Trips to area resale, vintage shops yield inexpensive rewards

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There comes a time in every shopper’s life when she says, “Enough.”

Enough of the cookie-cutter outfits, enough of the overpriced purses, enough black pants to last a lifetime.

In the words of disco superstar Donna Summer, enough is enough is enough. I can’t go on. OK, I can, but not wearing the same clothes everyone else has.

Perhaps it was this disco inferno that caused me to purchase a floral-print, polyester, bell-bottomed leisure suit last week. But I suspect it had more to do with the fact that I’m sick of seeing myself coming and going. I’m also sick of spending so much money on clothes, even on sale.

What’s a ShopGirl to do?

There’s a lot to be said for basic khakis, black skirts, tailored business pants and turtleneck sweaters. But part of me longs to be free. And another part of me longs to be debt-free. So last week, I decided to tour the area’s vintage, thrift and resale shops. I took along fellow columnist Ardeana Hamlin, who knows how to spin straw into gold when it comes to vintage, and we hit the racks to see what we could find.

The 1970s leisure suit came from Sylvia’s Resale Shop on North Main Street in Brewer. Now, before you start thinking I’ve lost all sense of style, I need to assert one fact: I know how to wear vintage. It took a lot of practice and a few embarrassments before I got it, but I took a few cues from Vogue, learned a little from some other successful vintage wearers, and have finally managed to pull it off.

The secret is moderation. I would never wear the whole suit all at once, unless I were going to a ’70s party. But alone, each piece packs a punch. The sleeveless top has classic lines, and given the resurgence of wild prints, it looks modern when paired with low-rise jeans or plain black pants. The jacket would look great over a white shell, too. The pants probably need to stay home, however. You can’t take clothing like this too seriously, and since it only cost $9.50 for the outfit, you don’t really need to.

Sylvia’s has a great vintage room upstairs, but the shop also carries an extensive selection of jewelry and higher-end, business-minded clothing that is perfect for professionals. Ardeana picked up a leather belt for $5 and a length of hand-knit lace, which she plans to use in a future sewing project. We were both impressed by the quality, selection and pricing of Sylvia’s vintage fur coats as well. Note to PETA members: Please do not send hate mail. I wear faux.

For the younger crowd, I suggest American Retro on Main Street in Bangor, which caters to the label-conscious junior customer. We were lucky enough to hit both shops during their 50 percent off sales, and Sylvia’s sale continues through the end of February.

At American Retro, my selections were a little more mainstream – I almost bought a pair of lilac pants from Old Navy, but they fit funny. Instead, I opted for a pair of weathered gray Abercrombie & Fitch pants and a pair of drawstring-waist khakis from the Gap outlet that would be perfect for lazy summer days. It set me back a whopping $11.50 for both. Ardeana hit the dollar bin and emerged with a gold-tone necklace and an intriguing pin.

The selection at American Retro was great – well-edited, popular brands in cuts that are still in style. It got four thumbs up – two from me, two from Ardeana.

Past Lives Boutique in Orono, one of the newest players on the resale-closeout-vintage scene, earned similar marks (though Ardeana wasn’t with me on my visit). Owner Jessi Sader scours yard sales, thrift shops and resale shops, and after seeing the proliferation of department store closeouts at Goodwill, she contacted the distributor so she could sell them, too. The shop, located on the corner of Main and Mill streets, has good prices and a great selection – there was very little there I didn’t want to buy. I picked up a new Ralph by Ralph Lauren dress for $15.75.

Ardeana was with me for the jaunt to the Orono Thrift Shop, however, which is worth a visit for the prices alone. I’ve bought coats there for a quarter, and some of my favorite ’50s skirts have come from there. We didn’t have too much luck, but May Lewis, who runs the shop for the Orono Health Association, did give me a copy of Steve Martin’s “Shopgirl.” It was very appropriate and much appreciated.

This week, I took a solo trip to Vintage Threads, the new resale shop located on Hammond Street in Bangor, across from the YMCA. They’re having a blowout sale this weekend (everything under $10) to prepare the shop for a new shipment of merchandise. The shop specializes in transformations – adding beadwork, trim or new buttons to a garment to give it a personalized, contemporary look.

Trudy Darling and Susan Chase, who are partners in the business, also offer custom shopping. If you only wear, say, Liz Claiborne in a size 8, they’ll keep their eyes open for garments that fit your needs while buying for the store. In the coming months, they plan to offer more upscale brands and “wearable vintage” – if you don’t think you can pull it off, they’ll help you.

One of my old favorites, Vintage Finery in Orrington, was closed when I visited. Owner Linda Mitchell-Storer has plans to build a fashion museum, and her formalwear collection, both old and new, is extensive. If you’re in the market for a dress or a hat, check it out.

In writing about resale shops, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bangor’s two Goodwills. The Stillwater Avenue location has an overwhelming variety of high-end department store closeouts, while the Union Street location near the Chamberlain Bridge has mostly used, often great, clothing (I picked up a faux fur coat there for Halloween). Also, the Salvation Army has moved to more posh digs on Broadway, near the Broadway Shopping Center in Bangor. It’s a welcome change from the previous building, and any trip to the Salvation Army is worth the work of digging through items you may not want – I found vintage Fiestaware there for 25 cents apiece a few years ago, and I bought every piece they had.

The Attic on Center Street in Bangor sells used clothing and home items, and all proceeds benefit All Saints Catholic School. I did not have much luck on my last visit, but one woman told me she saw beautiful Waverly curtains there.

This leads me to an important point: You mustn’t get discouraged by one unfruitful visit to a resale shop. Like anything else, it’s hit or miss. Think about it: If you have a bad day at the Gap, you still go back when you need a new pair of jeans.

You just need to keep at it. And you need to think about the rewards – you get your shopping fix, you get something no one else has, and you get it for a song.

When it comes to vintage and resale, I can’t get enough.

ShopNotes

. Attention makeup mavens: It’s Clinique Bonus Time at Filene’s – get a seven-piece gift with a purchase of $19.50.

Reader Question

Dear ShopGirl,

Do you know of any stores in the Bangor area that carry cuckoo clocks? Preferably not really expensive ones.

Thanks,

Lisa Wright

Dear Lisa,

I found two shops in Bangor that carry them: Day’s Jewelers on Stillwater Avenue and Ingrid’s German Shop on Buck Street. Day’s had two in stock before Christmas, but both sold. However, Day’s can order them, and they have several varieties from which to choose.

Ingrid’s co-owner Rick Gilbert says the noise of the cuckoo clocks makes him, well, cuckoo, so they don’t keep them in stock. But they, too, can order a clock that will fit your needs.

I hope this helps!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you. Send questions, comments or suggestions by mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net.