Rack advertising winter coats at the Goodwill in Midtown.
BY COURTNEY PARISH
NNB Student Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The weather is gradually starting to cool down. In anticipation of a few cold spells, people are starting to pull out the sweater boxes and seeing what needs to be updated in their fall wardrobe. Most of us cannot afford to revamp our closet with the latest from Tampa Bay Fashion Week. Lucky for us retro and vintage wear is still in vogue. Where there is a will, Goodwill has a way.
Thrifting, the act of shopping at thrift store has recently become popular among 15-25 year olds thanks to singer Macklemore’s hit song Thrift Shop. According to the book Fashion Marketing and Theory, by Gianpaolo Vignali and Claudio Vignali, this age bracket is heavily targeted by the fashion and retail industry.
“The Goodwill here in Midtown welcomes people of all ages through its door,” Ricky Smith, a Goodwill employee said. The different age groups approach the racks differently when it comes to perusing the clothing racks. “Older patrons tend to by the basics and lean towards some of the more generic looking styles,” Smith, said.
Janelle Kay, is a Journalism student at St. Petersburg College. She is a frequent thriftier and hunts the racks for whatever clothes fit the look she is going for that day. “I look for vintage and interesting pieces that I can either wear or alter,” Kay, said.
Sometimes Kay sells her reinvintaged clothes to Revolve Clothing Exchange in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. She gets inspiration for her reinvintage designs from Lucky and other fashion magazines. Altering clothing is just a hobby, but shopping at Goodwill allows Kay to enjoy the hobby without breaking the bank.
There is an art to thrifting if you are looking to score a deal on some sweet retro threads. Bloggers Elsie and Emma, of A Beautiful Mess have achieved pro status when it comes to thrifting. They shared ten thrifting tips with readers on their blog.
1. Keep a list of what you want and need. This will save you time if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to sift through all the racks.
2. Only buy what you love. It is easy to get overwhelmed with things you like. Only leave with what you love so you don’t get overwhelmed with iffy clothing.
3. Stay open minded. You never know what is going to turn up at Goodwill. Be patient and did through all the T-shirts and Moo-Moos to find that one of a kind gem.
4. Keep a schedule and shop frequently. Try going once a week in the middle of the week. You will have better odds and the beet the weekend crowd. Keep a schedule of the hours and sales for your favorite stores.
5. Prepare yourself. Some stores only take cash. Keep a mental note of who is plastic friendly and who isn’t so you are not surprised when you get to the register.
Samantha Harland is a first time thrifter and already addicted to the thrift store-shopping scene. “My friend introduced me to thrift shopping. I like looking for unique items that I can take home and alter. I am not afraid to play around and try new clothes here because everything is so cheap,” Harland said.