the weekend continues

[rikibeth]

I alternate between lazy and fidgety right now, it seems. During one of the fidgety spells, I sorted all of my tights and stockings into a milk crate I could keep under my bed, along with the crate of bandannas and scarves, the crate of purses, and the crate of goth hair. I kind of had to do this because keeping them in my sock drawer with the socks was preventing the drawer from closing.

I decided that the really smart thing to do was to stick them into ziplock sandwich bags, with labels, so I'd be able to tell "diamond pattern fishnet tights" from "floral lace stockings, garters required" from "sheer vertical ribbed black tights" without having to stick my hands down the stocking legs to see the pattern. In the process, I realized that I have one pair of stockings I bought in 1987. They're fishnet thigh-highs. They have a small tear, and the elastic is shot so I really need to wear garters with them now, but I CAN'T get rid of them -- I bought them in Paris, when it wasn't possible for a suburban New England teenager to find fishnet STOCKINGS for love or money, no matter how much of a Rocky Horror fan she was.

I don't know how many pairs I have, except that it's fewer than 50, because I was using a new box of sandwich bags and there are still some left in the box. The milk crate is full.

Today, sorting through the pile of mail on my little table (another fidgety spell), discovered a $5 off $20 coupon for the thrift store in a Val-Pak mailing, so offered to take the teenager thrifting before a party this afternoon. My thrift-fu is still operational; kid didn't find much hunting solo ("all these jackets are hugemongous!") but as soon as I stepped in to help, we scored two pinstriped suit jackets, a pale blue dress shirt and a burgundy one, three ties, and an olive-green Old Navy lambswool sweater. I found a nice heavy ribbed grey turtleneck pullover, and a pair of BALLY ALLIGATOR LOW HEEL PUMPS for $1.99 that'll go perfectly with the retro beige-and-brown sheath dress my mom got me over Labor Day weekend. Between the "half off pink tickets today" and the coupon, that entire haul set us back $30. My only disappointment was that this particular thrift store was woefully short on cashmere -- ONE sweater and it was an unappealing mint green. Nope. Oh, and they've gotten rid of the dressing room, so any future trips where I might want to try on skirts or pants? I'll have to prepare like a Filene's Basement bride with a wrap skirt and a unitard. Don't know what the kid will do. Maybe leggings.

Also, the Stop & Shop gas station has opened up, even though the store isn't open until Thursday. Because I hadn't had a Stop & Shop gas station nearby, I had LOADS of rewards points built up. I got my gas for $2.50/gallon today. SCORE.

Tomorrow I really ought to get to the KITCHEN FLOOR.

Comments

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Sorting tights and stockings using ziplock bags is GENIUS. I may need to do that.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Squeeze all the air out, it helps! Also seriously cuts down on the frustration factor with the stockings because it keeps the pairs together.

[kittenmommy.livejournal.com]

In the process, I realized that I have one pair of stockings I bought in 1987.

Ah haha! I have clothes and shoes from then... and earlier. They still fit. LOL

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Oh, clothes and shoes, sure, but stockings? They're more fragile!

[kittenmommy.livejournal.com]

No stockings... probably. *thinks* Actually, I might have some from Victoria's Secret from around 1988 or so...

[ihadtimetokill.livejournal.com]

1987? those stockings are almost as old as me! heh heh heh. impressive.

also, it is still pretty challenging to find the proper kind of fishnet stockings one needs for rocky horror. this isn't a problem i have (yay tech crew!) but those who need them for floor show, etc., complain constantly about the fact that it seems like no one makes them anymore, and the kind that can be found apparently tear at the drop of a hat. we used to stock up whenever someone found them, but it gets to a point where people rely too heavily on cast-provided costumes. it...it's kind of a problem (or, at least, it used to be. people are much better lately about acquiring their own pieces. yay!).

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

The only ones I know are readily available now are Leg Avenue, and you can get them at the porn shops like VIP. If you do the "buy 2, get 1 free" deal they offer, it works out not too bad.

[gows.livejournal.com]

The other thing I like to do for tights is to hit the children's department in costume stores right after Halloween. If I cut them off as high as they'll go, they make decent thigh-highs for me, in a lovely garterbelted gutterpunk sort of way.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, the OLD SCHOOL solution, yeah. And those really will tear at the drop of a hat, but that only enhances the garterbelted gutterpunk effect.

[gows.livejournal.com]

Yep! I like to wear 'em in layers, particularly fishnet over something colored.

[gows.livejournal.com]

I decided that the really smart thing to do was to stick them into ziplock sandwich bags, with labels,

Heh. Reading your first paragraph, that was EXACTLY what I was going to suggest. I use index cards slipped inside the baggies and have little notes on the size and condition of the contents.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

My notes are mostly about the elastic so I know whether to risk them without garters, but YES. Aren't I smrt to have figured this out on my own? ;-)

[gows.livejournal.com]

No notes on elastic on mine, as I've given up wearing thigh-highs without garter belts, but lots of little notes like "small hole in toe" or "held together with safety pins."

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

See, I've gotten to the point where I ditch the really ratty ones. The only pair of fishnets I kept that I even labeled "small tears" were the 1987 pair. I suppose because I lean more EGA than deathrock these days.

[gows.livejournal.com]

. . . EGA?

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Elegant Gothic Aristocrat. Kinda the grownup version of loli -- I just can't pull off loli at my age.

[gows.livejournal.com]

Aha . . . got it.

[shadowflyer.livejournal.com]

I asked the kiddo to mention about the S&S gas station when I heard about it, but I guess you heard independently. Good, those gas discounts from stuff you have to get anyway do help.

Hooray for thrift-fu! I'm sure kiddo looks killer in the pinstripe jackets - and I'm sure I'll see for myself soon because she'll insist on wearing them to school. Any hope of finding the suit you want to score for eternaleponine?

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Why do you think it went on the list? I've been TRYING. Suits with both pieces intact are very rare at thrift shops, and her size (did I mention she also takes a 16 1/2-34 shirt?) is so popular that it doesn't stay on the racks long. It's much easier to find something Really Huge or Really Small. I was halfway hoping Jonathan Woodward had something lurking in the back of his closet from skinnier days!