College-Style

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You Too Can Shop Thrift Posted: 17 Jun 2011 11:21 AM PDT By: AJ of University of Georgia. Follow me @arrrcher. One word can strike fear into the hearts of clothing retailers: budget. Let's face it: clothing is a necessity. Even the biggest fashionistas oftentimes find themselves redistributing money from their fashion budget to other, arguably more important things such as food and rent. What many people fail to understand, however, is that budget cuts absolutely do not mean your fashion sense has to suffer. The simple solution to the demise of a wardrobe when you’re on a tight budget is shopping thrift. Photo Credit This outfit by Todd Snyder was featured in his fall 2011 runway show. It's simple and classic, but still a look expected to be prominent in the upcoming season. Although the exact pieces of this outfit have the potential to break the bank, thrifting offers shoppers the opportunity to own the newest looks — albeit slightly tweaked. I will admit — with heavy heart — that his jacket is much fiercer than mine. I can live with this, however, because I can guarantee that my outfit cost considerably less than his will this fall. The $5 gray button-down shirt came from the Athens Goodwill, and its accompanying $3 tie came from America's Best Thrift Store, also in Athens. My mother picked the gray pea coat for me from the Goodwill in Panama City Beach, Fl. for about $10. The dark-wash denim jeans are unfortunately not thrifted, but I did find them on sale at Banana Republic for $18. The shoes — a $5 pair of dark-brown dress boots by Giorgio Brutini — were found at Treasure Junktion in Covington, Ga. Thrifting is truly a rewarding experience. There is little that can compare to the feeling you get when you leave a store with a bag full of trendy pieces with money left over for the weekend. Check out these finds I made Wednesday. The blazer I found at Value Village in Stockbridge, Ga. for $10. The arms were considerably short, but I knew I had a white button-down shirt — thrifted at the Athens Goodwill for under $5 — of which I could stylishly roll the sleeves to cover up the odd size of the blazer. I found the dark-wash jeans for about $7 at the Stockbridge, Ga. Goodwill conveniently located across the street. They were also considerably short, so I took a pair of scissors to them and then cuffed them, which thankfully keeps with the current trend. The shoes are the same ones worn in the previous picture. That teal sweater is by Christian Dior. I purchased it for $5, successfully navigating my way around the Dior price. I found it at the Athens Goodwill and have loved it ever since. It really works on those days when I feel like channeling Rachel Zoe and putting on something that's hobo-chic. The button-down is the same one from the previous picture — versatility is everything. The shorts are originally from J. Crew, but were thrifted for about $15 from the slightly more expensive Rag-O-Rama located in Georgia's Little Five Points district. The white Sperry Top-Sider shoes cost about $5 Goodwill in Panama City Beach, Fl. When your funds get tight and you're running out of things to wear, trust that all is well. While it is always nice to go into a retail store and buy the newest look fresh off the rack, remember you always have the option of heading to the nearest thrift store to copycat the newest trends, trying your hand at creating your own unique styles or even raiding your parents’ closets. Check out my next post for tips on how to be a successful thrifter, but in the meantime, happy thrifting!

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