There’s a certain dopamine hit I feel when I buy a cart of clothes online or go to the mall with friends to shop at our favorite stores. Expressing myself through fashion has always been one of my favorite pastimes, an undeniably popular sentiment. However, this source of comfort has become more expensive over time — less about expression and more about following current trends.
Have you noticed that clothing at retail stores has gone up in price and down in quality? We are trapped in a cycle of justifying our willingness to spend $60 on one top! I was no different until I found my love for secondhand clothing and thrifting.
Half of my wardrobe comes from the thrift store, where I spent hours rummaging through the overstuffed racks. I’ve traded spending $20 on one top to spending $20 for 5 items at the thrift. The art of thrifting isn’t just a budget choice; it can become a hobby and a genuine act of joy and individuality. Here is why I am never going back to relying on building my wardrobe through expensive retail stores and malls:
Quality over Quantity: Items at the thrift may be old, but they are well-loved. I’ve noticed that the items I’ve thrifted are often better quality than the ones I’ve purchased online or in store. The quality of the clothes I buy at retail stores fails to withstand everyday wear and time. It is almost a shame to spend so much money on one item only for it to fall apart within a year because it’s made of cheap polyester. Thrifting not only gives you access to quality items but is affordable enough to buy more clothes for the same price as one top at the mall. Buying secondhand can give you the option to have both and not have to sacrifice one over the other.
Thrifting as a Hobby: Shopping, to many, can also be a hobby and an enjoyable pastime. There is nothing I love more than searching through clothing racks with a good song playing in my headphones or spending time with my friends trying on clothes. I’ve found thrift stores to have a less chaotic environment compared to malls or retail stores. The fluorescent lights and overwhelming amount of people at usual clothing stores often make the shopping experience feel less comfortable. What I love about my local thrift stores is how quiet and slow it is — it’s easy to take my time and enjoy the process of searching for clothes I like. Thrifting has become one of my favorite hobbies, and I find myself enjoying it with and without friends! The next time you’re free, take yourself on a solo date and go thrifting! You might find it more relaxing than you think.
Sustainability: The heart of thrifting is the sustainable aspect of it. You cannot talk about beauty or fashion without including how it affects the planet. The fashion industry is one of the driving forces behind pollution, and constantly creating clothes and buying them produces an endless cycle of waste. By choosing secondhand, you are choosing to extend the life of a garment and keep it out of our landfills. Giving a new home to a well-loved piece of clothing makes a larger impact than consuming fast-fashion clothing items that harm our environment. As a woman, I am well aware that I am one of the main targets of the fashion industry’s marketing. Opting out of becoming a consumer of fast fashion and being thriftier allows you to support local stores and clear out their stock.
Building Your Style: The racks at retail stores strictly display what is “in” or trending right now. It is difficult to develop your own signature style if you can only access clothing that follows every micro-trend presented on social media. Thrift stores will always carry a wide range of clothing for all kinds of ages and people. As well as pieces that range from old/vintage to new and young. Thrifting forces you to develop your own eye for style and turn away from listening to what people online tell you to wear. I’ve personally developed my style over time through years of thrifting and can easily replicate the outfits I find online for an affordable price by going to the thrift store.
Switching to secondhand didn’t just change my closet or style, but also how I saw myself. I’m no longer a consumer following what’s currently trending but simply finding and buying clothes that represent me. The next time you feel an urge to shop, skip the mall or online shopping. Instead, go to your local thrift store and give a new home to a well-loved piece of clothing.