Thrifting: Therapy For The Weird and Wonderful

  Thrifting only started becoming an item fairly recently, but any true Bohemian will tell you that they've been doing it for years. I'll be honest, I only shopped in my first thrift store less than two years ago, and already it's become my favorite way to shop. How else would I have been able to swipe these practically brand-new shoes for only five bucks? 

  Today I hit the Salvation Army, which has basically become my favorite store, and I am not shamed to admit that. It's literally almost like a warehouse of clothes, from shirts to evening wear to coats and even wedding dresses and housewares. And the best part? Nothing is the same. Unlike regular stores, which have racks and racks of similar clothing. 

  For those of you who are considering thrifting, or want to have a reason to go, I am here to present you with not one reason, but six: 

1.   It's the ultimate in being an eco-friendly shopper in that it allows you to reuse clothing and therefore promotes recycling. Plus, ordinary stores dip clothes in formaldehyde to keep them fresh, while thrift stores do not. 
2.   You can't beat the prices. We are talking $4-or-less shirts. Even genuine leather jackets show up from time to time at less than $20. 
3.   Individuality is a big factor here. Why would you want to wear the same solid-color cardigans and UGG boots that all the other girls are wearing when you can make an appearance in an outfit you can't buy anywhere else? 
4.   Nobody has to know. If you held up two similar dresses (one from a thrift store and one from a designer label) and tried to have someone choose the more expensive one, would he be able to? Probably not, and nobody else, either. 
5.   You can find designers if you know where to look. These pieces usually hide themselves pretty good, but I have found Ralph Lauren, Chico's, American Eagle, and even Vera Wang hanging on the racks.
6.   It helps the community, as most money from thrift stores ends up going to charities. Besides, most clothes today are made in third-world sweatshops, and who wants to support those heinous practices by purchasing mainstream clothes?