Defying Fashion Why I Thrift

          I have yet to step two feet into the door when I am accosted by a small, blonde woman whose scent has just about thrown me into a full blown asthma attack. “Have you tried the latest scent from Marc Jacobs? It is to die for, like such a perfect blend of floral overtones with just a hint of musk.” I bid the woman a smile, wipe the tears from my perfume ridden eyes and try to make a bee line for the lingerie department. Yet again, I am stopped by another woman who has enough make-up on to cover the faces of the four women I am with. “Come give the MAC “hot cherry” lipstick a try. It is sure to make your summer look totally pop.” Politely, I deny her attempt to make my look “pop” and I continue on my attempt to purchase a few necessities.

***

I pride myself in my appearance, as most women do, but I often find as a twenty something college student, I don't have it in my budget to keep up with my desire to be “fashionable.” Quite frankly, the aspects of fashion that are marketed to women today run rampant with the gluttony of consumerism; they leave us with a constant appetite for more, coupled with an everlasting sense of inadequacy. The industry is built upon short product lifecycles, rapidly changing trends, and mass production. The consumerism birthed from the constant change of season evokes a fear among many consumers that their looks will be “past-season” and therefore, the vicious cycle continually repeats itself.

                                                                              ***

As I walk upon the perfectly shiny marble tiles, I take in the eerie neatness of the venue. Each purse hangs at precisely the same height, methodically organized by designer, color and size. Each sweater lies perfectly upon a decorated table, not a wrinkle in sight. The walls are littered with flawlessly airbrushed oversized images of men and women clad with the hottest brands of the season. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the racks of neatly arranged clothes fit together and form a sea of bright colors across the sales floor. My eyes meet the feet of a plastic mannequin, posed awkwardly upon a table. I scan the molded body, pondering how such a tiny waist could even fit the smallest woman’s size. I walk around the table, still staring at the plastic “woman,” and I notice the clothing has been pinned to the rail-thin mannequin, painting a facade of what one will look like upon slipping into the sweaters that have been so perfectly aligned at its feet. I cannot help but shake my head and let out a chuckle; my senses have been awoken to the superficiality of the fashion industry.

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It is like clockwork; the day after Christmas storefronts become flooded with the latest spring trends. Cropped pants in vibrant colors, printed plastic galoshes and flirty tank tops fill the store windows when the average outside temperature has barely reached 45 degrees. After St. Patrick’s Day has passed, swim suits begin to invade the shelves of all the department stores, accosting shoppers before the first daffodil even blooms. The sea of swim suits are accompanied by racks upon racks of crop tops, cut off jeans and a slew of summer time accessories because God forbid you wear the same straw sunhat as you did last summer. From there, by the time you have acquired your fresh new straw hat and string bikini, Nordstrom demands that you purchase the latest line of light knit sweaters because it is June and fall is just around the corner. By the time you find yourself equipped for fall, storefronts transform around September with snow boots and obnoxiously puffy jackets; the farmer’s almanac says it is going to be a terrible winter so you must buy a new $200.00 coat in order to survive. And that brings you back, full circle, to the day after Christmas where the newest line of spring clothes emerge and the cycle repeats again.

Many Americans blind themselves to the fact that almost nothing they purchase within the textile industry is actually American-made. ABC news published an intriguing story last year about the diminishing “Made in America” tags within the fashion industry which contained a startling statistic; according to the 2010 census, nearly 100 percent of American textiles are imported, up from 52 percent in 2000. The constant change in seasons has exponentially increased demand for all things new; this combination has led to a toxic environment for those working in the sweatshops that fight to keep their heads above the latest trend in order to fulfill what we, as consumers, are demanding. The implications of our gluttonous consumerism reach much farther than our borders. The global fashion industry is a multibillion dollar operation yet the free2work program, advised by the International Labor Forum, published a report in 2012 that deems only 2 percent of the top 50 companies in the fashion industry provide their workers with a living wage. That means that 98 percent of the “leaders” in fashion industry are condoning unfair, unjust and arguably inhumane wages for their workers. When we continue to buy into the rapidly revolving seasons of fashion in large scale department stores, we are inadvertently supporting human rights abuses amongst many other ethical violations. Fortunately, as consumers, there are ways in which we can do our part in taking a stand against the expectations of the fashion industry and simultaneously be kinder to not only our Earth but also to ourselves.

                                                                              ***

As I push open the door, a wave of adrenaline rushes through my veins. Immediately, the comfortingly musty, mothball-laced air strikes me. My inner-fashionista is in full-force, ready to scavenger every nook and cranny, and pounce on the latest piece of second-hand prey. I make my first lap around the scuffed up tile floor, keeping a careful eye out for any texture or color that calls to me. As I peruse through the racks of shoes, the most perfect pair of pointed toe, black leather pumps come into my peripheral view. The tag reads Michael Kors, $6.98 and they’re in near mint condition. I almost begin to hyperventilate. I kick off my shoes, slip my feet inside and relish in the perfect fit. Bubbling with excitement, I head back to the clothing racks, scanning through decades of fashions. The textures, colors and styles intrigue me; polyester, silk, cotton, and the occasional unidentifiable tag-less garment all intermingled on one rack. Upon inspecting each piece, I can’t help but think about the story which surrounds each. Where was it worn? Why was it purchased? How did that delicate tear get there? As the hum of a scratchy 80’s radio station dances upon my ears, I take in the sheer volume and variety that is placed in front of me. Suddenly, in the midst of my perusal, I am struck by the most gorgeous shade of royal blue I have ever laid my eyes upon. I pluck this breath-taking dress off the rack and read the tag, Tahari by Arthur Levine, $8.98. I swoon. It's a size two. I sigh. All hope is not lost, it doesn't look that small. I rush to the fitting room; I must try it on. Stripping off my clothes as fast as humanly possible, I jump into the luscious, regal fabric, closing my eyes as I attempt to zip it up. I stand in the middle of the four foot by four foot dressing room; no mirror in sight. No mirror is necessary because I can feel the flawless fit. If there was ever a moment I felt like I was in heaven, this is it.

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My passion for thrifting began as a child; Saturday mornings, my Mom and I would scavenger our way around town looking for another man's trash to make into our very own treasure. Through our experiences in bargain hunting, I have developed a keen eye for finding beauty and value in all things. A tiny hole in a blouse can easily be sewn back together, a little mud on the heel of a shoe can effortlessly be clapped off and a small stain on a pair of $100.00 jeans can certainly be removed. These experiences have enlightened me to the unrealistic expectations of the fashion industry and the detriments that they bestow upon the confidence of shoppers. Moreover, in the current state of our economy, few people have the time or money to invest in conforming to what society expects in terms of their dress. Thrifting has become my way of "looking the part" in various facets of my life. From casual to professional, thrifted threads have aided me in developing my own sense of individuality while bidding the fashion industry a polite “f” you.

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            Caffeinated and bubbling with anticipation, Mom and I turn down an old red dirt road; the truck bounces up and down as we attempt to dodge the plethora of potholes. We pull into a make-shift parking lot and slowly look toward one another. We both let out a nervous giggle and wonder if we are in the right place. We begin to approach the large white building which we believe to be a church thrift store. No sign on the door, no people bustling around and no vehicles; what the hell is this? Dying to find out what lurks beneath the cracking lead paint; we slowly open the creaky door and find ourselves in what I would call a “one of a kind” thrift shop. There are three older ladies who take a few seconds to greet us because they are obviously so surprised to see that customers have actually found their off-the-beaten-path location. After recovering from their initial shock, the ladies accompany Mom and I as we peruse the racks of true vintage clothing. Each garment we encounter takes us back to a memory. I take a beautiful ivory silk blouse off the rack and hold it up in the sunlight, carefully inspecting it for damage. It is in pristine condition and it evokes something I am so intensely draw to but I cannot seem to put my finger on what it is. My mom turns around and says, “That looks just like Ms. Wynn!” That is precisely it; the same style that our delicate old neighbor wore each time I showed up at her doorstep in my bare feet, hoping for a piece of that sweet, old-people candy. This is what the art of thrifting is all about: pure nostalgia. 

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When I walk into a thrift store, I am not accosted by a slew of size zero models, tightly wrapped in constricting fabrics which would never flatter a normal woman’s body the way they flatter a plastic molded manikin. Instead, I am left with racks and bins of clothing that leave me with the freedom and power to style them however I please. I can mix and match any style, pattern, color or texture without being glared at by some perfectly shaped plastic woman, awkwardly posed in the middle of a store. The “anything goes” culture of thrifting is empowering; there are no seasons, no fanciful displays and no overbearing commissioned clerks persuading you to run up your credit card bill. The options are endless in a thrift store because you never know what might make its way to the sales floor. My fellow shoppers certainly never fight me for the last of a particular piece because every single item is truly one-of-a-kind. Thrifting usually takes me to parts of town I would not have otherwise explored, exposing me to a plethora of diversity I would never encounter in a Bloomindales. Moreover, within my thrifting escapades, I am inadvertently fighting all that the fashion industry constantly begs me to submit to. I shop through racks filled with the fashions of the past. Garments which the fashion industry has long deemed “past season” fill my closet and I walk away with a contented mind and happy wallet. When you allow yourself to step outside of the comfort of consumerist department store culture, you are exposed to a world where you have the power to deem what is in fashion to you at that very moment. 

The Strategy: Thrifting

I've laid the groundwork of principles for what I feel is absolutely necessary before you venture into the uncharted territory of thrifting. Knowing the principles and sticking to them will only get you to the door of the thrift store. The magic that happens when you open it-- that all depends on your strategy. Yes, my fellow frugalites, there are specific tactics that will help you fulfill your intentions as you sift your way into second-hand success.

Spec out the sales.

The arguably most misconceived aspect of thrifting is that everything is dirt cheap. I would say that this reigned true about ten years ago-- today's world of thrifting is a money-making business (in many cases). The majority of thrift stores have sales and this is where you will find your "gems." Yes, real sales that are often better than ones you will find in department stores. Sales are normally posted on a board in the front of the store; look closely because they're sometimes hard to find. The majority of thrift stores tag their items by colors and their sales are based on this coding system. Franchised stores like Goodwill often select departments and give percentage discounts for items in those specific departments; i.e. 25% off all accessories or 10% off all women's blazers. I try to only shop the sales when I thrift in order to control my spending. I you don't see a sale board, definitely ask an employee because I have yet to encounter a store that doesn't have sales. 

Here's an example of one of my local thrift store's sale boards. You can see that they do % off of specific items as well as tag color discounts. Note the $0.75 bin clothing- a thrifter's heaven!

Get your hands dirty.

If you want to be considered a true thrifter, you must propel yourself whole-heartedly into the realm of bin-digging. This is an intimidating part of thrifting but it is so incredibly rewarding when you those steals that make your toes curl! Most thrift stores have large tables, tubs or bins in which they pile clothes that they do not have time or space to hang. A common misconception is that the bin items are things which are not "good enough" to make onto a hanger- very untrue. The best part about the bins is that most items are never over $1.00. Some of my best thrift gems (blazers, pencil skirts, jeans and a number of designer blouses) have been found digging in the depths of the mysterious and sometimes frightening bins. I will admit, I thrifted for years before I ever came close to a bin because, like most people, I thought the bins were a.) disgusting, b.) for the stained/ripped clothes, and c.) infested with who knows what types of pests. There are a few guidelines which I would suggest when approaching the bins. First, if a bin clearly has any type of bed linens in it, stay far away. Most stores are really good about separating linens and clothes but the mix can happen; this combination wreaks of lice to me (could just be in my mind- it never hurts to take precautions!). Second, if there are multiple bins, transfer clothes from one to the other as you sort through. I saw a woman doing this a few weekends ago and struck up a conversation with her; she said she finds double the items most of the time when she uses this strategy. I like! I haven't tried this out yet but it definitely sounds like a good idea but note. Third, make sure you dress in layers if you plan to dig. This can be a strenuous task and you will work up a serious sweat if you really get into it! Last, circling back to the original virtues, do not buy anything unless you absolutely love it. It is really tempting to buy bin items that you only like (not love) because they are so insanely cheap. All the same rules apply to the bins as the rest of the store. Practice your self control with bin digging because, trust me, you will need it!

Examine everything.

While I am in the same vein of bin digging, one downside to thrifting is that many store mark the tags of their clothing with permanent marker in order to signify what department they come from or what price they are. This is almost always the case with clothes that come from the bins; if a tag is black, you better believe that employees of the store will mark the actual fabric next to the tag with a dot or line in permanent marker that does not wash out. Be sure to inspect your items for such stains. Also, when buying any sort of pants, check the seat and seams for wear. If you don't sew or know a cheap seamstress, don't buy anything with a hole or that needs altering. Check the inner-thigh area of the pants for "pilling" (little balls of fabric that are commonly found on sweaters under the armits). If a fabric is already pilled, chances are you won't get much more wear out of it before it starts to tear. Another recent revelation of mine is to review the care tags; I just took a few things to the dry cleaners that I got from the thrift store; my jaw dropped when I saw the price of this service. I would recommend steering clear of anything that requires dry cleaning unless it is a "to-die-for" deal; in those special cases, you just have to buy it! I usually re-examine all my items while I am in line or at the counter because most often you can see them in a different light. Checkout counters are usually located near the windows in the front of the store and that little bit of natural light can illuminate something you didn't see when you did your initial look over. The better you examine, the more value you will get from your purchases, the more value you get, the more money you will have to spend on other things like vacations, spa days or more thrifting! 

Try it on.  

This is the one rule I have learned the hard way. You must, I repeat, you must try everything on. I loathe trying clothes on anywhere before I buy them; it slows me down and puts a halt on the adrenaline rush I get from shopping. A few weeks ago, I bought three pairs of dress slacks, all size 6 because I "knew" I was that size in the specific brands I bought. I got all of them home and not one pair fit; they were all too big. Luckily, Goodwill accepts returns and I was able to get store credit but we all know that is always a hassle so do yourself a favor and just try it on while you are there! With thrifted items, you can never be sure that they will fit the same way they when they were bought brand new. For instance, if you know you are a size 4 at Banana Republic, don't think that just because the skirt you picked up is Banana, you don't need to try it on. Since you are dealing with second-hand clothes, sometimes they do fit differently even when you know your size. If you are grossed out by trying things on in the thrift store, wear leggings under your clothes so that you don't have to directly touch the fabric. Chances are if you are this picky, you probably won't shop in the thrift store anyway, but just in case- this is a tip for my fellow germaphobs. Trying things on will not only help you decipher whether you like or LOVE something but it also gives you another chance to examine your items. The fitting rooms in thrift stores are by no means any sort of glamorous but they serve the purpose they need to and if you are really lucky, you might even find a mirror in them (sometimes hard to come by in the thrift world).

Best of luck to any readers who dare to thrift! And stay tuned for a guide on how to do the initial wash of your thrift items and a revue of the ways I style my thrift finds! 

As always, thanks for reading!

Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget

A Southern Maryland Saturday Adventure

It's days like these that make me thank my lucky stars that I come from a thrifty family. Today, my Momma and I set out on a bargain hunting adventure and returned home with some awesome finds. I got fifteen items for $35.00! Here is a picture of all my goodies:

 Just like most women in their early twenties, I love to shop but hate to spend money. Thrifting is so enticing because you honestly never know what you may stumble upon. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping anywhere; but there is just something so different about finding a bargain at a thrift store or yard sale. Buying a pair of shoes that have already been slightly broken in or a pair of jeans that have been worn a few times makes them fit in an unexplainably comfortable way. It is something that you just have to experience in order to understand. I love when someone compliments something I'm wearing and asks "where did you get that?" (that makes everyone feel good!). What I love even more is the look on their faces when I say "the thrift store!" I have never understood the negative stigma that thrift stores have- I guess to each his own; some people can't find the beauty in the hunt. There ain't nothin' I'd like to brag about more than a bargain! Anyway, I digress... let me share with you my Saturday finds!

Caffeinated and determined, we began our trip at the SoMD Fashion Flea Market in Leonardtown. This was the first time I have attended an event like this in Southern Maryland and it was a blast. There was a nice mix of second hand clothes, shoes, and accessories, along with various other vendors like Wildtree, Mark, Avon, Tastefully Simple, etc. I walked away with some really cute stuff and spent less than $20.00! 

I bought two shirts and a ring from the fashion flea market. I think my favorite item I got was the houndstooth chiffon top (H&M) pictured below. This was the most expensive thing I bought today but the style was so cute, I could not pass it up. I paid $10.00 for it. I also picked up a navy blue Ralph Lauren slim-fit polo which I needed for an organization I volunteer with so that was a win-win (I paid $4.00 for it). I also picked up a Mark ring for $2.00 which I thought was kinda fun! 

Our next stop was the St. Andrew's Church Annual Yard Sale. This parish does a huge yard sale every year and they always have a fantastic variety. I didn't buy anything from the yard sale but St. Andrew's Church actually has a really nice thrift store, which I got a few things from. My cheapest and best bargain of the day were a pair of almost brand new dress pants from The Limited. I also got a really pretty vintage silk blouse, a green 80's style sweater and a pair of brown flats. My total spent here was $7.00. The pants and green sweater were on a clearance rack and I got them for 50 cents each! The flat's were $3.00 and so was the silk blouse.

After St. Andrews, we set off to find a thrift store down in the 7th district that neither of us had been to. This store is located in a church hall on a quaint little farm. Here, I found a bunch of jewelry and a dressy jacket/shirt to wear to work. The jewelry ranged from $0.50 to $2.00; I got a necklace and four bracelets. The jacket cost $2.50. I spent $8.00 here. 

Our final stop was at a small yard sale right at the top of Leonardtown in front of the Shanti Building. Here, I got a $1.00 picture frame that I am going turn into a jewelry holder. I saw this idea on Pinterest and let's all pray I don't have to post it on Pinstrosity. If you haven't checked out their blog, I would highly recommend it! Anyways, I also got a pair of brand new black patent flats for $2.00! The lady was so nice, she threw in a free AC/DC "Greatest Hits" album for my Mom.  

Here are a few of the pictures I snapped on our adventure today. There are few things in life that love more than Southern Maryland. 
These pictures capture the beauty in the simplicity of this area.

We ended our adventure with a sushi lunch at Oga's (my favorite chinese spot in Leonardtown); I loved my fortune.

 If anyone who happens to come across this blog would like to join me in a thrifting adventure then certainly leave a comment and we shall scavenger SoMar!