I have a couple of confessions:
1. It has been at least 6 months since I last posted, which I suppose is more of a fact than a confession; let the confession be that I am lazy.
2. I went to Value Village the other day, and it was not to Halloween shop.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the latter is more important.
Now, if any of you are like my mother, you might think the concept of thrift store shopping is scarier then the costumes they are presently selling. As she would say- while simultaneously thrusting Purell at me- "EWWW...used clothing?"
Judge all you want, but I will be completely and 100% honest: I love val vill. Not only did I spend a mere $39 (and 94 cents), and come away with a coat, belt and boots, but I also got the opportunity to try on a lot of gaudy clothing. And by 'gaudy clothing', I mean stuff that may or may not have been inherited from Michael Jackson's last will and testament. Now was that too soon for a jab at MJ? Forgive me. RIP.
Hopefully we can get past that un-PC comment, and focus on the important things here, like how amazing the boots I bought were. For some background info, I have been wanting lace up boots for a good six months here, and while they were not exactly what I had in mind, the cashier lady gave them to me for $19. I couldn't say no.
The point that I am trying to make in this passage, is not that I have forgotten how to write a coherent string of sentences in the six months, but rather, to promote thrift shopping.
You can get that one-of-a-kind piece, that every girl on campus won't already own - because it is not from Aritzia- without the heavy mark up of vintage shopping. Sure it requires some hard work, and some hand sanitizer, but with these kind of savings, it is well worth it.
A Girl's Guide to Thrifting:
- Get to your local Sally- Anne, and be prepared to dig, just not as far as the 80's.
- Avoid shoulder pads all together. I do not care if Lady Gaga can pull them off.
- Take a friend. You may just need the moral support, or someone to talk you out of the blazer with the shoulder pads.
- Bi-pass everything in between, and head straight to the belt section. In my personal experience, they always seem to have original (and cheap) belts that will complete any outfit.
-Be sure to bi-pass the underwear section all together. That's just gross.
- 100% polyester is not as appealing by the light of day. Read what it the garment is made from first to prevent buyers remorse. This is one tip I learned from my mother. That, and never buy anything that looks like you are headed to the Zion Ranch.
- Remember, tailors exist for a reason. People always seem to think of this as an unnecessary expense, but let me tell you this much, a simple alteration could make that $7.99 skirt look like $79.99.
- Everything, and I mean everything, spans from $5.99 to $19.99. You won't have to mortgage your home, or live of Ramen noodles for a week, to afford something. Buy both dresses.
- Last but not least, you won't contract any fatal diseases from the clothing. There is nothing to be afraid of; leave your rubber gloves at home.
