Toronto-based film maker, Alex Bailey, found a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier handbag at Value Village. It cost less than five dollars. Alex Bailey’s social media posts, which document her sustainable home decor finds and budget-friendly fashion transformations, led her to the bag by pure chance.
Bailey was browsing West Toronto’s thrift shop for furniture and décor when she noticed a bag lying on the ground. Recognizing the JPG icon changed Bailey’s day.
Bailey’s TikTok discovery video explains that “the shopper before me had it run over by her cart and it was there on the ground.” When I saw the JPG Logo, I nearly fell over. The next day, a Gaultier de Saint Sernin show would be held. This was a serendipitous discovery. It was like thrift gods told her that since she couldn’t attend the Paris show, they’d send her a Gaultier fashion show to Toronto.
The bag looked in remarkable condition despite the minor scratches from an errant cart. Bailey believes that with a bit of care, it can be restored to its original glory. Price was the most pleasing surprise. Bailey applied a coupon to the CA$5.79 price tag (roughly US$4.09) and brought down the cost even further. Bailey believes that the original price is unknown. However, he estimates the piece to have been made in the early 1990s.
Bailey also has an original tag-assisted 1999 Tom Ford Gucci dress that she purchased for $20. Her thrifting and styling adventures are shared on her social media accounts, including TikTok. She goes by the handle of @alexfbailey.
Her first TikTok clip showcasing her Jean Paul Gaultier purchase quickly went viral. She received thousands of views and likes. “ARE YOU KIDING ME?!” read the caption. The caption read: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Bailey asks for advice in the video. She jokes, saying, “I’m not sure what I should do at this moment, please help me.”
The video that followed showed how Bailey styled her bag by pairing it with different clothes to maximize its flexibility. Bailey hopes to inspire others by sharing her thrifting experience and helping them find their hidden treasures. Bailey stated, “I am so glad that thrifting has come back into style and more people are looking for sustainable fashion items.” Bailey said that thrifting is a wonderful way to buy, for both the earth and the fun of discovering the unexpected.
Online community responded enthusiastically, with a flood of comments expressing encouragement and wonder. A user exhorted: “You have to get this bag”. Untold numbers of followers shared stories about their own thrifting successes and celebrated the find. This find shows that there are many unique, affordable designer pieces in stores such as Value Village.