You know you have heard that song “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and if you haven’t, listen here, it’s about to change your life.
Thrift Shopping isn’t just for Halloween and Ugly Sweater hunting. It has been my way of life for years! It’s a guilt free way to boost your wardrobe with some vintage finds like fun sunglasses, jackets, purses or jewelry, but I have also scored some amazing trendy finds! Recently, I upgraded my fall wardrobe with a few Nordstrom, Banana Republic and Gap cozy sweaters and a bunch of cute belts and a few fun outfits all for under $70. I’m not much for brands, I’m more into feel and style, but you can imagine the amount of money I would have spent if I bought this stuff new!
I feel like such a winner when I find an adorable, high end piece of fashion in perfect condition that some other sucker bought full price and then donated after a few wears. I have to admit, it is a bit of a high and I am fully addicted.
I have found $400 designer dresses, a leather coat, a Dior tweed blazer, EXPRESS business slacks, dress shirts and countless designer pairs of brand new heels all for around $9 each. After a trip to the dry cleaner and tailor I’m still not even close to paying HALF of retail cost.
With stores like Buffalo Exchange and Thrift Trader you can bring in the stuff you are tired of looking at in your closet and leave with new stuff, pretty much for free. It is pretty awesome. My rule is to get rid of just as many things as I bring home so I don’t become a hoarder and I am contributing to the fashion recycling system. “One man’s trash is another man’s come up!”
I also have to point out that this system is better for the environment by reducing waste and a need to produce more cheap clothing in sweat shops and factories overseas that then need to be shipped all the way to a boutique near you. Our consumer driven society puts too much emphasis on NEEDING the new threads to be cool. We spend way too much on material things that don’t last and have no real value. I am walking, talking, fashionable proof you can be smart, savvy and trendy by shopping at thrift stores.
This whole outfit was $20 TOTAL at Thrift Trader on Garnet in Pacific Beach. (Click the image to see a video on my top 3 Thrift Shop picks in San Diego!)
I used to get teased as a kid for getting my clothes at thrift stores and now I got compliments and am proud to be a Thirfty Fashionista. ;) I love seeing the look on faces when I tell them it was $7 at the Goodwill. Not to mention I get to spend my money on trips around the world instead of trips to the mall!
Still not convinced? Saturday January 26th, at BarWest in Pacific Beach, I co-hosted a fashion show with fellow thrift shopping style icon, Dru Downey Jr.. We each had a budget of $125 to style 4 models plus ourselves, strictly from thrift shops. See the amazing outfits we created!
Above, Lindsay, designer for the LMH team and below, a worthy competitor, Dru Downey Jr. They make your grandparent’s hand me downs look GOOD.
