Thrift store shopping for handbags and belts can yield some fabulous finds. As always, be prepared to sort through a lot of not-so-great merchandise to locate the best accessories. At the Assistance League Thrift Shop, I saw an Anne Klein narrow white leather belt in excellent condition for just $1 and a Kate Spade handbag for only $15. Either of these items would be good buys for petites--a narrow belt makes a nice waist-cinching accessory, good for anyone who wants to define a narrow waistline. The Kate Spade bag was a classic navy handbag of medium size, just right for petites to carry.
A few years ago, I bought a collectible vintage lucite 1950s handbag and a cute suede 1940s vintage purse at Savers for just $25 each, proving that, although bargains on vintage fashion collectibles are few and far between at thrift stores, they do exist.
Check condition carefully if you're purchasing a belt or handbag, and only buy an item if it's in excellent condition. I don't recommend buying handbags with broken zippers because, although you can have these repaired, the repair is often more expensive than the thrift-store price of the bag.
