10
Loading video...
By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Finding a beautiful garment in your local thrift store can feel like unearthing lost treasure. Many bargain hunters describe the thrill of bagging a designer item at a fraction of its original cost or discovering the history of an old piece of jewelry.
Secondhand hunting is on the rise across the U.S. and Canada. According to a 2024 Thrift Industry Report, conducted by Savers Value Village, nearly one in three of the 8,912 consumers surveyed thrifted over the past year, and over 40 percent of thrifters are Gen Z.
From designer hand bags to historical jewelry, here is a rundown of five remarkable thrifting finds Newsweek reported last year.
Read More on Life
...
Vintage Chanel Earrings
Reddit user u/DanyeeIsAnulmint from Metro Detroit, Michigan, was sifting through a tray of costume jewelry in a local antique and craft store, the Town Peddler Craft and Antique Mall, when she struck gold—literally.
She picked up a $2.71 pair of cobalt, gold, and glass earrings, which she later found to be vintage Chanel, verified by a local dealer, and worth up to $750.
"When I saw these, I actually didn't think they'd be legit," the poster said. "And not being as knowledgeable as I could be, I really questioned it. For me, when I find something, irrelevant of cost, that's beautiful, interesting, I really dig into the history of it," she told Newsweek.
The earrings from the 1960s were part of a collaborative collection between the fashion house and Venetian artist Archimede Seguso, aimed at creating wearable Murano glass pieces.
...
Le Creuset Casserole Dish
In Montréal, Canada, Alex Labelle uncovered a brand-new Le Creuset casserole dish worth $300 for just $25 in a thrift store located in an affluent neighborhood.
The French brand is renowned for its premium, cast-iron kitchen products and celebrated for its durability and distinguished designs.
"It's quite a story! I spotted it at a thrift store in an affluent neighborhood. While examining some vintage Harley-Davidson boots, I noticed a Le Creuset box underneath.
"To our amazement, it contained a brand-new item—something my partner had long desired, but we couldn't justify at retail price. It was truly one of those baffling, rush-inducing finds that make thrifting so exciting!" Labelle told Newsweek.
...
Louis Vuitton Purse
Regular thrifter Brandon, U/p--py, on Reddit, bagged an unbelievable bargain in a small, church-run charity thrift store under a mountain of purses.
He pulled out a Louis Vuitton purse, which he assumed was fake. Later, he received confirmation that the purse was authentic, retailing at around $300–$400.
He gave the bag to his wife, who "screamed" with excitement upon seeing the present.
"I told her I loved her and all about how I found it and had reached out to collectors to verify its authenticity. She started filling up the bag and was talking about how much she has always wanted this EXACT bag and never thought she would own one because of how expensive these things can be," he told Newsweek.
...
Hudson's Bay Company Coat
Robin Gardiner (@irishgoddess0), 32, from Haileybury, Ontario, Canada, found a vintage 1960s Hudson's Bay coat in a Salvation Army thrift store in a section labeled "quality wear."
She ecstatically picked up the wool, striped coat and later found it was worth $300 to $700.
"I was so excited. I couldn't believe I found it. I'm from a family who hunts, traps, and fishes, so I've always wanted a Hudson's Bay item.
"Hudson's Bay coats started being made after many Métis and French settlers and traders wore their Hudson's Bay Point Blankets as outerwear robes and later turned them into capotes, wrap-style coats," she told Newsweek.
200-Year-Old Bracelet
Antique jewelry dealer Jessa Pena (@glitterandgoldfinds), 25, from Houston, uncovered an intricate 18-karat bracelet in a Texas thrift store run by the Catholic Church.
Pena told Newsweek: "It is an 18-karat beautifully enameled portrait bracelet with oval shield links and scalloped details, and in the harlequin style with multiple jewels. This bracelet is likely late Georgian to early Victorian, circa 1835, made of 18-karat gold, with the name of the Swiss canton on the back of the shields.
"These bracelets were made to celebrate the garb and heritage of the regions of Switzerland; 18-karat and above in heavy quantities is rare to find in older jewelry, as usually someone would have been sold it along the way, so I was especially thrilled at the rarity."
The thrift store priced the bracelet at $5,000, but she revealed the bracelet could fetch anything between $12,000 and $25,000.
...
Tips for Thrifting
For those looking to make their own remarkable finds, here are some expert thrifting tips from the thrifters who spoke to Newsweek.
- Check the material and its construction and labels and stitching. Online tools such as Google Lens can help verify authenticity.
- Be kind to staff.
- Know your stores and their restocking schedules.
- Be patient and open-minded.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines