I recently met Susan as she brought in several amazing pieces of vintage luxury to consign at Doubletake Recycled Luxury.  Vintage labels such as: YSL, Carolina Herrera & Lacroix not to mention Prada, Miu Miu & Moschino.  So Susan sat down and we just chit chatted like we’ve known each other from day one.  She has a hunger for finding vintage luxury as I do so right then I knew I had to interview her but when she told me about her 2 recent gifts – HERMES – you know I had to interview the lady.  Here goes our conversation:

 Q:  Susan how long have you been interesting in thrifting?

A: I am a hard-core thrifter from way back.  My first purchases were old Levis and a crazy men’s wool blazer at the Salvation Army in my small home town.  There was an old 1960s opera ticket in the pocket of the jacket, which was beyond thrilling to me.  Thrifting was not as cool in those days; my mother was horrified!

 Q:  Do you remember what your first luxury found item was and where did you find it?  Please elaborate…

 A: I think one of the first great scores I had was a Burberry rain coat.  It was first generation Burberry, before the brand was reinvented and people started knocking off the plaid.  The rain coat was a perfect fit for my then-petite self, and I got it for $10 at the thrift store that remains my greatest secret in Denver, CO.  I wore it for 10+ years until I left it in a rental car – ironically enough, back in Denver!  Some of my other best finds have been an 80s Chanel jacket, a stupidly amazing Chanel dress from the 1960s, and a bunch of DVF dresses that I still wear.  When I think about some of the finds I’ve passed on, I just want to cry!  (I’m talking to you, red Tod’s driving shoes.)

 Q:  I know you have a refined eye for luxury clothing does that expand into other collecting passions?  I collect mid century designer furniture and Italian & Scandinavian pottery so when I’m out thrifting that’s what I look for as well… Just wondering if you hunt for items other than clothing.

A: I collect WAY TOO MANY things.  I started with vintage/antique barware (cocktail shakers, travel bars, and glassware) back in the early 1990s, but when most of my collection was broken in a move, I moved on.  Now I collect old locks and keys; scary 70s owls that are perched around the shower to scare my husband; Vera and other 1950s-60s-70s scarves; roadrunner broaches; I could go on and on.  I also love all of the weird handmade things you can find in thrift stores, like the framed needlepoint “portrait” of someone’s VW bug that I recently picked up.

 Q:  Recently you inherited 2 very lovely handbags

can you please tell us their names and how you acquired them?

 A: Oh holy night.  My mother-in-law was helping to clear away the belongings of a recently deceased family friend, and the family told her to take anything she wanted.  God bless her – she knew that I collected vintage handbags and thought I would like some of the ones in that lady’s collection.  She gave me a 1974 Hermes Ice Cream Cone bag, which is tiny and has a knotted strap.  It has a leather embellishment shaped like a cone and a clasp shaped like a scoop of ice cream.  I was beside myself about that one, until about three weeks later she sent another one back with my husband.  This was a lime green Hermes Kelly bag.  I seriously almost fainted.  To have a bag like that walk into your life – something you have been coveting literally since childhood – I just can’t. I’m swooning just thinking about it.

 Q:  The moment you saw the 2 bags what went through your mind?  These types of handbags aren’t gifts that are given away everyday so please elaborate…

A: I think I answered this above, but ….. I don’t even know what to say.  I was floored when my husband showed up with that Kelly bag in the trunk of the car.  I think there is such a thing as thrifter karma.  The more time you spend flipping through the racks and digging through the garbage, so to speak, the better your luck becomes.

Yes Susan I totally believe in “thrift Karma” and I sincerely believe that when people do good deeds and random acts of kindness the GODS part the clouds and shine a rainbow over our heads.  Thank you for sharing your story with my readers Susan and I wish you much continued success.

Daniel

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