I always check thrift stores also...and prewash is a must, even though most of the stores require donations to be washed before donating...I started my stash collecting in thrift stores in Sacramento, working in outside sales, in between calls, I would hit the thrift stores, and my territory alone had 11!!!!! And Sacto. gets a lot of transplants from European countries, and first thing they do is get rid of their clothes to go "American". And the skirts, dresses and blouses they gave up were made with beautiful fabrics! But I used to buy full gowns of satin, velvet or moires for less than $5! I had such a huge collection that when I moved, I had to trim back to what I really wanted to keep!!!!!