Thrifty And Fashionable

Growing up with three sisters, it was important for us to be well-groomed. We were always borrowing clothes from each other then returning them clean and pressed. It was a way of streching our wardrobes and to the outside world we had an endless supply. We were thrifty without realizing it and no one was the wiser.

The first thrift store was opened in London during the middle eighteen-hundreds.The Salvation Army went around collecting donated goods from the working classes and then selling them to the poor for a fraction of the cost. A few years later,a Salvation Army store was opened in the lower East side of Manhattan serving over three million impoverished people.

During the depression, it was shameful to be seen wearing thrift store cast-offs. Clothes were handed down to another family member. Shoes were patched, blouses or shirts were mended or seams torn apart and made over to fit a family recipient. During the nineteen-fifties, wealthy women donated their clothes to be re-sold. The profits from these upscale resale shops were shared with the donor or the shop profited from it. During the nineteen-seventies,thrift stores were popular with the hippies and the college students searching for vintage styles.

Now days, thrift store parking lots are filled with luxury cars as well as the more modest ones reflecting the escalating prices. The stores have become so profitable that the same people they once helped cannot afford to shop there. Thrift stores like Goodwill have some quality items and at shopgoodwill.com clothing items are auctioned in the same way as on ebay. Although, it is better to visit their stores for more of a variety of items and sizes.

Kate Magazine is an online shopping magazine and she gives sound advice for buying vintage clothes and sizing them correctly. Also, she has links to resale shops and a newsletter that can be sent to an online email inbox. She also gives shopping tips about what time of year the mall outlets sell their merchandise at the lowest prices. A city's online yellow pages is a good source for locating the names of local thrift stores and resale shops.

After finding a favorite thrift store, resale shop or mall outlet, it is wise to visit it frequently in order to keep up with the changing merchandise. It is a good idea to check the thrift store, resale shop or mall outlet's refund or exchange policy because a lot of them do not allow it.Shopping at these establishments is a unique way to add to an existing wardrobe without going over a limited clothing budget.

Through the years, the author has shopped at these kinds of establishments and found some unique fashion items at bargain prices.

Calvin Klein 2005 Spring & Summer Collection

Calvin Klein ? a name we all recognize and a designer who is world renowned for his fabulous... Read More

Rhinestones Have A Glittering Past

Rhinestones have a glittering past. Originally rhinestones where referred to Czechoslovakian or Bohemian glass dating as far back... Read More

The History of Costume Jewelry

There is virtually no difference between costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates back to the 1930s.... Read More

Fashionable Silver Earrings for Anytime and All the Time

It's been said that silver jewelry makes a person look youthful and energetic, while gold makes a person... Read More

Why Fashion Matters

Fashion has suffered its share of browbeating and scorn. To understand fashion and what it truly implies for... Read More

Pearl Jewelry: The Epitome of Elegant Simplicity

Pearl jewelry catches attention because of its uncomplicated and serene elegance. It may seem like an oxymoron, but... Read More

Get Fashionable With Womens Flipflops

The hottest fashion trend for feet this summer is women's flipflops.No, I don't mean the rubber thong variety... Read More

Man Earring: a macho look in jewelry fashion

These days, there is a call for more "metrosexuals," or men who are conscious about their looks and... Read More

A Clothes Encounter In The Business World

Do you ever wonder where all the dress rules have gone? Depending on when and where you are... Read More

The Pearl Necklace -- A Timeless Beauty

It has been said that of all the pieces of jewelry in the world, a pearl necklace is... Read More

Pull Off a Blazer with These Five Steps

The key to this season is to mix it up. This season is looking more towards a laid... Read More

How to Care For Your Designer Handbag

Whether your designer handbag is a Louis Vuitton, a Gucci, or any other designer, it is important to... Read More