In my 20 years of living, a lot of things have changed. I got taller, started wearing a bra, learned how to drive and moved away from home – one thing that did not change: my shopping addiction. I have always had a deep yearning for new clothes, shoes and makeup. However, since moving away to college, my shopping budget has shrunken remarkably. Thankfully, there is a way around my minimal budget, and it’s called thrift shopping.
If you type “thrift shopping” into the YouTube search bar, thousands of videos will come up with people telling you about the clothes they found at their local consignment shop. Not only is this form of shopping easy on the bank account, but it is also good for the environment. Reusing clothing helps lower carbon footprints, reduce chemical pollution and decrease landfill waste, amongst other things. It is also a great way to find clothing that is unique to you. This week, I went to my local Goodwill and bought five items for less than $25. I then found a way to incorporate one piece from my purchase into my outfits for five days.
My favorite purchase from my trip was this pair of hot pink pants with white polka dots. While I was looking through the women’s trousers for 30 minutes, I came across these pants that reminded me of a Barbie convertible, and I figured that was a sign I should try them on. In the fitting room, I was not officially sold on them. But, they were only $5, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try them out. I ended up wearing them with a black bodysuit and a chunky black belt.
Throughout the day, I got several compliments from strangers about how cool my pants were. What started as an unsure purchase ended up being one of my favorite, and most unique, pieces in my wardrobe.
The next item I found was something I may have seen in my grandmother’s closet before, but I made it work for me. This shirt has a plaid print with small flowers overtop it. While the print looked old-fashioned, it was what drew me to the shirt.
When I tried it on, I thought it looked cute, but I wasn’t a fan of where the sleeves fell on my arm. I figured I could just cut the sleeves and it would work. The shirt cost me $3.50. When I got home and put the shirt on again, I decided I wanted to cut it more than I had thought. After lining the sleeves up and cutting them to be equal lengths, I cut the bottom of the shirt to crop it. The shirt ended up being much cuter than I had initially imagined. Even my 14-year-old sister complimented me on it, which is an achievement in itself.
I paired the newly cropped shirt with a green corduroy skirt that zips up the middle. The green in the skirt brought out the color of the leaves on the shirt. I also tried it with a black pair of mom jeans. Both looks resulted in outfits perfect for hanging out with friends or running daily errands.
One of the items that I had the most hope for didn’t work out the way I wanted. This skirt was initially a business skirt that hit at my knee. When I tried it on at Goodwill, I knew that I would love the pinstriped print if only the skirt were shorter. I bought it for $3.50 that day because it was discounted (the color of the day was green). Once I got it home, I was excited to take my scissors and get to cutting. However, my excitement got the best of me, and I ended up cutting the skirt too short for my liking. After attempting to wear it for a day, I figured it just wasn’t going to work. I ended up giving the skirt to my sister, who thought it was adorable. It ended up being a nice gift for her that only cost me $3.50. All is well that ends well, I suppose.
While I was perusing the shirt racks, I came across this shirt that is actually a pajama top from Victoria Secret. The dainty print and white buttons made me think I could wear it as a regular shirt, though. This shirt didn’t need any altering—it was already cropped, and I liked the slouchy feel of the fabric. This shirt also cost $3.50. When I wore it, I put a long-line lace bralette underneath so that it would peek out from underneath the shirt as I went about my day. On the bottom, I wore ripped boyfriend jeans. This was one of my favorite outfits that I came up with, and I felt fashionable and comfortable all day long.
This skirt was another thing I was hesitant about at first, but once I wore it, I knew I had made the right choice. I had seen pictures on Instagram and other social media of girls styling longer skirts and thought I would try it. I tried on several “midi” skirts, but this one ended up fitting the best. I also thought the pattern was fun and colorful. I paired the skirt with a black halter top that I tucked into the waistline.
What I loved about this outfit was that it made me feel feminine and mature. As I was walking around with my long skirt flowing around me, I felt like I could be in Paris, fashionably sipping a cup of coffee. This outfit is my new go-to when I want to feel like I own the world. Plus, I only paid $5 for the skirt. Talk about owning the world on a budget.
By thrift shopping, I was not only able to add some new and unique pieces to my closet, but I was also able to help the environment in a way, small as it may be. Next time you’re feeling the urge to splurge, take yourself down to your local consignment store—you never know what might end up becoming your new favorite piece of clothing. Your bank account will thank you for being thrifty, and the earth will be a little better off.