Thrifting - The New Mall Experience

The first gem I found myself was a little black blazer with cheap shoulder pads and two buttons on the front that I could only button one of. Prior to uncovering my diamond in the rough, I was overwhelmed when I walked into thrift stores. Unfortunately, thrifting was my dad’s favorite hobby, so he would drag me along almost every weekend to participate.

I wore my little gem to every debate competition starting at 14 years old. Though it only cost me $1, it made me feel like a million bucks. None of the other blazers, cardigans, or button-downs could cut it for adolescent me. I needed my little black blazer, and nothing else would do.

Since 2011, I have cultivated a wardrobe, home, and Harry Potter movie collection from sundry thrift stores and have also learned of the sustainability and joy of thrifting. I want to share my journey with you! One of my proudest accomplishments for thrifting has been outfitting my home nail salon in almost entirely second hand furniture that I’ve upcycled. Instead of having a “cookie cutter” space that looks like everyone else’s, I have a space that is a tiny visual representation of my creativity and mind. It is constantly evolving and has beautiful things with soul that make me so happy! One of my favorites is the $25 entertainment center that was turned into a hot pink house plant display and towel storage focal piece. It perfectly coordinates with the gifted solid wood frame couch with emerald green faux velvet slip covers.

By now, it’s no secret that fast fashion is harmful to workers, the environment, and everyone’s wallets. However, a big secret is that purchasing pre-owned garments can greatly reduce waste and are a lifeline for many families. While fast fashion is another topic for another time, I’ve been able to build at least 75% of my wardrobe from purchasing other people’s old clothes. There are thousands (if not millions) of pounds of clothes that get shipped off to other countries, landfills, or get dumped who even knows where. In the culture of “micro trends” changing literally daily, people are spending themselves into a credit card debt black hole just trying to keep up with the Internet Jones’. While it’s encouraging to see “anti-influencers” emerge in popularity, I know there are millions of dollars being pumped behind the influencer industry to promote the current overconsumption crisis.

How does one begin this journey, then? Firstly, one needs to determine one’s style. If you’ve already got this one down pat, great! If not, you might consider hiring a style coach to help you. Next, Pinterest and Amazon will be your best friends. This might be the most time-consuming task, but it will help you immensely. Spend some time figuring out some aesthetics and outfits on Pinterest, and save all of the photos. You can upload the screenshots to Amazon’s search bar and find specific pieces that can put together the outfits. This can give you inspiration for when you hit up the secondhand stores. This process will take time, however, the treasure hunt is fulfilling and ethically sustainable.

I’ve personally decided that my style aesthetic is based on the granny from Spirited Away, so my latest thrifted jewel is a cream colored knit grandma cardigan. It reminds me of the sweaters my mom and grandmas used to wear.

Nevertheless, thrifting is a lifestyle I recommend to everyone. It has brought out the creative and penny wise side I didn’t think I had. Share your favorite thrifty finds in the comments!

If you enjoyed this piece or it inspired you to hit up your local thrift spot, feel free to subscribe and/or leave me a tip. Thanks, loves!