Thrift store throwdown

Two Pulse reporters put their shopping skills to the ultimate thrifting test

By Thom Brekke and Tiffany Reagan | Pulse Reporters

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Published: Sunday, February 10, 2008

Updated: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Imagine sitting down in class this morning wearing a sweatshirt you bought over the weekend.

It fits perfectly and it smells spring clean from the wash.

Your friend, who's sitting next to you, is also wearing a recent purchase, a T-shirt he found in a Portland boutique for $50.

He takes one look at your pastel unicorn print sweatshirt and demands to know where he can get one. You grin and tell him it was a thrift store purchase, ringing up at about $3.

In this moment, those three hours spent in a store that smelled of old people, dust and mildew are well worth it.

These are the joys of thrift shopping, a largely overlooked art that can net its practitioners some outrageous clothes at unbelievably low prices.

So, why should you buy used, and how do you find the best stuff your local thrift barn has to offer?

The most obvious benefit to thrifting is saving money. Thrift store prices are unbeatable. When you are able to purchase an entire outfit for less than $20, you can afford to splurge on that Ed Hardy hoodie you have always wanted.

The pieces you find at thrift stores have history. It's fun to imagine who once owned them and why they were discarded.

Thrifting pushes you to be creative and resourceful. Outfits do not come in prefabricated lots. You have to use your imagination. Feeling leopard print and flannel? Why not combine them?

You are guaranteed a one-of-a-kind outfit.

Thrift stores allow you to try new styles. Have you ever wondered what you'd look like in shoulder pads or tweed? Try it on.

Do not be afraid to cross the designated gender aisles. Check out those girl pants or that old man sweater.

Also, thrift stores carry all sizes, so you'll be able to find something whether you're XS or a 3X.

Patience and persistence are key, but regardless of your style, size, gender or pesky textile allergies, you're bound to find something swell if you keep thrift in mind.

Reasons to Buy Used

Buying used is recycling! Not only does it save you money and save you the regret that comes with buying something absolutely outrageous, it saves energy.

Nothing is guaranteed in thrift shopping, except excellent prices and a certain limitedness to the items you'll find. Keep your eyes out, you may go out looking for a scarf and come home with a sofa.

Thrift prices give you room to experiment. Odds are you'd never go "home tailored" on a $100 new garment, but if the fit's a little off on the $4 sweater you just bought, there's no harm in breaking out the sewing machine. It's great practice, and you'll be custom-fitted.

If the home tailoring sounds frightening, you can score items at such low prices that, even after the cost of a professional alteration, you'll be getting tailored items below the cost of new garments.

Style is cyclical, as has been demonstrated time and time again in the fashion industry. Why pay a bunch of money for something "vintage inspired" when you can get something that's just plain old for chicken scratch?

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