Sep 16 Thrifty finds

Written by Jackie Onderko. Posted in Trends

Filthy, smelly, disgusting, unpleasant. Those perceptions are some of the reasons why stores such as Goodwill, Salvation Army and Value Village have built up an unfair reputation throughout the years.

Many who have not visited one of these discount stores are wrongly biased against them. However, a new craze known as “thrifting” has hit the fashion community! This current obsession is where fashion lovers set out on an intense search for trendy pieces to add to or enhance their wardrobe at a great price.

As we know, trends move in a continuous cycle. For example, the past trend of high-waisted items has, once again, become a huge phenomenon. Remember the top to bottom jean look in the 1980s? That trend has also made its way through the cycle to become prevalent again. Having a continuous cycle like this means a lot of those older clothes that your grandmother and mother have in their closet are now back in full force.

This first outfit I put together consists almost entirely of thrifted items.

I paired a sheer pink, button down shirt ($1.50) with black, vintage, high-waisted Levi jean shorts ($2.00).

To finish off the look, I added a black bandeau top underneath while including a pink belt ($0.60) to pull together the outfit.

My second ensemble contains a thrifted

LizClaiborne bright pink 100% silk blazer ($1.50) combined with a beautifully detailed tan belt ($0.60).

For bottoms, any pair of dark wash denim will do.

For the final look, I took a flirty floral dress from Forever 21 and made it a little more interesting using a vintage Levi denim vest ($1.50) while cinching the waist with a wide neon pink belt ($1.00).

You may be thinking, “This is too good to be true.” But wait, there’s more! To save even MORE money while thrifting, most stores offer discount days where certain tags or even the whole store is discounted further. These discount days are unique to the individual stores, so make sure to call your local shop to find out the best day to do your shopping.

For fashion lovers, whether they are on a budget or not, thrifting is an inspiring (and exciting) experience.

Make sure to go in with an open mind and the outfit opportunities will be endless!

—Jackie

-PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACKIE ONDERKO