American Eagle Cargo Shorts
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) = $36.50
Amount Paid = $4
How did I walk out the door with a fresh new pair of cargo shorts for about a tenth of the suggested price? I stole them, and left some cash behind out of guilt.
Ok... that's a lie. I got them at a thrift store. Half price Mondays. And you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Some people have problems with secondhand shops, consignments, and thrift stores. I'll give you some common reasons, and then offer counter-arguments to each.
- No Selection. Yes, finding a quality article of clothing amongst a heap of leave-behinds can be a task. But I'd argue that's part of the thrill! We do the same thing in retail stores... we go through the racks, filtering out all the clothes we wouldn't wear.
- Poor Quality. The bulk of the clothes that get donated or resold are used. However, occasionally you'll find a gift unwanted and discarded. Like my pair of shorts with the original store tags still on them. In retail stores, you have no clue how many people have tried on that same piece of clothing. Once you throw it in the wash, it's going to look used as well.
- Tacky / Out-of-style. True fashion is about attitude and confidence. The clothes don't define you. You define the clothes.
- Stores are icky. Take a real look at Wal-Mart. Enough said.
The biggest reason many people refrain from stepping into a thrift store is that they don't want to be perceived as poor. I'm pretty sure if you have been following this blog, you'd notice that I advocate not caring about what other people think about you. Live to your own expectations... and enjoy the spoils. Like a vacation using all the money you saved on your clothing budget for the year...
