Another thrift store tip. look to match jackets in the pants section.

[reetpleat]

Another tip for thrift store shoppers. if you find a suit jacket, look through the pants. It is not common, but sometimes you can find the matching pants, and/or vest.

I have matched up quite a few over the years, including some pretty nice sixties suits, a few older, and even once a beautiful 40s white double breasted suit. that one was funny. The pants had no tag and the guy refused to sell them to me. I was travelling and could not come back, so I begged and pleaded, pointing out that they were a match, until he or maybe the manager broke down and priced it for me. Vintage white suit, 20 bucks or so. Sold to Roberto of San Francisco for what now seems like a ridiculous bargain at $200. If I only kept all my fines stuff and sold it on ebay right before the economy tanked.

 

[cptjeff]

Did that today. It wasn't really vintage, but just a neat checked DB. Came out to $10 with tax, that place usually charges $20 for a suit. $4 for the pants, $4 for the jacket, and $2 for the great state of North Carolina.

 

[thecardigankid]

It seems alot of the thrift stores around here in Beaufort separate the pants from the jacket. It seems very rare to find the two together.

 

[reetpleat]

Did that today. It wasn't really vintage, but just a neat checked DB. Came out to $10 with tax, that place usually charges $20 for a suit. $4 for the pants, $4 for the jacket, and $2 for the great state of North Carolina.

Yeah, sometimes it is even cheaper than a suit.Besides that, sometimes they will look at the jacket and think it is priced as a suit already and ring you up for the price of just the jacket.

I suppose it is up to the individual as to how they feel about pointing this out or just paying the price asked for. For me, it depends on if it is a charity shop, or a for profit place. Also the price in the first place.

 

[Fletch]

I do this too, but it is not just "not common," it's outright rare.

That goes for close enough matches, too, not just the original suit pants. The exception is tuxedos and - maybe - navy blue worsteds.

Another clue that life is tough and cheaters never prosper - unless they cheat big.

 

[Wash In Lux]

Happens all the time. Salvation Army is notorious for this; not just separating them at the same store but somehow jackets and pants end up at different stores. This has happened to me here in San Diego and in Phoenix. One of the best suits I ever found in Phoenix was purchased separately at two different stores. I found the coat, a vibrant, royal blue 2 button single with striping and dated 1937 at one store then, I just happened to be at another store across town a couple days later and they had the vest and pants! That was awesome. Same thing happened in San Diego with an early 40's brown DB chalk stripe. Found the pants and thought, "may as well stop by the other Salvation Army on the way home and see if they've got the jacket." Amazingly enough, it was there. I also played the lottery after that which didn't work out as well.

 

[Widebrim]

This has never happened to me, but I wish it had.

 

[reetpleat]

Once I was with a dealer in LA named Zac. Mexican guy. Anyone know him? He took me into a warehouse rag mill he gets into, and he pulls out a pair of green pinstripe slacks. took them home and matched them up with the very zootish cut jacket he had found a couple of weeks ago. Sweet match up.

 

[Feraud]

I found a midnight blue vintage shawl collar tux this way. Jacket in one section and pants in the other.
The total was around 26 bucks or so..

 

[Wash In Lux]

Once I was with a dealer in LA named Zac. Mexican guy. Anyone know him? He took me into a warehouse rag mill he gets into, and he pulls out a pair of green pinstripe slacks. took them home and matched them up with the very zootish cut jacket he had found a couple of weeks ago. Sweet match up.

I know Zach. He had a shop called Space City in the back of Bleecker Bob's Records on Melrose. Haven't seen him in years. Used to get something good from him every time. I got that striped single with peaked lapels from him back around '98 (the one I made the belt for).

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Once I was with a dealer in LA named Zac. Mexican guy. Anyone know him?

Sure! Nice guy, Zac. At Space City, I once sold him a 1920s brushed felt fedora from "Alexander & Oviatt". In my size, too. Still regret that transaction! lol


.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Sure! Nice guy, Zac. At Space City, I once sold him a 1920s brushed felt fedora from "Alexander & Oviatt". In my size, too. Still regret that transaction! lol


.

That's where that hat came from... Too bad my cat had to use it as a scratching post (just kidding).

 

[Dr Doran]

There was a weird 3 dollar thrift store on University Ave in berkeley right by "Out of the Closet" and, about a year ago, I found a nice blue 3 button suit-jacket in the jacket section. And the trousers 20 feet away in the trouser section. The suit was a 42. I bought the jacket and trousers (total price: 6 bucks altogether) and got my mother to lengthen the sleeves and legs. Nice suit, especially for the price.

 

[reetpleat]

Yeah, cool guy. He dissappeared from the scene for reasons I have a hint of, but won't go into.... Cause I ain't one to gossip.

 

[reetpleat]

There was a weird 3 dollar thrift store on University Ave in berkeley right by "Out of the Closet" and, about a year ago, I found a nice blue 3 button suit-jacket in the jacket section. And the trousers 20 feet away in the trouser section. The suit was a 42. I bought the jacket and trousers (total price: 6 bucks altogether) and got my mother to lengthen the sleeves and legs. Nice suit, especially for the price.

Many many years ago, I bought a pair of leather motorcycle pants at a shop that sold vintage for $12 and under. IT was the low end shop of a dealer in the area. He went on to open a shop called redlight, and then married a woman who really grew it into quite a business (then sell) that still has two shops in Seattle, and she went on to open a couple of shops in Portland.

Well, probably ten years later, i found a bates jacket at the red light and snagged it. I am sure it was part of the set because they both had blue stripes that had been gone over with white leather paint. I found out tha they had been pulling stuff out of storage. so that is probably the longest period to match up a set ever in existence.

 

[Dr Doran]

Many many years ago, I bought a pair of leather motorcycle pants at a shop that sold vintage for $12 and under. IT was the low end shop of a dealer in the area. He went on to open a shop called redlight, and then married a woman who really grew it into quite a business (then sell) that still has two shops in Seattle, and she went on to open a couple of shops in Portland.

Well, probably ten years later, i found a bates jacket at the red light and snagged it. I am sure it was part of the set because they both had blue stripes that had been gone over with white leather paint. I found out tha they had been pulling stuff out of storage. so that is probably the longest period to match up a set ever in existence.

Good story.

 

[Dr Doran]

It seems alot of the thrift stores around here in Beaufort separate the pants from the jacket. It seems very rare to find the two together.

This should be punishable by torture.