What’s old is new again. Thrift shopping is becoming a more popular form of purchasing clothing and it can be especially useful for those of us college students who are on a budget.
It seems that people either enjoy or strictly avoid thrift shopping. Though it can be fun rummaging through racks of clothing, some find the thought of wearing someone else’s clothing unappealing. But as long as you know how to search through all of the items in the store, it can actually be fun and easy to find some great deals.
“You can find clothes that are barely worn and in perfect condition. It’s a great deal,” said Vicenta Tran, a freshman chemistry major.
For those who have a slightly higher fashion standard, the store Plato’s Closet offers cash for gently used, name-brand clothing and sells the items at a generously discounted price. The closest Plato’s Closet store to campus is in Chantilly.
“It’s a good way to find nice clothes that are pretty cheap, but you have to do a lot of scavenging,” said Jake Chavara, a freshman government and international politics major.
It is beneficial to check out many local thrift stores and larger chain thrift stores to get an idea of which stores carry items you like. The clothing and accessories in some places are of better quality and in better condition. It is also important to allot adequate time to thrift shopping because, in order to find the diamond in the rough, it is necessary to search through large amounts of clothing. Typically, the time spent shopping will pay off. You can end up leaving the store with a couple shirts and a pair of shoes for around $20.
Seventeen magazine recently challenged fashion bloggers to create a fashionable look for under $17. In the process of creating her look, blogger Sammy Davis of Sammy Davis Vintage went to Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Luckily for us at Mason, there are some thrift stores just around the corner. Yesterday’s Rose is on Main Street and they carry everything from sweaters, shirts and dresses to jewelry and handbags. There is also a Goodwill located on Main Street.
Whenever you want to go on a shopping spree but don’t have a bit of cash, just remember that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. If you take the time to search through the clothing at a thrift store, it can literally pay off.
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