Dumping Grounds, Vol. II (finally!)
Showcasing a collection of secondhand treasures you can buy: '70s tees, faux fur coats, homewares, and more.
Hey! I’m Erika, the girl (a.k.a. 32-year-old dog mom) behind Café Cleo. Starting in March, subscribers can be treated to weekly posts consisting of thrifting hauls, secondhand shopping recommendations, and interior design inspiration connected to arts & culture. Members also get access to my subscriber chat, where we can gab about all things thrifting, outfit inspo, DIY projects, book recommendations, and more. Sound up your alley? Let’s get into it.
La Sportiva TX4 R sneakers | $144
Currently fixated on trail/hiking shoes as lifestyle sneakers, and La Sportiva just hits different for me. It’s a fairly new-to-me brand and I’ve been stalking Depop recently trying to find new or gently used sneakers in my size (unfortunately I haven’t lucked out). This style is my current frontrunner; in the same vein, these adidas sneakers, this Salomon pair, and another La Sportiva pair are equally as cool.
Mincara by Russel Taylor Faux Fur Coat | $46
You’ve seen all the girlies in their mob wife fur coats for two winters now, and you’ve officially been influenced (me, too). But if you aren’t looking on eBay for yours, you’re doing it wrong. To further prove my point: here, here, and here.
MCM Atomic Gooseneck Vintage Lamp | $29
In my humble opinion, MCM lamps are superior to any other era. This one belongs on somebody’s writing desk, and if you’re not a writer, maybe you’d prefer this martini lamp or oyster lamp, instead.
Vintage French Country Express Jacket | $30
There’s something about lobster clasps that just elevates any jacket for me. I love the color combo on this French Country Express one (manifesting myself on a sailboat wearing this), but if you have a more minimalist wardrobe, I would suggest this denim Ralph Lauren option.
Vintage Gold Filled Charm Bracelet | $54
I know the Y2K Italian charm bracelets are trending right now (I bought a new one back in 2018…ahead of the curve you might say), but honestly nothing beats a chunky vintage charm bracelet in my eyes. The locket charm is even endowed with the original sweethearts’ photos still present. Sob.
Tod's Black Leather Di-Bag | $90
Tod’s vintage bags are seriously underrated. Genuine glossy leather, made in Italy, in the style named after Princess Diana, and under $100? Jackpot.
Vintage The Quaker Factory Leather Western Jacket | $35
I’m a Kansas girl at heart, so anything Western/cowboy/farm-themed I’m usually a sucker for. This gorgeous leather jacket is so special and the contrast stitching just makes it even sweeter. I have never been a horse girl (in fact, I’m scared of them) but I just love their vibe, ya know? They seem so confident and carefree. I think us humans can learn a lot from them. For now, I’ll just keep searching “horse leather jackets” in my eBay search bar.
Vintage ‘70s USAF US Air Force Ringer T-Shirt | $50
There’s nothing extraordinary about this vintage tee, but I think that’s why I love it.
MCM Libbey Impressionist Artists Glasses Set of 4 | $36
Okay I actually started this post weeks ago and never finished it but I had all the stuff picked out I wanted to feature. So once I revisited it this week, I was shocked these impressionist drinking glasses were still in stock. If you don’t buy them, I WILL. (Yes, that is a threat.)
Suzani Velvet Jacket Handmade Embroidery Coat | $56
I don’t think this is vintage, so I’m breaking my own rules here, but it may be handmade so that counts for something, right? I just love this jacket and it would be perfect for spring and how cute would it look on Zoom calls or while sitting on a bench in the park admiring tulips and people watching or strolling through the farmers market with a baguette in arm (read in manic voice).
📰 In other news…
Is there anything in particular you’ve been on the (secondhand) hunt for? Let me help; comment below and I’ll provide some 1:1 personal shopping recommendations. 🩶
Starting 2025 off strong with a few good reads: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (a sharp-witted, quick read) & Night Road by Kristin Hannah (an author whose work I absolutely cherish) are my standouts. I have indeed also started Onyx Storm (purely because I’ve read the first two books and feel committed to the bit now), but I haven’t gotten super invested in this one, as of page 230. It’s been a slog.
Hot tip: If you’re in the market for some new art to liven up your walls, browse Shop Goodwill for real paintings (not prints, sometimes even signed) for super, super reasonable prices. This $10 signed floral vase painting and $20 signed sailboat watercolor caught my eye. Or just head to your local thrifie!
ISO: One of my goals this year is to volunteer more, ideally for an NYC-area animal shelter or dog rescue. Ideally that place would be the Manhattan ACC on account of proximity to my apartment, but their volunteer orientation sessions are few and far between and quickly fill up. If you have any recommendations on great organizations I can donate my time to, please let me know! 💘
Adopt don’t shop,
E xx
Related:
I’m always in the hunt for some gold vintage jewelry but also been obsessed with vintage running apparel 🥺