To the Thrift Store!

I don't always go shopping, but when I do, I prefer thrifting...

I've come to realize that I'm at a very interesting place when it comes to shopping. I'm a Fashion and Textile Management major concentrating in Product Development, so I'm essentially studying "fashion design," just with a lot more of the business and science classes thrown in as well. Therefore, the world of shopping - and all that lies beneath it's shiny surface - is the world that I will most likely be jumping into once I graduate. However, as 1) a college student in possession of negative funds, and b) a person who has never felt it necessary to spend exorbitant amounts of money on clothes or accessories, I'm trying to find a comfortable spot that will allow me to balance my vehemently opposing worlds. I'm living in a paradox? Maybe.

So where does this predicament leave me? At the thrift stores, my friends!! Any of them! All of them!

Thrifting is an art form that really doesn't require much skill at all. A decent portion of it us up to Lady Luck, but the rest is up to you. The most difficult part about shopping in second-hand shops is keeping an open mind. Yes, there's some level of organization that goes on inside those stores, but actuallynotreally. Recognize the fact that you have absolutely no guarantees to find what you're looking for. Plus, if you go in searching for a specific item, you're going to accidentally overlook a handful of other awesome things.

Aight, here are my simplest steps to successful thrifting:
1) keep an open mind (see above paragraph. slash if you skipped over it and down to this list, shame on you!)
2) keep a tight-ish wallet
3) stay patient

Since we already addressed the open mind, let's address the closed wallet. I know when I go into a consignment store of any kind, (especially used book stores - those get me every time) this strange fog of delusion descends upon me and I get this crazy idea that, because everything is so cheap, I can buy whatevertheheck I see that I'm remotely interested in. DO NOT DO THIS. Have some self-control, people.
Do you actually need that obnoxious green sequin sweater?
"Yeah, it's just so obnoxious! And it's only $6!" Okay, fair enough. But what about those jeans that already have the paint stains and that don't actually fit?
"Well, they mostly fit." Mostly?
"Well, they're a little too short, but I'll cut them off." Will you, though?
"Probably..." Not good enough.
"But they're jeans!" But how many pairs do you already have?
"... touche..." I win.

Basically, thrift shops are the best when you're looking for something ridiculously awesome in a horribly tacky sort of way, like a green sequin sweater that's $6. Two of my favorite sweaters are these grandpa-sized knitted monstrosities that are literally the best things I've ever purchased at a consignment store. My mom shudders when I bring them back to school with me. All my friends think they're the bomb.com. I wear them so much during the fall and winter. And if you actually do need something basic, like jeans or a jacket or a dress, definitely check the Goodwill racks first, but stick to looking for what you're actually on a quest to find, and don't settle for something that's "mostly" good.

Oh yeah, and stay patient. Don't go thrifting if you're on a tight schedule, because the clothes seem to have a mind of their own, and they like to run away when you're hurriedly hunting them down. I dunno how they do it, but it's a true fact. Stay calm and patient, and be willing to look through everything and laugh at the absurdity of 98% of the things you find.

So those are my thrifting basics. I went to a used-book store with my roommate today and came back with five books: two that I've read before, one that I'll probably read, and two that are just super old and look cool and make me feel legit. Yeah, books make me feel legit. I'm okay with that.

Happy thrifting, everybody!