Continuing my Thrifting the Heights tour from a couple of weeks ago, I decided to visit Grace Hart and Co Antiques, a great antique co-op with a variety of sellers.  You can find just about anything at this resale store: books, art, jewelry, furniture, clothes, and housewares. After all, the designers and buyers at Athropologie are visiting antique stores and flea markets for ideas and inspiration.

Keeping the aesthetic of Anthropologie in mind, I started my digging at the front of the store and worked my way around to the next room, stopping every few seconds to check something out. My first find was an adorable owl mug that looks almost exactly like these owl sake pots from Anthro.

Owl Pot from Anthropologie

Owl Mug from Antique Store

It really wouldn’t be Anthropologie without more adorable Owl accessories:

Owl Plate from Anthropologie

Owl Plate from Antique Store

If cute owl aren’t your thing, there are a ton of tea-sets all over the antique shop that match that Anthropologie style:

Tea Set from Antique Store

Tea Pot from Anthropologie

For entertaining options, Anthropologie has a variety of simple and feminine plates:

Dinner Plate from Anthropologie

Dinner Plate from Antique Store

Another popular trend at Anthropologie is colored glassware in green or blue. The Antique shop has a TON of these, for a fraction of the price.

Hobnail Glass from Anthropologie

Hobnail Goblets from Antique Store

Green Glass from Anthropologie

Green Glass from Antique Store

One of the signature styles at Anthropologie is to use pretty plates as wall decor. At the antique shop, I found this metal plate rack that can be hung in a dining room or kitchen to display collectible plates.

Plate Rack from Antique Store

Another popular look from Anthropologie are animal wall hooks and racks. One seller at the antique store had some adorable  wood and brass hook racks that would fit this look.

Brass Hook from Anthropologie

Hook Rack from Antique Store

For decorating a bathroom, Anthropologie sells vanity towels with a vintage mirror graphic. At the antique store, I found small vintage mirrors that can be hung on a wall to achieve the same aesthetic.

Mirror Towel from Anthropologie

Vintage Mirror from Antique Store

I think I like the furniture at Anthropologie more than anything else they sell. The items are interesting and unique. I tried to look for similar pieces at Grace Hart and ended up with some great finds.

Copper Finished Chair from Anthropologie

Metal Chair from Antique Store

Desk from Anthropologie

Side Table from Antique Store

Cabinet from Anthropologie

Cabinet from Antique Store

While all my finds weren’t EXACT replicas, they still embody the feminine vintage style Anthropologie sells. You can start by browsing the Anthro website for decor ideas and keep them in mind when you hit the antique shops in your city. Take your time and treat it like an adventure and you’re bound of find something unique.

]]> http://www.greenista.com/2009/11/thrifting-through-the-heights-part-2/feed/ 108 http://www.greenista.com/2009/09/thrifting-through-the-heights-part-1/ http://www.greenista.com/2009/09/thrifting-through-the-heights-part-1/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:41:39 +0000 Neha Shivani http://www.greenista.com/?p=266 One of my favorite activities on a quiet Saturday afternoon is to hit up the vintage shops on 19th Street in  the Houston Heights. Here, you will find thrift stores, resale shops, antique stores, vintage stores and a variety of other boutiques and galleries. As I mentioned in a previous post, buying pre-worn clothes and accessories is one of the greenest ways to enjoy fashion. Besides reducing landfill waste, you’re also reducing the environmental impact and demand of making new clothes. Vintage fashions add to your personal style; you can’t find some of these pieces at the local mall.  You’re also supporting your community by contributing to your local economy.

Every week I want to highlight a cool resale shop on 19th Street. I’d like to start my Heights shopping tour with a stop at The Sand Dollar Thrift Store on Yale and 19th.  The clothes are organized by type and by color, making it easy to navigate through this huge store. They also sell house ware items, appliances, furniture,  books, records, VHS cassettes, art, jewelry, bags …. just about everything.

Most of the clothes are in pretty good condition. Usually, it’s middle class families who are donating to the Sand Dollar. Families that can afford to give away slightly worn clothes to replace with trendier items. I’ve dropped off several bags of my own barely worn (very stylish) clothes because they didn’t fit me anymore.

And unlike most vintage shops, the styles at this thrift store are pretty contemporary and trendy. Think dresses from the Gap, 2 seasons old.  My best find? A gold Betsey Johnson cocktail dress for $6. And that’s one of the more expensive pieces!

The key to shopping at a store like this is to be patient and to have an open mind. Cute Betsey Johnson numbers don’t always jump out at you. There’s no pretty display or well styled mannequins to help you pick out what to wear. You need to dig, dig, dig, dig and dig through all the racks of clothing to catch the really good finds. Don’t walk in expecting to find something specific.  Bring your creativity with you.  Dress too long? Get it hemmed. Blouse too wide? Belt it. When you think this way, every piece has potential.  To increase your chances of finding amazing clothes, go in as often as possible. Remember: new items are stocked everyday.

You’ll probably find a lot of great things for very cheap, but remember to keep your personal style in mind. Don’t clutter your closet with clothes you don’t need. That was my biggest mistake when I first went to the Sand Dollar. I bought too many things; most were never worn. In fact, I donated them right back to the store several months later.

While most thrift stores don’t have dressing rooms, The Sand Dollar (thankfully) does. Make sure to try on your finds, keeping your tailor or sewing skills in mind. Examine all your clothes for tears, stains, and holes and remember these can be fixed.

The Sand Dollar takes credit/debit and cash.  Bring your own reusable shopping bag since they still use platic bags at check-out.

I recommend shopping at the Sand Dollar for any adventurous fashionista who loves to  rummage. You’ll never know what treasures you can find.

Picture found at http://heightsblog.wordpress.com/

Some tips for Successful Thrifting:

34 Tips to Thrift Store Shopping

Green Thrift Store Shopping