The Art of Thrift Shopping
Gracie Fletcher, Staff Writer
In the intellectual words of Washington’s rapper Macklemore, it is time for us to “pop some tags”.
Thrift shopping has taken the world by storm as the ultimate recycle project to vamp up a wardrobe with a more vintage energy. Rummaging through the racks of a Goodwill can ultimately lead to the outfit of your dreams. So look past the old musty smell when you first walk in and on to your new favorite hobby.
Here is why you should be strolling the isle ways of your local Salvation Army like all of your friends.
1. Don’t Hurt Your Wallet
If you are paying more than $8 for a sweater for the fall, you’re doing it wrong. Thrift stores contain all of the fashion staples you need without killing your bank account. People shop at thrift stores for the unimaginable bargains, so why shouldn’t you?
2. Sense of Community
The sense of community is inevitable at your local clothing recycle shop. Businesses like Goodwill put people to work no matter their background as they further the opportunities for individuals who desire to work independently. Supporting such a platform helps you become more a part of your community and maybe even a part of someone’s success story.
3. Stay Green
If you are one to believe in the power of recycling, then why shouldn’t your wardrobe too? Nothing can be eco-friendlier than purchasing clothes that could revive your closet and not take up space in a landfill. By buying clothes from a thrift store, you are being more kind to your earth and more stylish on the streets.
4. Record Shopping
You don’t always have to go thrifting just for what is hanging on the racks. Prepare to go to the fluorescent side of your local thrift shop and discover the reason why you need to purchase a record player. Places like Goodwill and Salvation Army are crawling with classic vinyl’s, adored chapter books and 90’s nostalgia albums just waiting to be loved by those who have an eye for the good stuff. Embrace the texture of the old vinyl cases as you look for the music that your parents listen to once that you listen to now.
5. Vintage Must Haves
That 1987 Fleetwood Mac T-shirt from the “Tango in the Night” tour is patiently waiting for you to take it home. At a thrift store, you will find all of the vintage classics that you’ve seen in movies like “Almost Famous” or in photographs from Woodstock. Your local shop is crawling with turquoise rings and classic Harley Davidson tees just waiting to be worn again. To find the best band T-shirts, fringe purses, Led Zeppelin posters or leather jackets, you must dig through the only shops that will have it all at a low price.
Thrift shopping is not just for the hipsters anymore; it is for the people who want to find timeless articles of clothing at an unbelievably flexible price. It’s for the people who desire for their record collection to be timeless. It’s for those who want to decorate their dorm room in 70’s nostalgia. North Greenville University freshman Mary Mahan believes that thrifting is truly for anyone. “When you think thrift store, you think of people who aren’t as well off and don’t have money to go to other stores. It’s really for everyone whether they live pay check to pay check or even college students. Thrift stores are for anybody,” Mahan said. If you put in the time and discover the right places to go, the art of thrift shopping will become your masterpiece.
