how to shop at d.i.--overheard

sorry for the blur, but this was the best shot of the coat.  this is one of my best thrifted items ever--a '70's era tomato red rain coat from the d.i. in downtown salt lake.  i bought it last summer, and today was the first time i've worn it.  in utah, we tend to go from cotton dresses to down parkas with not much in between.

at the hair salon the other day, i listened to a client and a stylist chatting about thrifting and house-flipping (apparently, one does a lot of thrifting when one is a house flipper.)

1) the d.i. (short for deseret industries, the thrift store owned by the mormon church, with a chain of locations) in american fork, utah still has old-school d.i. prices while the provo d.i. has jacked their prices way up.  in fact, you could easily buy new items at F21, h&m, or target for the same prices or less.  

(this doesn't account for the environmental or human rights costs of that cheap clothing--i'm not editorializing here, just reporting what i overheard at relik, the hair salon in american fork (a.f. to locals.))

2) check the dates on the price tags at d.i. if an item has been in the store for more than two weeks, the manager will discount the item for you.  if, that is, you are nervy enough to negotiate on prices, which i rarely am.

3) d.i. in sugarhouse, a neighborhood in salt lake city, reportedly has the best merchandise.

i've found some great things at second-hand stores, but i'm not one of those super-thrifters (unlike ALL of my four daughters).  but here's one of my favorite thrifting tips:  if the best thing about an item is the price, don't buy it.

if you're a super-thrifter, what's your favorite thrift tip?

p.s.--i requested julie to do a "what i wore" column on this blog.  since she has the raddest style of ANYONE i know, i'd love more details on what she wears and how she shops and puts her looks together, her inspirations, etc.  did you know she was once a fashion merchandising major, before she caught the writing bug?