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Amber | Vintage • Thrift • Personal Style

@secondhand_first_choice

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1100

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♻️ Shop Secondhand With Confidence
🔍 Spot Quality & Value
👗 Secondhand Style for Home & Wardrobe
💰 Vintage • Thrift • Style • Resale
🤝 DM for Collabs

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Hi, I’m Amber. 👋🏻

Welcome to Secondhand First Choice.

I’ve been buying, selling, collecting, and rescuing secondhand treasures for nearly 30 years, and I started this account for one simple reason:

I want to help more people learn to choose secondhand confidently and intentionally.

Around here you’ll learn how to thrift smarter, spot quality, identify valuable finds, avoid costly mistakes, style secondhand pieces in your home, understand what sells, and discover the stories behind the objects we bring home. 🏺

I don’t believe in gatekeeping.

Everything I know about vintage, thrifting, and resale was learned because someone shared their knowledge with me along the way. This community is my way of passing that knowledge forward.

Whether you’re a beginner thrifter, a vintage lover, a reseller, or someone who simply wants to consume less and buy better, you’re in the right place.

♻️ If that sounds like your kind of content, follow along. I’m glad that you’re here!

Also, I’d love to know: What do you want to learn more about: thrifting, vintage, resale, or styling? 👇

#thriftsmarter #secondhandfirst #thriftingtips #vintagefinds #thriftedhome by @secondhand_first_choice

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4 months ago

Solid brass or brass-plated?

If you know this one simple magnet test, you can instantly tell! 🧲

Solid brass is non-magnetic, and once you start checking, you’ll be shocked how much “brass” is actually plated (candlesticks are frequent offenders). 🕯️

This is the kind of thing I wish someone had taught me when I started thrifting for resale.

I’m here to help beginner resellers learn how to spot what’s actually worth money, avoid costly mistakes, and turn thrift finds into real profit.

If you’re trying to learn how to thrift smarter and not harder, you’re in the right place.

Follow along for beginner reseller tips, BOLO thrift finds, and real strategies to turn secondhand into income♻️

📌 Save this for your next thrift trip

#vintagereseller #resellerlife #thriftflipping #thrifttoresell #bolofinds by @secondhand_first_choice

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5 months ago

Your brutally honest most boujee friend rates your thrift finds… and apparently nothing is a perfect 20. 😂

The highest score today? 18/20, but I’ll take it.

Which piece would have gotten your highest rating? 👇

Follow @secondhand_first_choice for more secondhand finds and follow Tony’s secondhand journey at @love.li.things ♻️

#ThriftFinds #VintageDecor #ThriftHaul #SecondhandStyle #AntiqueShopping

thrift finds, thrift haul, vintage decor, antique shopping, secondhand home, home decor, thrift store finds, vintage treasures, interior design, thrift shopping taken in Oklahoma by @secondhand_first_choice

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3 months ago

What’s on your fall fashion thrift wishlist? I’d love to know! 🍁

If you love the thrill of the hunt, follow along and see how many pieces on my fall fashion wishlist I can thrift. ♻️

fall fashion, fall fashion wishlist, thrifted fashion, thrift wishlist, thrift shopping, secondhand fashion, vintage fashion, fall outfit ideas, thrifted outfits, vintage fall style, slow fashion, thrift finds

#fallfashion #thriftedfashion #thriftwishlist #secondhandfashion #vintagefashion by @secondhand_first_choice

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a day ago

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2 days ago

I paid $1.99 for this little Victorian-era porcelain vase… and it’s worth around $65 via @sellraze. 👀

But what IS a spill vase? 🔥

These small, narrow vases were designed to hold “spills”- thin strips of wood or rolled paper that were used to carry a flame from a fireplace or candle to light a pipe, candle, or lamp.

In the Victorian era, spill vases became decorative objects as well as practical ones, often made from porcelain and beautifully decorated.

Today, they’re collectible because they’re a little piece of everyday history that has become obsolete. Their age, craftsmanship, rarity, maker, condition, and decorative appeal can all contribute to their value.

And this is exactly why I love thrifting: sometimes the thing that looks like a tiny bud vase is actually something with a whole story behind it.

Would you have known what this was? 👇👀

#ThriftFinds #VintageFinds #AntiqueFinds #SpillVase #VictorianAntiques

antique spill vase, Victorian spill vase, antique porcelain, Victorian antiques, thrifted antiques, thrift finds, antique identification, vintage porcelain, antique home decor, thrifted home decor, hidden value, antique collecting by @secondhand_first_choice

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3 days ago

Blue Willow has a fascinating history from 18th-century England and Chinese-inspired designs to the famous love story said to be behind the pattern. 💙

Swipe through to learn the story behind the china you’ve probably seen dozens of times. 🏺✨

Have you ever thrifted Blue Willow? I’d love to know! 👇🏯

Follow @secondhand_first_choice for more vintage finds, history, and thrifting tips! ♻️

#BlueWillow #BlueWillowChina #VintageChina #AntiqueChina #Transferware

Blue Willow, Blue Willow china, Blue Willow pattern, vintage china, antique china, transferware, blue and white china, vintage dishes, thrifted china, china patterns, vintage home decor, antique porcelain by @secondhand_first_choice

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4 days ago

Google Lens strikes again. 😂

Just because an item is listed online for $40 doesn’t mean it’s actually worth $40.

The real question is: What are people actually paying for it? In this case $27 for this vintage Hull vase via @sellraze.

Thrift stores are increasingly using online listings to price items, but aren’t always checking sold comps, which leads to overpricing. 🙃

Are you seeing this in your area too?👇 👀

Follow @secondhand_first_choice for more thrifting tips, vintage knowledge, and how to spot when something is actually worth the price. ♻️

#ThriftTips #ThriftSmart #ThriftStoreFinds #ThriftingTips #VintageFinds

thrift store pricing, Google Lens thrifting, sold comps, thrift store finds, thrifting tips, thrift smarter, vintage pricing, resale value, vintage reselling, secondhand shopping, thrift store mistakes, how to spot value by @secondhand_first_choice

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6 days ago

Don’t walk past these brands at the thrift store. 👀

You might recognize the name, or you might have absolutely no idea what you’re looking at.

Either way, these are vintage brands I ALWAYS stop to investigate because the right piece can be worth far more than its thrift-store price tag.

Swipe through → to see the names you should be watching for. 🔎

📌 SAVE THIS POST before your next thrift trip. Your future $5 find will thank you.

And send this to your thrifting friend who needs to stop shopping by looks alone. ⏩

Follow @secondhand_first_choice for more ways to spot quality, value & vintage treasures at the thrift store. ♻️

#ThriftTips #VintageThrift #VintageFinds #ThriftFinds #ThriftStoreFinds

vintage brands, vintage thrift finds, thrift store finds, thrift shopping tips, vintage shopping, thrift tips, how to thrift, vintage clothing brands, vintage home decor brands, valuable thrift finds, secondhand shopping, thrift smarter by @secondhand_first_choice

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16 days ago

The scariest thing about most mass-produced costumes is their impact on the environment. They are designed to be worn once, made from inexpensive synthetic materials, and tossed when the holiday is over. 👻

And yet thrift stores are FULL of costumes, vintage pieces, and everyday clothing that can be transformed into something just as fun without buying something destined for the landfill.

This Halloween, before you buy a costume, ask yourself:

🎃 Can I thrift it?
🎃 Can I make it from something I already own?
🎃 Can I borrow or swap with a friend?
🎃 Can I wear the pieces again?

You don’t have to buy something new to have a great costume.

Would you thrift your Halloween costume? Tell me your costume idea in the comments, tag a friend who loves Halloween, and follow for more sustainable style tips and secondhand inspiration. ♻️

#HalloweenCostumes #FastFashion #SustainableHalloween #ThriftedCostumes #SecondhandStyle

Halloween costumes, fast fashion, sustainable Halloween, thrifted costumes, secondhand style, eco-friendly costumes, costume reuse, DIY costumes, clothing swaps, sustainable fashion by @secondhand_first_choice

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6 days ago

After nearly 30 years of reselling vintage, one thing I’ve learned is this: there’s no “best” platform… only the best platform for YOU!

That’s why I made this carousel breaking down the pros + cons of:
✨ eBay
✨ Etsy
✨ Poshmark
✨ Whatnot
✨ Vintage booths
✨ Facebook Marketplace

Every platform has strengths, weaknesses, fees, audiences, and very different energy levels 😅

Some are better for:
✔️ Higher profit margins
✔️ Fast flips
✔️ Local sales
✔️ Curated vintage
✔️ Lower effort selling
✔️ Building community
✔️ Moving large items

And some will absolutely drain your time if they don’t match your goals.

These are all platforms I’ve personally used over the years as a vintage reseller, so this breakdown comes from my personal experience.

If you’re trying to decide where to start selling vintage (or where to focus your energy next), this will save you a lot of trial and error.

💾 Save this for later when you’re ready to start reselling or expand your vintage business.

👇 I’d love to know:
What platform has worked BEST for you lately… and which one frustrated you the most?

#vintagereseller #resellercommunity #ebayseller #etsyshop #poshmarkseller taken in Tulsa, Oklahoma by @secondhand_first_choice

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5 months ago

I thought I found a 42-piece set of Blue Willow for $40.99…🏯

But when I got it home and started researching the marks, I realized it wasn’t Blue Willow at all.

It appears to be vintage Blue Canton. 💙

And honestly? I may have gotten even luckier than I thought.

42 pieces. $40.99. Beautiful condition.

Now, full disclosure: import porcelain isn’t my area of expertise, so I’m not going to pretend I know exactly what I have here. I’m planning to have the set professionally appraised and I’ll report back with what I learn, including what it’s actually worth.

That’s one of my favorite things about thrifting: sometimes the find is just the beginning of the story. 🔍

Would you have known the difference between Blue Willow and Blue Canton? 🏯👇

Follow @secondhand_first_choice for more secondhand finds, vintage knowledge, and thrifted treasures. ♻️

#BlueCanton #BlueWillow #VintageChina #VintageDishware #AntiquePorcelain

vintage Blue Canton, Blue Canton china, Blue Willow china, vintage china, antique porcelain, Chinese export porcelain, vintage dishware, thrifted finds, thrift store finds, china pattern identification, vintage dish identification, secondhand treasures by @secondhand_first_choice

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7 days ago