Lindstrom: The new Swedish Mexico

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending my Saturday thrifting with two of my favorite Marys, Mary W. and Mary D. (just like in grade school!), in the Lindstrom, MN area. Lindstrom, for those of you not familiar with the town, is a super adorable Swedish town with a bunch of antique stores, a tea pot for a water tower and one of the best (and cheapest) bakeries I have been too. I have been there several times before, but had only checked out their antique shops. So imagine my excitement when Mary W. suggested that we go check out some of the thrift stores she saw last time she was in the area. Then imagine my excitement when she told me there were four to check out. Then imagine my excitement when we found great things at all of them, had Mexican food and got to eat a donut with 50¢ coffee. BEST. DAY. EVER.



The Mary's, outside of my favorite little Lindstrom bakery. Notice the tea pot water tower in the background. Notice how badass and sexy the Marys look. It was a great day.



One of my favorite things about small towns are the crazy elderly people who inhabit them. Unlike most urban businesses, these sorts of people don't worry about wearing their heart (or politics) on their sleeves, even if it might reflect "poorly" on their businesses. Here is one such display of speaking the truth, found at the bakery. I love this sign because it totally reminds me of my grandma Vera, who signed my Christmas card two years ago with "Hope you are having fun with your playmates" and a drawing of a drunk looking smiley face. I LOVE my grandma—she's where my sense of humor and lack of a filter came from.



Small towns also come with outrageous displays of showmanship, presumably in the name of drumming up more business. Here is a picture of a naked hot dog on top of the meat market. No bun, no mustard or ketchup. Nothing. Bare bones dog, chillin' on the roof of the meat market. Totally Lindstrom.



As we are here to discuss thrifting in Lindstrom, not the sights, here is a picture of the sign for the first shop we stopped at. Handpainted signs that merely say "Thrift Store" = a very good sign indeed! Just the sort of thrift shop I want to blow my monies at!



Of course, with small town thrift stores, you also run an even higher likelihood of experiencing those with a Jesus-freaky feel to them. Sometimes this is a bit much, as it was in the third shop we stopped at, Recycled Wardrobes, which verged on a consignment/resale shop. They had bible verses printed on their tags. Still, we found a few quality pieces there, which means we won. And, as Rebecca Leeman from Drop Dead Gorgeous says, "Jesus loves winners."

Our trip had an unexpected twist, however, in that it wasn't all Swedish-influenced. In fact, despite the strong Lutheran sentiment and acknowledgement of Lindstrom's Swedish sister city (Tingsryd), there was a definite Mexican-influence shaping our trip. Chimichangas aside, there is another reason why I am arguing that Lindstrom is the new Swedish Mexico—because we found some of the most amazing Mexican bags* ever found thrifting!




First off, Mary W.'s leather tooled purse. These are a dime a dozen at resale shops, but this one was only $4.99, in perfect condition, with a beautiful clasp and even a mirror and spot to put your cards (drugs). This was also the only item we found at the second thrift store, which was a bummer. The store was expensive with a disappointing selection. Mary D. almost threw down $20 for a set of 6 espresso-sized cups with birds on them before deciding against it. We did not, however, let this keep us down, and from there, treated ourselves to some (Mexican) lunch.



I had thrifting freakout when I found this backpack at the first shop. All afternoon, I kept grabbing it out of the backseat so I could stare at it in wonder. I cannot wait until the spring thaw is over so I can sport it while biking around town.




Isn't this the most amazing tooled leather Mexican bag you have ever seen, ever?! It is so amazing that I paid $3.99 for it even though one entire side of it was ripped off. I brought it to work to have my boss' husband, Nate, (who does leather work) check it out (hence the lighting...the color of the bag is much more carmely orange...an amazing piece!). Keep your fingers crossed that he can fix it! Found this one at the super religious shop. I also got a pair of forest green knee high socks there for 50¢ (I am not above thrifting socks).

I also picked up a ton of pieces I cannot WAIT to wear as soon as it gets liveable outside again (like, 70 degrees).

Check out this most amazing pairing of totally 80's biker babe pieces (found at the first thrift shop, the one with painted sign):



An original 1989 Sturgis tank top. SHUT UP!




I wasn't sure about these jeans—like most high-waisted mom jeans, they are a bit paunchy in the front, which is pretty unsexy. They are, however, nicely fitted in the legs, which is rare, and are that perfect light, almost white, denim color that screams "biker babe." Plus, they are Levi's orange tag, which is rad. Mary D. wants me to wear them as soon as possible so she can "stop feeling nervous about them." They were only 50¢. FIFTY CENTS! I had to get them. So I did. It goes without saying that I can't wait to wear this outfit to the Joint for $1.50 rail drinks (on Mondays) and cheese curds come spring.

And then we have some sexy 90's L.A. beach wear (picked up at the last thrift shop we stopped at, Family Pathways (the new Family Pathways, which is technically in Forest Lake (see my special trip to Forest Lake and the old Family Pathways here)):





Too bad we already did our Swimsuit Thrift Off! This floral bikini swimsuit with shorts is pretty much one of the most tubular suits I have ever seen.



Cropped "Venus" tank. I can't even look at this without imagining I am hanging out with Pauly Shore in Santa Monica. Sigh.



Mesh shorts. Eat your heart out, American Apparel!

Then we have some serious vintage plaid finds:



A plaid vintage onesie that buttons up the side with pockets! (A last minute find at Family Pathways—always keep your eyes open!)





Since I am getting so pumped about warm weather wear, I was not as excited about this vintage thick wool skirt as I would have been had I found it in, say, September. Still, I had my Marys with me, and they convinced me to get it. I know they were right—another reason why it is always good to shop with a trusted friend (or friends).

And finally, some cheap earrings (also found at Family Pathways):



"Cicada" earrings that both the Mary's vetoed (despite the fact that it helps to have others around for the editing process, sometimes you have to listen to your heart!)



Gold earrings for 25¢, a true steal!

Like my trip to Forest Lake, I can't wait to return. And maybe this time, we can coordinate it with the "picket fence" antique sale that takes place occasionally in Lindstrom. I mean, why not?

*"Mexican bags" can be a rather loose term, but as both of the leather bags were actually made in Mexico, I am lumping in the woven backpack with these as well. Stylistically, they fit. And most likely, the backpack is at least a South American friend.

Special Collections: Sexy Time! Silky Printy Sleepy Things

Sometimes, over the course of years and years of thrifting, you realize that you are unconsciously forming unusual little collections of things. That your once seemingly disparate attractions are convening in unintended ways. Before you ever realize, your love of Hawaiian prints and trench coats has manifested in perhaps the only collection of hibiscus and palm-themed outerwear in the Upper Midwest. Such are the joys of thrifting.

In this particular case, my special collection has grown out of my otherwise unrelated loves of lingerie, print design, and natural fibers. I love lingerie and sleepwear. Especially old lingerie and sleepwear. Despite the fact that I am one of very few people who will pay for the privilege of wearing other people's discarded underthings, good stuff is still very hard to find. Beyond the taboos of thumbing through someone else's granny's discarded panties, the greater travesty lies; that for the last five to six decades, women have been wrapping their most intimate bits in the most unbreathable, untouchable, most flammable, most totally synthetic materials that have yet to be concocted by man. So no matter how cute some little vintage teddy is, if it is made of acetate, I cannot abide. But on those rare occasions that I find pieces that are naturally fibered, and apparently, fantastically printed, I snatch (ha!) them up. And the result looks something like this:



This first piece is some 80's Victoria's Secret business. Can you even imagine finding an all silk, rope printed slip walking in to VS these days?! No. Well maybe but I haven't been in one since high school and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to make an educated guess. But I did find this slip at the Value Village by Milwaukee's airport, when I was killing time waiting to pick up my boyfriend's delayed flight a few Christmases ago.


A scooped out back. And spaghetti straps. I love me some spaghetti straps.



This second silky printed slip I found in Austin, TX, a few years ago, when I was nursing a very severe hangover. My boyfriend took me thrifting, thinking that if anything could stave off a killer hangover in me, it was deals. The only deal I could muster before barfing that day was this fantastic little number.


A chinoiserie floral printed silk slip, that could be the cousin to the VS one. Two is a trend!


Next is a rather recent find, that was featured in the 25 Days of Black Friday Thrifting, this past year. A floral printed silk kimono robe.


A martini sipping uniform, indeed. It is so hard to keep closed, which is a delightful problem to have with your silk kimono robe.


And then there is this little lacey and silky floral printed camisole. So LOVELY.


It is these sorts of finds that make me so frustrated that the whole "innerwear as outerwear" thing will probably never truly happen in the way that it could, in a perfect world. In that I mean I will probably never be OK if I wear this to work as a top.


There you go! Now that I have put all these pieces together in one place for the very first time, I cannot help but imagine a Fiona Apple-esque music video in which they are all layered and sexily discarded piece by piece. Do what you will with that remark.

The Most Iconiest of All 90's Icons

One of the strangest thing about my job is seeing how the youth dress. This is strange for many reasons—it makes me feel even more self-conscious/lame for how I dressed as a teen; it makes me want to squeeze the dorky ones and tell them it will be "alright"; it makes me want to inform the annoying ones that peaking in high school sucks; and finally, it proves how successful NYLON has been at marketing the 90's to people who were actually born in that decade. I've actually seen multitudes (multitudes!) of young girls with the whole side of the head bang sweep thing that I tried so hard to do way back in 1996 (my results paled in comparison to today's sweeping bang wearers).

So, apparently 90's are back, and have been for about two years now. In these dark times, who can we look to for our 90's inspiration? For once, it is not Stevie Nicks. And I am not going to be all snooze-tastic and steal the New York Times assertion that the 90's icon one must copy is Elaine from Seinfeld (really? really? Her hair alone makes me want to fist a wall).

Oh no! The most iconiest of all 90's icons?!


Well, that would have to be Pauly Shore!

DAMN STRAIGHT!

As I have posted on past personal blogs of mine, I became reacquainted with the Shore after a impromptu viewing of Son-in-Law, the film with the best make-over sequence of all time (second only to Encino Man, also staring Pauly Shore), which I purchased thrifting for 99¢ last spring. Son-in-Law threw me into a tailspin, as all I wanted to wear in warmer weather was baggy long sleeved tops that dipped low in the back, cut off jeans, boots with socks and medallion necklaces.

The other day, I thrifted a copy of Encino Man, which I maintain is Brendan Fraser's best film to date. Sean Austin's character is an official tool in this movie, but Pauly Shore's character (Stoney. Of course.) has the most blissful of 90's, rich California kid, hippie wardrobe you have ever seen.

So, inspired by this fashion icon, I started sorting through my wardrobe for the best of my thrifted looks that Pauly would approve of.



The tie dye jumpsuit. I know I just posted this, but it is quintessential Shore, so I had to put it up again. In doing this post, it has also come to my attention that I do not own nearly enough scarves and/or tie dyed pieces to truly channel the Shore. WISHLIST!



An acid-washed jean jacket would do in colder climates.




If he ever came to the midwest, Pauly Shore would totally wear this cut-off cropped football top to prove his manliness, just like the way he did when he visited North Dakota in Son-in-Law (the Shore digs crop tops).




One of my favorite things to do in the thrifted denim department is to make cutoffs out of jeans that are ill fitting. Calvin Klein's are exceptionally good for this, because I typically hate the way their legs fit but love the nostalgic feel of the label on the butt. Not exactly "cheek chillers," but you know that Pauly loves him some cut offs (almost as much as crop tops)!

Bettywear

As previously mentioned, Son-in-Law showcases one of the most amazing fashion montage makeovers in film history. Crawl (P.S.'s character in the film) turns little farmer girl Becca into a bonified California babe (though I maintain that her gross blond dye job almost ruins the whole thing. Almost.) by making her ditch her peasant girl blouses and modest skirts for teeny tiny dresses and rollerblades. After examining my own thrifted wardrobe, I found a few pieces that I am pretty sure would give Pauly a semi.*




Black lace body suit with a french cut. I mean, really.



(back)

Tiny, black and red, possible hooker dress that I dug up at the Dig'n'Save in Madison. Of course he would also dig this. How could you not?




Tiny floral dress with sexy little tie swoop thing. This would be excellent for going on dates to the mall to have dinner at the food court and later do some necking in the movie theater.



My velvet, floral minidress as inspired by Portlandia (again, very 90s).



Little polka dot Limited dress (you can't get much more 90's than the Limited).





Or can you? With this teal denim Guess pencil skirt you sure can!





Stonewashed Bongo wear!? Believe it!




And finally, I present you with a very fancy pair of floral shorts. I actually resold these at work last summer. I wish I could tell you I saw who bought them because I am willing to put my money on someone with much better side sweeping bangs than I ever accomplished.

*Gross. Sorry, that was really gross. But it is also a hilarious joke from Son-in-law so I had to reference it.