Since I have a trunk show in New York City I’m getting ready for, I thought it best that I make sure I look the best I can manage since I’ll be meeting a whole lot of people in the fashion/cosmetics biz. Also, since I’m on a very limited budget, rather than hitting my favorite online retailers (my first choice when I shop), I had to suck it up and wander thrift stores in Minneapolis.

My experience has let me to an idea, an idea that involves you readers, if you are game. I think touring and rating local thrift stores for plus-size friendliness would be incredibly useful. They’ll go under tags - this is under Plus Size Minneapolis. You could add plus size New York, plus size Los Angeles (I’d love to see that one), or Plus Size MySmallTown. Just leave a comment here if you’re interested, along with a link to any blog or website that gives a display of your writing. The rules are simple:

• It must be a thrift or secondhand store.
• It works best if you make these observations while actually shopping.
• When possible, pictures are welcome of both the store and your clothing finds.
• When possible, link to review sites such as Citysearch so there is some frame of reference for readers.

My own experience today was mixed. As I’ve often said, I’m more planner than shopper. I walked in with a very specific list: I needed a blazer, a purse, a simple dress, wide length pants, and a flutter sleeve top.

My first stop was Savers on Lake Street. For the unfamiliar, it’s a Target of thrift retailers. I’m not clear on the profit model - or nonprofit model of the place. Plus sizes were more or less clearly labelled, and I was able to walk out with a Covington brown multicolor pinstripe blazer that looks new (a surprisingly nice find for a Sears brand), some Talbot’s stretch overlay black pants that aren’t quite the wide leg I wanted but will do, and a Nine West pink hobo bag. I wound up spending just under $30 for these basics.

My next stop was St. Vincent de Paul on South 12th Street. It’s right off of Lake, with a bright mural across the building. However, the litter on the ground out front is the hallmark of a really bad neighborhood in Minneapolis, and going in, there was absolutely no clear marking of clothing sizing, and the space was tiny and it was hard to move around. Also, incongruously, it was all fairly large men looking through smaller women’s clothing. Now, I’m used to the drag queen community around here, but I just didn’t want to know what that scene was about, so I left quickly.

I then went to the Pink Closet on 46th Ave E off of Hiawatha. I’d heard of the place through word-of-mouth; as far as I could tell, mostly Pink Closet sell hipster cred. While there are a lot of name brands there - I saw a lot of Ralph Lauren and Ulla Popken - it seems that on the plus end, the store is by and for the kindly 50+ women that stop by to chat up the owner in the middle of the day. While I was tempted by some incongruous silver pants, but I realized that I’m done with my silver pants days.

I then went looking for Mix on Upton and 43rd W. While a charming neighborhood, it looks like Mix didn’t Mix, as I encountered Rice Paper restaurant in its place.

Another Look on 50th by Lake Harriet was closed midday, and had just reopened when I came back after a brief wander through a neighboring boutique. Sizing only really went up to an 18, and although I found a fabulous size 18 or 20 vintage number that would almost make me consider selling myself for liposuction, in the end there was nothing I could take home.

I then tried to find another thrift store on Diamond Lake road, but unfortunately, 35W construction combined with bad directions left me unable to locate the place. After getting lost, and stuck on 35W, I went to the Goodwill in Saint Paul to drop off some items, and I took a turn around the store in hopes of finding a few plus goods. Unfortunately, labelling at GoodWill is an at-best loose concept, and worse when it comes to plus sizing. Some digging found a few granny pieces, but nothing that I’d take home let alone wear to a trunk show.

At which point, I gave up and went to Dots. Maybe it’s just me, but I get the vague sensation that Dots is gradually pushing its plus size customers out of their store - the “regular” sizing is broaching deeper and deeper into the plus section, and the plus section is getting narrower, and their website makes no promotions whatsoever to their plus customers — not to mention, they just took down their definition of “3x” from 28 to around a 24. Despite this, I feel like I made out like a bandit… a bandit who will have to work out every day, but still, a bandit. I ended up walking out with a coatdress (can be adapted to clubwear with the right stuff underneath), a tie-waist blouse (which is desireable, compared to the tie-necks), a basic green tee and a paisley summer skirt. This all came in at around $35.

I would trade the blouse and tee for the flutter sleeve and while I’m not 100% satisfied with the pants purchase, it will work great for transitioning from show to clubbing/a dance party scene.

I did wander through the mall Dots was located, and I found that Torrid and Baby Phat are now sending discontinued items to Marshall’s - there was a wealth of plus tees and cherry print blouses with those brand names on them.

I still have some “save up/raise funds” shopping to do - I need some chocolate boots with a 1/4″ heel, ribbed tights, airplane shoes (I suspect way more travel in my future), and those wide-legged pants to find. Still, not too bad for a day’s hunt.

Now’s the next hard part: I have to get rid of some things in my closet to make room for my new stuff. I am on the declutter bandwagon for a reason, after all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A day after this shopping expedition, my boyfriend happened to take me to dinner across the street from Nu Look Consignment. Since it was an hour’s wait for our table, I took the opportunity to poke, and walked out with some Lane Bryant flare-leg pants (yes, LB!) and a Gemini lightweight print dress - normally prints are not my thing, but this print seems to lay on every curve on my body just right and it looks great with the blazer. Yes, I will post pics later. I have no idea where the Gemini brand originates from, but I love it.