The aftermath

I love the feeling I get when I find something nice from a thrift store. The feeling is so much more overwhelming than if I'd find something from some regular store. You need to seek first and you can find things that you never even dreamed of!
The aftermath's not always as much fun.
Too many times I realize at home that there is a stain, a hole, buttons are missing or something like that and I always promise myself that next time I will check the item properly. Well, yesterday after we got home from the recycling center I found out that there is one button different from the others in my cardigan(pictured in the previous post), so I have to change them all. Not a big loss but still..

I ended up making a list about things that are important to check when you're buying secondhand. I should follow the list too.

Check the buttons.
If there is a button(s) missing it might be hard to find the exact same kind if the buttons are personal or somewhat unique. Almost every time when I buy secondhand I tighten all the buttons myself cause threads tend to get fragile with time.

Zippers
Check that zippers go up and down. If the zipper is broken, it's usually easy to change especially on skirts and dresses. Again if the zipper is placed somewhere where it shows it might be hard to find same kind if it's a special one. Granted you don't want to loose any of the garment's uniqueness.

Check for stains
If the stain has been in the garment for a long time it's almost impossible to clean it. Wash really old garments and especially vintage treasures very carefully because today's detergents and washing powders and such are quite different from the "old days". Even dry clean can harm those delicate findings.

Holes
It makes me sad every single time when I get back home from the day's adventures and notice that there is hole in my new garment. Sometimes you can try to fix those or modify the whole garment. With any luck it will turn out to be a-OK or something completely new yet again!

Clothes moths
If there is a reason to be afraid of moths or vermin, put the item into a freezer.

I always wash garments before use. Leather and very sensitive materials I just ventilate.


Examples of said misfortunes: I can't close that clutch because the button is damaged. A beautiful cardigan and I love those simple white buttons but one is missing.


Upper button is different from all the others. Actually that's kind of funny. Those small stains really bother me but the dress is just so cute.

I wouldn't have left any of these behind for these flaws but it would've been nice to notice before I bought them.