A Bushwick Thrifting Haul
Comparing my spring fashion moodboard to what I actually bought
I recently wrote a secondhand spring wardrobe guide with inspiration from Poppy Almond, a London-based fashion influencer and creator whose style I absolutely adore. After breaking down her outfit formulas, I configured a list of what exactly was needed to emulate her vibe for myself this spring/summer.
A Secondhand Spring Wardrobe Guide 🪻
for the inherently sporty girls—inspired by one of my favorite London-based content creators.
With a Bushwick thrifting trip already on the calendar, my goal was signed, sealed, and delivered. The weekend arrived, and I outfitted myself in a comfy- casual ensemble consisting of an Adidas soccer-style long sleeve shirt, black corduroys, yellow adidas Sambas, and a denim chore jacket, with a big-ass canvas tote nestled on my shoulder, ready to accept with grace all the forthcoming thrifted treasures. Dropping that initial vintage shopping list again, below.
My Secondhand Spring Wardrobe Shopping List:
white maxi skirt
white poplin blouse
gingham dress
mini, midi, and/or maxi utility skirts (cargo, tennis, etc.)
vests for layering (quilted, knit, crochet)
crochet tops
sporty pants (cargo, track pants, etc.)
soccer/vintage sport jerseys
bib collar blouses
plain white tees (although I’ll prob just end up buying these new)
I met my friend Alyssa Brascia first for a catchup coffee at Black Fox in Midtown, then we zipped over to Bushwick on the subway (zipped = 45 minutes). Unfortunately it was a gray, drizzly day but we did not let that damper our thrifting spirits! We had to stay positive for the thrifting gods to bless us!
First stop: L Train…
…a New York vintage shopping institution. They have several store locations in the city (four in the Bushwick area alone, actually) but we began our journey at the Thames Street location.
L Train isn’t a thrift shop per say, more so an affordable vintage store. It’s is less curated than Tokio 7 or Beacon’s Closet, but its prices are cheaper than the latter and retail stores bigger. But they are also clean and have mostly vintage pieces, whereas Goodwill and Salvation Army have largely contemporary, not true vintage, secondhand clothes.
L Train isn’t necessarily the place you’d want to source from as a reseller, but as a pure vintage consumer, it’s prices are pretty great.
Second Stop: Urban Jungle
We quickly learned that Urban Jungle is also owned by L Train, and I wish we hit this spot first. The prices were shocking (I’m talking $3 tops and $6 jeans), especially considering it’s located in the middle of a Brooklyn hotspot.
The space was huge, so some elbow grease is expected compared to its L Train neighbor around the corner; you may have to dig a bit more to find worthy gems, but in the end I promise you it’s worth it.
So here’s what I bought!
Across both Bushwick stores, I ended up with a handful of items that mostly complemented my shopping list/moodboard (the biggest exception probably being this vintage Hawaiian shirt).
Something worth pointing out is that everything I bought, aside from the bandanas (spoiler alert), were tops. I’m typically drawn to tops, T-shirts, and jacket when thrifting, so it’s a good reminder that I need to force myself out of my comfort zone next time and make more of an effort to dig through skirts, dresses, and pants.
And some vintage clothing tags for good measure…
What I’m Still Searching For
I’m still on the hunt for a few major pieces, but considering we only went to two spots over the course of a couple hours, I’m quite pleased with my haul. I’ll be back at Urban Jungle with my husband Cody this weekend so will continue to keep my eyes peeled for:
Skirts!! of all kinds! but especially a long white one
Sporty pants: cargos, track pants, hiking pants
Gingham dress(es)
Vintage soccer jerseys
And What I Regret Leaving Behind 🥀
Café Cleo Shop Spotlight: ‘On The Farm’ Sweater Vest
Now that I’m thinking about it, this cutie pastoral-themed vest would look even cuter layered over the white lace bib-collar blouse I thrifted. You could also wear it over a white tee with jeans for your trip to the weekend farmers market.
