Not many Houston thrifting enthusiasts know the city's secondhand scene better than Jess Einaudi. The owner of Carina Vintage and a popular social media content creator, Einaudi has spent years looking through racks, hunting down hidden gems, and sharing her best finds with followers.
Since moving to Houston in 2019, she's become a huge supporter of the city’s vintage scene, sharing her insight on everything from designer treasures to the benefits of perfectly worn-in denim.
Her biggest piece of advice for newbie thrifters is to be persistent. "If you don't find anything at the thrift store, go back the next day," Einaudi tells CultureMap. "Thrift inventory is so cyclical, and whether or not you find something can often depend on the day."
Start with Houston's charity shops
While national chains have their place in the thrifting scene, Einaudi favors Houston's charity resale shops. Her favorites include The Guild Shop, The Blue Bird Circle, Charity Guild, The Cottage Shop, and MAM Resale.
"Houston has some of the best charity shops in the country," she says. "They offer more curated thrifting mixed with consignment pieces, and the proceeds benefit local charities."
According to Einaudi, each store has its own personality. The Cottage Shop is known for its impressive selection of vintage clothing, while The Guild Shop offers an ever-changing inventory that seems to include just about everything imaginable. Einaudi also loves that prices often decrease the longer an item remains on the sales floor, making it easy to find serious bargains.
What to thrift this season
This summer, Einaudi is looking for linen shirts, breezy skirts, and leather belts. For beginners who might be overwhelmed by endless racks of clothing, she recommends heading straight for accessories.
She also recommends checking the jewelry cases, especially at The Guild Shop, where costume pieces are displayed right next to fine jewelry. Many of the statement necklaces her followers ask about came from thrift stores in Houston.
While shopping, Einaudi is constantly looking for cotton, linen, wool, and silk which offer better quality and longevity than synthetic fabrics. Learning to identify natural fibers quickly helps narrow down overly full racks and increases the chances of finding hidden gems.
Don't fear alterations and never skip the men's section
Some of Einaudi's favorite finds didn't fit perfectly when she found them. A tailor can turn an oversized dress, jacket, or pair of trousers into a wardrobe staple. Hemming dresses, taking in jackets, tapering pants, and even removing sleeves can completely change a garment's look. Her rule of thumb is to only invest in alterations when the fabric and quality justify the cost.
One of Einaudi's most valuable thrift tips is to shop the entire store and "never sleep on the men's section."
That's where she's found vintage Levi's, Ralph Lauren button-downs, pleated trousers, wool blazers, loafers, and cowboy boots. She says building a thrifted capsule wardrobe is easy with the classic basics hiding among the men's racks. @jess.einaudi
Houston has some of the best charity shops in the country, with curated secondhand finds, incredible prices, and proceeds that benefit local charities.