As an avid fan of TLC’s “What Not to Wear”, I have recently come to the conclusion that anyone can look better if they have $5000 for a new wardrobe and Clinton Kelly and Stacy London guiding them in their clothing choices.
I also realized just how many of their contestants complain that they have not been able to spend money on their own clothes because they are taking care of their families. So, I decided to see if I can apply Stacy and Clinton’s rules while shopping at Goodwill.
Sure, my choices are somewhat restricted, but I discovered that following their guidelines means I can look a whole lot better even on a shoestring budget.
So, the first thing to learn was to watch the show and find someone with a similar body type to mine and learn Clinton and Stacy’s rules. Then, it was a matter of learning how to shop at a thrift store.
This is my guide of what to wear from your local thrift store and where to spend your hard earned dollars.
First, you need to find a quality thrift store. Locally, we have two thrift stores. One is run by a local church organization and is great for Halloween costumes, but I wouldn’t recommend it for building a wardrobe. The local Goodwill, on the other hand, can be a treasure trove.
There are some other good thrift and consignment stores in the surround region, including a Salvation Army store in Marion, but I usually start with the Goodwill because it’s local. Consignment stores are a good option too, but usually their prices will be higher. The selection and quality may be higher too, but not always.
Next, you need to watch TLC’s “What Not To Wear” . It’s a good idea to watch several episodes because the first makeover contestant might not have anything in common with you. For me, it’s a matter of minimizing thick thighs and wide hips. And, I’m short, so wide leg slacks with pointy-toed shoes are good to elongate my legs.
Though I don’t want a granny waistband, I also know that low-rise pants usually push my belly up, making me look even heavier than I am. So I need structured tops that nip in at the waist and brighter colors near my face both to draw attention away from my “problem areas” and to play up my natural coloring.
All in all, it sounds difficult, especially when you’re shopping at a thrift store. But once you know what to look for and the rules of thrift store shopping , it can be fun and rewarding
But here are the rules for picking great finds at bargain prices.
1) Have an idea what you are looking for. That doesn’t mean you should ignore remarkable finds that don’t fit with the current needs, but you should have an idea. Otherwise, the sheer volume of stuff available can be overwhelming. If you don’t know where to start, you won’t start and you might miss great stuff.
2) Ignore the size tags. I have a very petite friend who really wears a size 6 but for years she thought she was a size 10 because that’s what the tags in the jeans she inherited from her sister said. But she forgot to take into account the Megan factor. Megan shrinks everything, a lot. And often passed things on to her sister when she had shrunk them so much she couldn’t wear them anymore. So, ignore size labels and remember the Megan factor.
3) Don’t sacrifice quality for price. Even at thrift stores you can buy quality clothes. At the local Goodwill I have purchased Karen Scott (often sold at Macy’s), Liz Clairborne and even my first pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans.
4) Go during the week and make sure you have lots of time to spend at the store. Weekends are crowded, especially towards the beginning of the month and you’ll have to fight with crowds to shop. Go during the week and you’ll likely catch the newest things that they’ve put out and avoid the crowds.
5) Try things on!!! This is because of the Megan rule and because sizes vary by manufacturer. I have three pairs of pants that I love the way they fit and the way they look. They are three different sizes. This is especially important when you are looking at pants lengths. At 5′ 5″, there are some pants that I wear which are “short” length and some are “long” length and some are just regular length.
Operating on a budget and being in style are not mutually exclusive. You just have to figure out how to shop. For guidelines, check out TLC’s “What Not To Wear” and then practice, practice, practice.
