It’s odd how much I’ve taken ‘finding my place’ for granted. I’ve called San Francisco my home for 10 years or so, finding all the boutiques took that long. Knowing where to look, and who to ask played big parts. Man, even knowing how to ask… I’ve taken that for granted too.
The other day, I decided it was time to check out the thrift shoppes. In my head, I imagined that with all the fabulous style in Europe, the Europeans must give their castaways to charity and resell them at amazing prices. I wasn’t able to find them. On the first day anyway. Here they call them ‘Second Hand’ shops, and I visited a few, and they were overpriced and bare of any interesting items.
It’s ok… partially, I wasn’t looking in the right neighborhood. In the evening, Rocky took me for dinner in Bornheim Mitte, a neighborhood in northern Frankfurt and it was lovely. It really gave me hope that I could find other places, and it was just a matter of knowing how to look.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
really adore the lace tights and shoes… and here’s wishing you’ll adapt to Europe soon! (:
it always takes a while to settle in…. it usually takes me around 4-6 months to start feeling really “at home” when i move somewhere, and those first few weeks usually are pretty weird and disorienting. i’m sure you’ll be feeling great soon! what an adventure:)
also, i LOVE your outfit — the delicate tights with the cozy scarf is a great contrast. xo
I can’t imagine how weird that would be! You’re so brave for moving to a place so unfamiliar. And I’m sure that once you get used to it you’ll find that you love it
ps. those are great tights!
I LOVE your outfit.
I’m so glad you’re keeping your blog up in Germany. I’m sure there’s gotta be a huge learning curve moving to a foreign country, but you’ll find your niche!
Such a stylish lady you are! Welcome to Europe, enjoy it and keep your style.
Love the tights, JT! I remember finding really cool vintage (or second hand) clothes in Copenhagen at outdoor markets. But this was like 800 years ago and in another country.
xo
I’m sure that you will end up finding cool little places. It always takes a while but I’m sure that you will end up loving being in Europe. You’re also only a very short flight away from London, Paris or Italy for the sun…
I love the outfit!
Here in France, they have the Secours Catholique (Catholic charity), the Secours Populaire (secular charity) and things like that. They aren’t well-organized like shops many times, but they have really low prices (1 euro per item, often). Though many things may not exactly be your style, there is quite a variety, and I’ve found some great things for the kids and myself.
You should check around to see if that kind of charity shop exists there.
You got me curious, so I was poking around on the net about charity shops in Germany. You should look for “give-away shops” too. Apparently, they are often in squats, since they obviously don’t make any money. Everything is free. Maybe there’s nothing of interest to be gotten, but it seems like the idea itself is interesting enough to search it out.
I don’t read German, but apparently, this is a list of Free Shops in Germany:
http://coforum.de/index.php?UmsonstLaden
those tights and shoes are incredible. I hope you are doing alright over there. e-mail me when you can!
I hope you don’t mind me bombarding you with comments, but I’m always interested in the way different cultures deal with second-hand goods.
I saw a forum chat where some people mentioned Oxfam often has shops in German towns. Apparently, you should also look for something called Caritas, which sounds like it might be like our French “Secours Populaire”. Flea markets were also mentioned.
oh my gosh… really great tips! thanks krista, i’m really happy to hear from you! not only a fellow ex-pat but an old hs friend. lovely.
i’m going to check out the thrifting culture some more, i didn’t know that you could find this stuff on the internet… don’t ask why, but that’s what i thought.
the concept of a free shop is so interesting. there were a lot of things i had that i didn’t want to sell but needed to get rid of. i’ll certianly check these out.
kezia… i’m sure going to check out the outdoor market this saturday! will let you know!
you definitely got to come to berlin soon!!!
Yeah, the few second hand shops in Prague were generally almost as expensive as retail and usually suits and more formal things I couldn’t really wear. Of course, the former Communist Czech Republic is very different from Germany-the Czechs generally don’t throw anything away given the culture they grew up in, though that may be changing drastically.
In Scotland there isn’t the same thrifting culture; second hand shops are literally full of old crap that no one wants. But I’ve found that the charity shops in affluent areas are a better bet - old ladies’ handbags, old fur coats and vintage designer finds. I hope that’s a good tip.
how exciting though that you have all this new territory to explore!
must get lace tights! Wow!
i LOVE your scarf!!
@f&art… i’m coming! sooooon! can’t wait to see you!
@kool thing…oh yes, in london i found a great charity shop in barnes of all places. out of the way, but an affluent. i’mg going to check this logic here in germany.
@ambika… oh yeah, i’m sure that will change soon. but the germans may be less consumption oriented than americans, but they still give away good items of old clothing. i am determined to find out where that goes!
ah yes, the darth of thrift in germany. i lived in stuttgart for 4 years and the only ‘thirfting’ i found was spaermuelletag (sp?). twice a year everyone puts their ‘junk’ out of the street for the garbage people to pick up. the night before, the whole town walks around and checks out other people’s junk. by the next morning, the garbage people have hardly anything to pick up!
oh, but i miss europe. i miss it so much. it’s hard to settle, but it is wonderful as it happens!
Bornheim Mitte is a very nice part of Frankfurt, but you should definetely check out Brückenstraße in Frankfurt- Sachsenhausen. Nice shops - though no second hand, But you can find Danish fashion and local designers there. And a nice small cafe the Schiffercafe.
You’re looking great. LOVE those shoes!
It’s so easy to take so much for granted-which is why travel and change is so wonderful…
In other news, your legs look AMAZING.
Ooooh those tights!!! Me Like!
in france there are also stores called ‘emmaus’ which are similiar to a goodwill. i always have luck finding very affordable (2 euros for a dress, etc.) vintage finds…the other day i got half my summer wardrobe for a mere 18 euros. victory never looked soooooooooo good.
I don’t know much about where to shop in Frankfurt, but here in Germany we usually go to flea markets for thrifting. If you ever have the chance to come to Bonn (about 2 hours north of Frankfurt) on the third saturday of the month there is a market about 4km long - which is perfect for finding all kinds of vintage stuff.
thanks claudia for the lovely suggestions. i’m really loving these parts of frankfurt. and the cafes are great…
jules, i’m soooo going to the flea market, but i seem to be busy every saturday for the next few weeks.
la fille! 18 euros! holy moly! i’d be in heaven.
glad you like brueckenstrasse - frankfurt has a lot to offer, you just have to know where to look
. if you’d like some more tips just send me a mail.
I love this outfit and your appartment looks amazing!!
I’m sure you’ll find lots of great shops when you have walked around the city more!!
You have the tights I’ve been looking for months!!! Good luck for the charity shops, they’re always hard to find, I guess it’s part of the game.
what a super-cute outfit! love the tights with those fabulous shoes…so pretty-please do tell…who are they by?
oooh ok… I just got them at Urban Outfitters… not sure if you can get them on the web. I didn’t know lace tights were so hard to find!
hello my dear, you look so adorable!
it’s funny as i have the same impression always: vintage shops are way much cooler in America. I guess Europeans keep the good stuff in their closets while Americans give it away.