Marco Riekstins. Picture: Marguerite Oelofse Marco Riekstins. Picture: Marguerite Oelofse
There is this rumour going around that people in fashion only wear expensive clothing and accessories. It’s this very idea that prohibits these people from believing fashion is achievable for themselves. The trick to being a successful dresser is not in the quantity of designer duds in your wardrobe, any fool with a trust-fund can do that. No, the secret lies in a world you may not believe we would acknowledge, let alone enter: Thriftstores!
Also known by their other names, The Salvation Army or charity shops, thrift stores are a gold mine for rarely worn and vintage clothing. Consider the mass of well-made clothing that just sits in an old man's wardrobe. Eventually those clothes land in one of these shops and if you look properly you get to take them home.
The truth is we live in poor economic times and unless you’re rolling in it I don’t see why you can’t use this great opportunity to find fantastic deals. It has even become quite socially acceptable, fashionable even, to acquire vintage clothing. Let us look at the best ways to do this:
1. EXAMINE:
You may be spending very little on the items you buy, but that doesn’t mean you should wear soiled, torn or broken items. There are plenty of options available so make sure they are wearable from every angle.
2. TRY THINGS ON:
Looks can be deceiving so collect a stack of items and try them all on. You may have the perfect build for the item and that immediately makes it look better than on a hanger. Try on items you ordinarily wouldn’t pick up in a store, you may be surprised to find something you like without the wasted cost of a full priced trend you may later decide isn't for you.
3. TAKE YOUR TIME:
As a guy it is a lot harder to find easy buys than it is for women. Be thorough and look at the selection item for item. Being patient will work in your favour. Especially when you come across a great shirt you would normally have passed. Thrift store shopping is not an in-and-out exercise - give yourself a a fair amount of time to pick through the selections.
Additional tips:
* Sometimes a garment is precisely what you’re looking for, but too large or too long. With thrifting you can afford to add in the cost of altering it to your liking. This will also broaden the options available to you.
* Don’t buy something you won’t wear. There is little point in wasting money on could-be items unless you’re sure you can transform or adapt them.
* Return to the store regularly and let the shop assistant know what you’re after and for them to keep it aside for you. Building a relationship with the store can help you acquire those items that aren’t necessarily available in modern stores. New arrivals come in regularly and you will want to be there when they come in.
Now it's just a matter of mixing in your thrifted goods with those you spent good money on. In that lies the fun, so have some! - GQ