Thrifty Thursday: The Sharing Place

This week, I'll  be reviewing a hidden thrift haven in Harlem, The Sharing Place.
Located in East Harlem, The Sharing Place is a weird smorgasbord of high-end brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Kate Spade mixed in with more affordable brands like H&M, Ann Taylor etc. all mushed together in a store the size of a Manhattan studio.
I rated The Sharing Place on five categories; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Prices, Quality and Uniqueness. Overall, The Sharing Place squeezed through with 5 stars. 

Staff/Atmosphere: Zilch
The Sharing Place doesn't score any stars on their staff and atmosphere. This store is so cramped and filled to the brim with so much clothing and antique knick-knacks, that's its almost mentally and physically exhausting to sort through it for that magical piece that makes every thrifting journey worth it. This front view of the store doesn't fully showcase the amount of product in this store.

I cannot count the amount of times I had to say " Excuse me" while squeezing past someone in the tiny aisles of the store.

The staff was rather in-different to most people that came into the store. They didn't offer a greeting or any kind of assistance, and had the tendency of paying more attention to the Spanish-speaking customers (who also seemed like known/seasoned customers). Also, there are no fitting rooms or any enclosed area to sort through any of the pieces you've picked up while making your rounds.

Variety: 
There's a decent amount of variety at The Sharing Place.They definitely have a fine selection of clothing, and accessories. I think a big hit with them is with their collection of antiques, scarves and some of their clothing.
I ran into a lot of Ann Taylor, Loft, H&M, Talbots etc. pieces of decent quality which for a thrift store of it's caliber, is quite nice. There was a lot of variety in size, and many of the sizes ranged easily from sizes 4-12, and there were a smattering of sizes 0-2 and XL-XXXL.
The shoe section was an absolute disaster. If you're lucky, you can score a decent pair of shoes here, but for the most part, I wouldn't recommend for shoes.
For hand-bags, I also wouldn't recommend because I spotted a fake Kate Spade, which for me is a big red flag, for any high end thrift store, but for this store, it gets a pass. But, for anyone looking to head over there  in the hopes of scoring a killer handbag for the low,  buyer beware.
However, despite all my criticism, they do have a great scarf and coat section for the fall. That's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for some unique fall pieces.

Prices: 
The prices here are dirt cheap. Nothing is above $40 and the higher ticket items only apply to the high end designer items. 

Quality:  
The quality of most of the pieces were good/above average. I did notice that most of the pieces were not dry cleaned and therefore you need to wash/dry clean before wearing or even trying on ( alas the lack of a fitting room). 

Uniqueness:  
A lot of the pieces were your regular, run of the mill thrift clothing but they were some definite gems hidden in those racks, if you've got the energy to dig through them. The knick knacks section was the most unique in my opinion. They had all sorts of antique goodies; vintage mason jars, vintage tea sets, candle holders, glass pieces etc. I'll definitely be back there to find some cute home things for my apartment very soon.

Closing Thoughts

All in all, The Sharing Place was an interesting little spot, but it failed to deliver, in regards to its atmosphere, variety, quality and overall shopping experience. It's a spot I'd only go to for vintage knick-knacks and when I'm the mood for some digging and happen to be in East Harlem.  Shopping at The Sharing Place can be rather laborious without the guarantee of finding anything worth the energy spent. For a lot of thrifters, it simply may not be worth it.

I'd recommend this store to hardcore thrifters that aren't scared of a little digging. Novices beware, this place might wear you out!

Visit The Sharing Place

 333 E 115th StNew York, NY 10029b/t 1st Ave & 2nd Ave East Harlem

Love & Light, Rachel

Outfit of the Day: Something Old, Something New.

Hello again, beautiful people!

Today's outfit of the day is inspired by my constant need for experimentation, and expansion in my personal style expression. This Missoni top had been collecting dust in my closet for a long time now and this past week, I decided to finally give this look a chance. I tend to buy pieces that are a bit outside of my personal style with the hopes of pushing my fashion sense and embracing something. However, all to often, those pieces get discarded to the recesses of my closet.

But, today, I say no  more to unnecessary cloth hoarding and yes to new, funky looks!

This is one of the times where I get to wear one of my handmade pieces, which is the Wool Bandeau that I'm wearing under the Missoni top.

It truly makes me quite happy when I wear one of my pieces because there is a massive sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing that I made something that's good off enough to wear outside and receive compliments on.

Winter break is inching nearer and nearer and while I'm anxious about the end of the semester and final exams, I am also longing for the days off and time I can spend sewing and honing my craft. I get a surge of excitement thinking about my future trips to the fabric stores and all the fun designs I will create my own hands.

Outfit Details: Jacket: Vintage | Top: Missoni Italy | Wool Bandeau: Handmade | Jeans: H&M Mom Jeans ($10 find!) | Shoes: Wesley & Co. | Glasses: Vintage pair, found at Urban Jungle See you all soon! Love & Light, Rachel.

Thrifty Thursdays: Review of The Housing Works Thrift Store, SOHO.

It is Thursday and you know what that means...thrift shopping at the House of Ndubuisi!

This week, I'll be reviewing The Housing Works Thrift Store in Soho, Manhattan.

This store is near and dear to my heart because they have one of the few "not for profit" thrift stores. They're donation-based and their slew of volunteers and dedicated staff really helps the Housing Works work towards their mission of ending the dual crisis of homelessness and AIDS in New York City. Also, I was a past volunteer there when I was about 16 years old and it was a very fun experience for me, meeting and working with all kinds of people. So, overall this store is wonderful but of course, I am a bit biased. I will rating the Housing Works Thrift Store, SOHO based upon 5 categories with two stars for each; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Uniqueness, Prices and Quality.

Staff/Atmosphere: 

This store is small,  but with plenty to show and it can often look a bit packed because of that. For those that love a massive store, like Unique and Urban Jungle. this is not the place for you. But for those that like the look of Monk Vintage, this thrift shop is right up your alley. The staff is wonderful and they're always quick cheery, friendly and always, always willing to help. Once again, I am a bit biased because of my past experiences BUT, they have a lovely staff and team in this store.



Variety: .5

Housing Works has a lot of variety but there are a few things that they don't carry at all or they don't carry it often. They do not carry children's clothing, socks and underwear. The last two for  me are thrifting no no's anyway, but I do think children's clothing is necessary based on who you ask. They also don't carry a lot of furniture mainly, I believe, to the size of the store. So, if you're having a baby and need furniture, skip this store! Other than that, they carry a full range of women's and men's clothing, shoes and accessories. They also carry plenty of quirky housewares and home accessories.

Uniqueness:  .5

One of my favorite things about this store is the uniqueness, especially with their vintage clothing. Housing works is based on donations and I've across so, so many cool pieces over here. The staff also curates what is put on the store-floor according to seasons, events etc. They also carry a lot of high end designers and very often, you can get your favorite brands for a helluva steal!

The only issue with this store, is that some of their sections can be quite lacking at certain times of the season, especially the jewelry section which can be very hit or miss.



Prices: .5

If you're coming here, prepare to spend approximately $10 to $20 for a single item. Since they do carry a lot of designers, the prices can be a bit higher than some other thrift stores, but you're buying quality stuff. With that being said, some of the prices can be lower for a lot of the non-designer pieces and the jewelry.

If you're going there, I'd suggest going with more than enough money just in-case you run into something you must have and can't live without.

Quality: .5

The quality in this store, tend to vary a bit. That's just the consequence of being a donation only store. Most of their pieces are of very high quality, but the shoe and jewelry section can seem lacking in comparison to the clothing.

Overall, Housing Works Thrift Store in SOHO comes out strong with 7 stars! I'd definitely recommend this spot for new and old thrifters alike because there is always something fun and unique to buy.

Pay them a visit and make a donation to help with AIDS research today! They're open for 11am to 7pm.

Tell them Rachel sent you!

130 Crosby St
Ground Fl
New York, NY 10012

b/t Houston St & Jersey St
SoHo

Thrifty Thursdays: Review of Urban Jungle, NYC.

Hello,

Thrifty Thursdays are back!

I know y'all missed my reviews, haha. I'm sorry I went a bit on a hiatus with it. School got rather tedious for a while. But, no worries, I'm back!

This week I am reviewing Urban Jungle in Wiliamsburg NYC.
I will rating Urban Jungle based upon 5 categories with two stars for each; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Uniqueness, Prices and Quality. Staff/Atmosphere: 
The staff is very friendly but a bit standoffish but for what it's worth, the staff do what they have to do and do it well.  Interacting with a friendly staff is a very big thing for me. I like to feel relaxed in a store and a friendly staff is integral to that.

I took a half star off for that and also because Urban Jungle doesn't open till noon. I find that fairly odd, because most stores open much earlier and some may even see it as a bit pretentious. The store is also a bit cluttered, especially within the first hour of being so if you intend to come here early and shop, just keep that in mind.

Overall, the atmosphere and staff could be much better and Urban Jungle takes a bit of a hit in that department.



Variety:  &half

Urban Jungle has a very "hipster" feel. It's definitely not a one-stop thrift shop but it's full of really cool pieces that'll make your outfits POP. There is plenty of variety at Urban Jungle but it definitely doesn't cover all the bases like some other thrift stores can.


Uniqueness: 

This is a category where this shop really thrives. Urban Jungle is full of unique pieces, ranging from racks of sequin, real & faux furs, leather jackets, shoes and even t-shirts. This is where you go when you're looking for a one-of -a-kind piece. Urban Jungle is guaranteed to deliver in this department every time.

Prices:  & half

The prices aren't exorbitant at all, but they could be lower on some items. In comparison to a lot of other thrift stores, their prices may be  considered low or even standard. However, in my opinion, Urban Jungle can do better on the prices. I wouldn't go there with less than $20, fyi.

Quality: 

Amazing, amazing quality. Every piece I've gotten from this store is durable and built to last. I haven't encountered any pieces with gaping holes and/or weird discolorations. Urban Jungle takes great pride in the quality of their clothing and it's evident.



Overall, Urban Jungle is a hit with 8 stars. I recommend this thrift shop to younger people, especially those that have a more eccentric style. Urban Jungle is chock-full of so many cool pieces and it's an eccentric fashionistas playground!

Check out Urban Jungle at

118 Knickerbocker St
Brooklyn, NY 11237

b/t Thames St & Flushing Ave
East Williamsburg, Bushwick

Don't forget to subscribe or drop a comment below.

Love,

Rachel.

Thrifty Thursdays: Review of "Out of The Closet" Brooklyn.

Welcome back to another installment of Thrifty Thursdays! I'm back to reviews this week, and  have discovered an absolute gem in downtown Brooklyn that I'm dying to share with y'all.
Strap in and get ready for this ride.
Out of  the Closet is thrifting for a cause; many of the proceeds from this store goes to benefit AIDS healthcare and education. Despite the holiday themed and regular thrifted clothing, they also offer free AIDS testing on the spot!

Out of the Closet barrels through this week with 8 stars! Stay with me and I'll tell you exactly why!

I’m reviewing Out of the Closet based on 5 categories with two stars for each; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Uniqueness, Prices and Quality.
Staff/Atmosphere: & 1/2 stars
The staff was generally quite friendly, and non-intrusive, which I particularly liked because I enjoyed roaming on the store on my own quietly. The atmosphere of this store is pretty standard. It's well lit, clean, organized and their dressing rooms have a funky orange-ish walls and lighting that's perfect for selfies.

Variety: 
Out of the Closet carries in my opinion, what I'd call classic clothing. This thrift store is perfect for someone that thrifts but doesn't want nor really care for the "vintage look". They carry a lot of more chic  grown up attire that can easily be worn to work, events and meetings. It's not your more "hipster" thrift store, and you won't fit too many crazy and "out there" pieces but you will find beautiful pieces that will never go out of style here. They also carry a huge variety of vinyls and books, with a whole upper level dedicated to just that !
Let me give y'all a bit of a look into their inventory!

Uniqueness: & half
I loved the uniqueness of the pieces in this store, mainly because I came across very unique pieces that I'd never seen and wouldn't come across in other stores. They also carried a variety of newer, and vintage designers that I had not seen in any other stores. Often with more classic thrift store, I come across the same "run of the mill" looks that can get quite boring but Out of the Closet is chock-full of unique, classic looks that'll work for anyone of any age and socioeconomic background.
Prices: 
The prices are off the hook in this store. I was pleasantly shocked turning the labels and finding most things well under $10.
I found a pair of vintage genuine leather shorts for $5, which I bought! What I really loved about their pricing was how things weren't marked up or down based on branding.  I found some Ralph Lauren pieces for $6-10. Honestly, the most expensive thing I came across was $25 and it was a wedding dress. The prices here are so, so good and they a run on a lot of sales on their clothing as well depending on the color of the tags.

Quality: 
The quality at Out of the Closet is amazing! A lot of things I saw were brand new, and in damn near perfect condition. Those that weren't new were in great used condition. I was really impressed by the quality of clothing here. You can tell from the pictures that everything is pretty and clean! They also carried a lot of quality brand names from Ralph Lauren to Alfred Dunner to Harve Benard, Ann Taylor and many, many independent and vintage designers.

Closing Thoughts

With  eight stars, Out of the Closet is a true hidden gem in downtown Brooklyn. I'd really recommend this shop if you're someone that's a working professional, or moving into a professional phase in life. I'd also recommend this store if you're someone that tends to dress a bit more on the classic and preppy side of fashion. For everyone else, there is still plenty to gain from Out of the Closet, particularly from their holiday themed section(which is currently all about Halloween!) ,their low, low prices and unique inventory.

Run, don't walk to Out of the Closet and tell 'em  Rachel sent you!

I'm so happy to share another thrift store review with y'all, on this beautiful Thrifty Thursday!

If you loved it, please comment, share and subscribe!

I love you all for reading.

Love & Light,

Rachel.