Thrift Stores: Behind the Chaos

Thrift shops are a great passion of mine. While many people claim thrifting as a hobby or a necessary way of life, thrifting can be a true passion. The first time I went thrift shopping was during my junior year of high school. I walked into a K-Mart sized store (which surprised me because I expected a small boutique) and looked around to what appeared to be chaos. There was no obvious order to how objects were organized other than by object type. The array of colors, the difference in items, and the mere size of the store was absolutely overwhelming. However, it was the number of options that got me. Unlike large mainstream retail stores like Target or H&M, thrift stores typically don't carry the duplicates of the same item, making the amount of choices to be almost infinite. However, instead of shutting down (as I seem to do when I get overwhelmed), I took the experience as a personal challenge, vowing to refuse to give up even when the task seems daunting. 

The first item I purchased from a thrift store was an XL wool wheat brown vest with a red stripe along the neckline (insert picture here-- I wish I had one, but I can find one of the vest on my computer). This item, though I no longer wear it, sits in my closet (well, in a storage box), because of the sentimental value the vest possesses.

There is an art to thrift shopping.

Thrifting shopping is like diving into the ocean, hoping to find the buried treasure chest. I like to go through each item individually on the racks to make sure I don’t miss out on something that has the potential to be great.

There are hidden gems waiting to be discovered on each rack. Woah, the thrill…

Dress found at thrift store

XL wool wheat brown vest. The sizing is significant. It was the first time I took a step outside my comfort zone in relation to fashion and stylistic choice. Thrift stores provide an invigorating experience that allows me to create a personalized unique style that pulls from an infinite number of origins. It is exciting to visualize outfit combinations with clothing that is completely different than what I’m used to. When I step into a thrift store, my creative juices begin to flow. Therefore, while people prefer to express themselves via painting or drawing, I prefer to carefully craft outfits.

thrift stores are a channel of self-expression.

Thrift stores give me the opportunity to be me.

I have found myself. Who I am is expressed through my clothing. From the beginning (the process of treasure hunting) to the end (actually wearing the clothes), and with everything in between, thrift shopping has served an invaluable purpose in my life. The art has not only given me a creative release, but has also aided my personal growth. Chaos is no longer frightful, but is rather welcoming.

Welcome. This blog will provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the chaos.