isn’t huge, but it’s a wealthy neighborhood and many of the clothes or household items there are of really good quality. It’s slightly pricey compared to some thrift stores, but the quality makes it worthwhile. Plus they have sales, like every shop does. Aside from the chance of picking up a great item or two in the shop, I can also visit the lovely, colorful garden next door. My favorite treasure that I found this past year at St. Luke’s Thrift Shop was a pair of nearly new John Fluevog shoes for $25.00. His shoes generally go for about $225, so I ended up with a screaming deal! I also found a red Ralph Lauren jacket for $7 on sale. The store is small; the selection is sometimes a bit sparse. It’s the type of place you might want to make a habit of dropping into whenever you have time for a stroll in the area. Many years ago I was there one day when a woman brought in several bags of clothes to donate. I heard her say “I just got offered a job in Europe so I have to give away many of my clothes.” The reward for the shopper who frequents this thrift shop is finding designer clothes at a fraction of the cost, and often in nearly new condition. If you’d like to call ahead to make sure they are open or for their hours, the number is 212-924-9364.

On the grounds of the church next door is the garden filled with colorful roses, rhododendrons, trees, bushes, and benches to sit on in a peaceful, meditative environment. There are always many birds there singing and hiding in the shade of the bushes. This provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle that is generated nonstop a few avenues away. There are a few old brownstones that are alongside the church’s property and their backyards face the garden. One can only quietly gaze at their beauty. Between the garden, the environment all around the garden and the thrift store, this entirety makes for a pleasurable experience.

I also on occasion, follow up my visit to the area with a visit to one of the local cafes for a salad and coffee. My favorite spot is CC’s Café on Hudson. It’s directly across the street from the thrift store at 496 Hudson Street. There is something alluring about Hudson Street, especially in the early am when the rest of the West Village is still somewhat sleepy- eyed, and still waking up. It’s much quieter than most of the surrounding areas and the old brownstones are beautiful. I enjoy hearing the silverware clanking in the background when I walk by cafes or restaurants, since most of the Village doesn’t wake up and become fully operating until later in the afternoon. It’s serene over in this section of the West Village. In the fall I have heard the leaves rustling down the block on some early mornings. This is an area with a rich nightlife, it is usually much busier in the evenings. All in all shopping at St. Luke’s Thrift Shop is more than just shopping. It is an enjoyable way to spend a little while enjoying the West Village and its ambience.

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A Little Gem – St. Luke Thrift Shop