Celebrities Can Thrift Too!

Thrift shopping is an easy way to save money while still finding and creating a style that is all your own. Due to the "saving money" factor celebrities are probably the last people you'd expect to bump into while you're surfing the racks in a second-hand shop. Nonetheless before and even after they became famous several well-known celebrities were and are proud thrift shoppers! 

The "New Girl" actress, Zooey Deschanel loves thrift 

stores because they're a great place to shop for 

vintage looks. "I didn't have a lot of money, so 

I got things for, like $2, $3, and made myself 

look as good as I could. Limitations make you 

more creative." 

Photo Credit 

The "Runaway Bride" star, Julia Roberts said, in 2012, that she loves shopping at thrift store 

for her children. She reportedly purchases 

"gently used" clothing for herself.

Photo Credit 

 

The environmental campaigner, Daryl Hannah loves to shop at thrift stores because she doesn't like to buy brand new clothes. "There are so many 

magazines featuring pictures of celebrities in a 

different outfit every time that it 

fuels discontentment in the rest of us, making us 

crave new clothes, new make-up, new hairstyles, 

which isn’t good for us or the environment."

Photo Credit 

Debbie Harry, lead singer of the punk rock 

band Blondie, loves thrift shopping. 

"You have to go in and hunt and it 

can be very entertaining."

Photo Credit 

Ryan Tedder, the frontman for OneRepublic, has been thrift store shopping almost his entire life. "I've thrift shopped since I was 13 and half of my wardrobe to this day are still the same shirts 
I had when I was 17, 18."
Photo Credit 

R&B singer-songwriter, 

Janelle Monae 

likes to find original clothing at thrift 

stores. "I like one-of-a-kind pieces. I 

don't like everybody walking around 

in stuff that I have on."

Photo Credit 

Website Link

Thrift Shops are 100% Unique

I could go on about my personal attachment to thrift shopping but let's be honest here, statistics are what people really trust. I could say "Hey, shopping at thrift stores is full of benefits and is a really fun experience!" You may appreciate my enthusiasm but you probably would consider this more of an opinion than a fact. However, if I said "More than a third of Americans report they are shopping in thrift stores more often than they did three years ago." You'd admire the validity of that statement even more.

The four statistics featured above display the upward growth of the thrift shopping trend in the United States. The optimal goal regarding shopping would be to save money while still looking stylish. Shopping at second-hand stores achieves both parts of that goal. My favorite statistic is "40 percent said they'd rather purchase a unique item that no one else has over one that's sold in popular retail stores." This is the best thing about thrift stores. They supply a look that is absolutely 100 percent unique because these stores don't feature racks upon racks of the same blouse or dress. In addition, the inexpensive prices will reassure every thrift shopper that they received good value for the purchases they made which is what 79 percent of the United States population believe to be important.

Thrift Statistic & Photo Credit  

Thrifting Hot Spots

Thrift stores are everywhere! Seriously, there's no way you can visit any city that doesn't have at least one second-hand store in existence. After some research I've been able to pinpoint the five best thrift stores in the Topeka area. Every thrift store is a little different from the next, but the one important thing that they all share is the incredible treasures that are just waiting to be discovered!

1. Plato's Closet
Located at 1580 SW Wanamaker Rd. Topeka, KS 66604
(785) 783-3370
Link to Website

2. MAJ-R Thrift
Located at 2020 Northwest Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS 66608
(785) 234-3101
Link to Website 

3. The Merchant
Located at 913 S Kansas Ave. Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 357-1444
Link to Website 

4. Fashion Exchange
Located at 5648 SW 29th St. Topeka, KS 66614
(785) 271-8500
Link to Website 

5. God's Storehouse
Located at 2111 SW Chelsea Dr. Topeka, KS 66614
(785) 608-6743
Link to Website  

Secret Treasures

I recently discovered this YouTube video entitled "Thrift Store Shopping Secrets". This video was actually aired on a television show and included an interview with fashion expert, Lindsey Calla. She spoke highly about the recent trend of shopping at thrift stores. This video boldly stated that the typical woman spends over $140,000 on clothes during her adult lifetime. During the video you will see three outfits that Lindsey assembled herself from thrift stores that she visited in New York City. She swears that each entire outfit cost less than fifty dollars, which as a fellow thrift shopper is completely believable! Lindsey's passion in the video was contagious and made me proud that I'm saving money and helping the community by shopping at second-hand stores. The greatest thing that Lindsey said during her interview was that thrift shopping is like a treasure hunt because when you find something that is your size it's like it was put there specifically for you! Hopefully you all to get something different and useful from this video. 

Thrift Store Shopping Secrets      

Bargaining Benefits

     As I have mentioned, there is a plethora of benefits associated with thrift shopping. The article attached below, written by Katherine Martinko, lists ten of the greatest advantages that second-hand shopping has to offer. There were a few items that not even I had ever thought of! This really says something considering the fact that I've been surfing the racks at thrift shops for several years now. The most interesting thing I found from the article was that Martinko and I both acquired our thrift shopping lifestyle and bargaining skills from our mothers. What are the odds of that?

My favorite benefits that Martinko listed in her article are the following:

*Thrift store items are typically higher quality simply by virtue of being there.
     I've purchased items in the past that almost looked brand new; almost like they'd never been worn before! Many people imagine thrift store clothing to be grungy and dirty, but that's hardly ever the case. I have received numerous compliments on the clothes that I've bought from second-hand stores. It's always funny to see the look on people's faces when I reveal to them where I shop. 

*Thrift stores are an opportunity to develop your own unique sense of style.
     By shopping in thrift stores, you will be opening yourself up to a variety of possible styles to choose from. Regular stores tend to specialize in only a few styles and advertise to only a fraction of the public. For example, Hot Topic is geared towards the punk-rock, Goth type crowd whereas Victoria Secret serves only the female population. This is why thrift stores are so special. They incorporate every kind of style into one place. Their target customer base includes everyone.

*There are really fabulous finds on all the racks at a thrift store.
     It does take a great deal of patience to shop in thrift stores. This is mostly because of how much merchandise is physically crammed onto the racks. This is due to the significant amount of donations thrift shops receive from the public. However, if you encompass the virtue of patience and have a good idea for style then you will have the opportunity to discover some truly awesome treasures!

*There are no hovering salespeople waiting to make a commission off your purchase.
     Martinko made me laugh when she included this in her list. The one thing I've always disliked about department stores is being approached and questioned by salespeople. I know it's their job and that they make commission off of our potential purchases but, in my opinion, they tend to be annoying and bothersome most of the time. However when you shop at a thrift store you're on your own and you don't have to feel like you're constantly "being watched."


Link to Article

Trendy Jammin'

     It has become evident within the last couple years that shopping at thrift stores and wearing vintage clothes has become a much more popular option than what it used to be. When the smash hit "Thrift Shop", by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, was released in summer 2012 I knew thrift stores were coming back in style! With it's hilarious lyrics, the song portrays all the benefits and truths behind shopping at second-hand stores. 
     After doing a bit of research regarding this hip hop tune, I discovered that Macklemore and I share a mutual interest in saving money by purchasing secondhand clothing and accessories and we also share a mutual disdain for over-priced designer labels. This song is a revelation about the amount of money you can save while still having a style that's all your own. By shopping at thrift stores you will never have to be paranoid about running into someone who is wearing the same outfit as you. You will be completely unique! 

Below is a YouTube lyric video of "Thrift Shop" -- Don't worry, it's the clean version. As a fellow thrift shopper the lyrics that stuck out the most were the following:

"I'm gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket."

"They be like Oh that Gucci, that's hella tight. I'm like yo, that's fifty dollars for a t-shirt. Limited edition, let's do some simple addition. Fifty dollars for a t-shirt, that's some ignorant ___ ___. I call that getting swindled and pimped, ___. I call that gettin' tricked by a business, that shirts hella dough and having the same one as six other people in the club is a hella don't." 

 "I wear your granddad's clothes, I look incredible. I'm in that big ___ coat from that thrift shop down the road." 

Overall, this song is a suitable representation of the complete concept of thrift shopping and all the benefits related to it. Enjoy rockin' out!   

Link: "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore

A Plato's Paradise

     To most people, thrift stores have become known as the place to find the cheapest clothes. The stores themselves are depicted as being unsanitary and disorganized. In addition, the people that choose to shop at thrift stores are often stereotyped as being stingy and tacky. However, while most thrift stores are not the equivalent to a five-star hotel, they are still relatively clean, functional places of business. While there are several different chains of thrift stores in existence, the one that wins the award for having the most stylish and contemporary items would be Plato’s Closet. 

     This high-end thrift store channels its business towards high school and college students. This is primarily because they understand how important it is for these individuals, particularly college students, to save money while keeping up with the latest trends. Plato’s Closet is unique from other thrift stores because they will actually buy clothes from their customers. This is their strategy in maintaining their stylish selection of attire and accessories. All you have to do is bring in currently trendy attire and you’ll receive cash on the spot! Here is a quick and easy article regarding the rundown of how to sell your clothes to Plato’s. Plato's Closet Website Link

Photo Credit

     Aside from the distinctive factor of receiving money for selling your brand name clothing and accessories, Plato’s Closet has one of the most laid back environments I’ve ever shopped in. The picture to the right demonstrates the relaxed and inviting atmosphere that Plato’s Closet has to offer. The options are endless at Plato’s with so many attractive items to pick and choose from. One of my greatest purchases from Plato’s was a form-fitting leather jacket that I bought for a bargain of only 10 dollars! There are items that could fit almost any type of style whether you’re shooting for goth, preppy, chic, sporty, vintage, hipster, etc. I would definitely recommend that you take some time, save some bucks and check out Plato’s Closet!    

The Art of Thrifting: An Introduction

     My name is Amy Reinhardt and I am a thrifter. I am currently attending Washburn University as a junior studying Mass Media. Outside of school I am a girl who loves her shopping. At this moment you're all probably imagining me walking out of a huge department store carrying tons of bags and having maxed out credit cards, right? Well, that isn't exactly the kind of shopping I do.
     In high school I made the remarkable discovery of second-hand thrift stores. I realized very quickly that I could find and buy the same kinds of clothing and accessories for more than half the price that department stores and boutiques charge for them. To most people, thrift stores have acquired a horrible reputation for being unsanitary, cheap and even dangerous. My goal for this blog is to restore their reputation by expelling all those erroneous, adverse rumors. 
     By shopping at thrift stores I have had the incredible opportunity to save a substantial amount of money while creating a unique sense of style for myself. Both of those factors are certainly elements that college students can relate to. After all, who wouldn’t want to stretch their dollars a little bit further these days? I am extremely overjoyed to be able to blog about a topic that has been a part of my life for so many years and I look forward to sharing all of my experiences and advice with each of you.