Comments on: vintage cocktail hats: the obsession continues…

By: madam0wl

madam0wl — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:19:15 +0000

The bit of research on thrift shopping I’ve found falls under consumer behavior / marketing… at least that is the background of the reseachers and the publishing journal. Here is one citation:

Bardhi, F., & Arnould, E. J. (2005). Thrift shopping: Combining utilitarian thrift and hedonic treat benefits. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 4(4), 223-233.

This article describes “Pursuit of the unexpected” as one of ways thrifting has hedonic value, as opposed to the more obvious utilitarian value, such as cost savings.

By: Zena

Zena — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:52:56 +0000

I can relate soooo much, though my eye isn’t as trained. So much.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:30:31 +0000

I wish the thrifting gods looked down upon me as the do you!!

I’ve been on the hunt for cocktail hats for about a year now. Sadly, living in Michigan hinders my quest. The opportunities here are horrid.

By: tricia

tricia — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:16:00 +0000

madamowl: no, i haven’t read any scholarly research about thrifting, but would love to! what discipline would that sort of thing fall under? cultural studies?

man, if i had several more lifetimes to live and an unlimited stash of cash, i’d stay a student forever!

By: madam0wl

madam0wl — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:53:25 +0000

I love how you shed new light on things! I can relate to the hidden treasure aspect of thrifting. Have you read any of the scholarly research on thrift shopping? It is really interesting and actually not all that much exists as of yet. After doing a small research project on it last spring, more research in that area is now on my scholarly to-do list. I have too many to-do lists Off to do more purging in the spare room upstairs…

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:52:02 +0000

absolutely, 100% agree with you!

By: sarah

sarah — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:42:01 +0000

oh, that black velvet! It’s my favorite!

hmm…maybe I just need to figure out what I’m on a mission for, so it can start showing up!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:33:50 +0000

thirfting is hard times for me. but i can usually find something great for someone else.

i found a 20s whimsy and a 40s cocktail dress for my sister to wear to a formal once; it was fabulous and she looked beautiful.

By: tricia

tricia — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:09:32 +0000

brownie: that’s the thing about cocktail hats, they don’t have to FIT your head, they are usually just small little fripperies that sit ATOP your head (usually held there with bobby pins or a strap you hide in your hair). so even YOU can rock these little hats, even with a head that’s allegedly “huge”!

jenny: omg, i totally wished we lived near one another! we’d be crazy! maybe we can arrange to visit one another sometime!

By: Brownie(s)

Brownie(s) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:27:59 +0000

I know exactly what you mean about the magical experience. I feel so sad for people who say places like Value Village are just stinky and full of junk. I know this is weird but the days when I feel a real urge to go thrifting are the ones where I always find something that seems to have been left especially for me. Your hats are beautiful, I only wish I didn’t have a huge head!