It was a rough week in my wardrobe department. Seasons are changing and in typical Eleni fashion, I have grown tired of what my closet has to offer. On a super tight budget this month (and a NEED for some “new” clothing pieces to punch up my wardrobe) I had this genius plan to hit up the mecca of vintage thrift shopping - Jet Rag’s Sunday Dollar Sale on La Brea in Los Angeles.
This sale has been a weekend staple for vintage collectors, designers, hipsters, and clothing hoarders for sometime now. I have driven past the Sunday morning crowds several times but never managing to stop. As a Jet Rag Sunday virgin, I did a quick Google search our my way there for tips and tricks from avid Jet Ragger’s but no amount of research could have prepared me for what was going to happen. I only wish I would have remembered to check YouTube.
I scored front row parking which gave me the advantage to do a quick scout before exiting the car. In the driveway of Jet Rag, two rows of tents were pitched and commercial sized laundry bins lined the perimeter. To the left, clothes were spread out on the ground from last week’s leftovers. To my right, the early birds were hawking over bundles of clothes tightly bound in plastic. It is not until 11:00am that employees cut the bundles free and all is revealed.
At 10:57am, an employee went over the rules: no one may touch a bundle until all have been cut open. I had assumed with the sound of the clip from the last band, everyone would have graciously sifted through what pile was in front of them. What the hell was I thinking?! EVERYTHING IS A DOLLAR! What transpired next became such a blur [much like the high school jungle scene from one of my favorite movies “Mean Girls”]. CATFIGHT! I was unexpectedly shoved clear out of the way. Crews of hipsters went diving, collectors were scrambling and hoarders were screaming to grab as many clothes as possible in one fell swoop. While in survival mode, I tried to regain focus and join in with the same conviction but I was too late. As people are hitting the ground around me, I left my childhood etiquette rules behind and started tugging and pulling on anything I could get my hands on. There is not a Black Friday sale that could compare to what this was.
Not expecting such a war zone, I walked away with a measly pile to go through (compared to my competitors whom had bins full). Pulling two items from my original grab (and a couple more from people’s rejects) I was able to walk away with a few finds that I felt would be great additions to my wardrobe. Hoping to return as a veteran, I am excited to fully embrace the experience.
With only $8 spent, check out how I mixed my thrifty vintage finds into my wardrobe.
Photography by Debi Prince
The Jet Rag $1.00 sale happens every Sunday, rain or shine, 9am to about 5pm.
Jet Rag
825 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038-3340
Phone: (323) 939-0528
Cost: All items in parking lot are $1.00. They request exact change in the mornings.
Note: Metered street parking on La Brea is free on Sundays till 11am. Make sure to feed the meter after 11am because they will start to ticket.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eleni Hopkins grew up in a home where art and fashion were always the forefront of conversation. A Native to San Francisco, her passion for style, color and texture have made her fearless to take risks in order to stay on the cutting edge of fashion and beauty trends. It was her craft with palettes of color and make-up brushes that prompted her move to Los Angeles and her love for clothing, designers and street trends that have kept her here. With a creative but critical eye, Eleni is excited to share her love for dress up and show readers how to spice up their wardrobe and enjoy their time in front of the mirror.
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