Let’s Pop Some Tags

I’ll try to refrain from making anymore references from Macklemore’s Thrift Shop throughout this post, you’re welcome.

I sat here for a good five minutes trying to remember when the first time I went thrift shopping was and I honestly couldn’t. I can’t remember how, why, or what got me to that thrift store but I am eternally grateful (I hope you read that in the voices of the little aliens from Toy Story).

I’ve been thrift shopping for as long as I can remember and I grow to love it even more everyday. Not only am I paying pretty much nothing, but I’m actually getting quality stuff for it. I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they ask where I got a really nice article of clothing from and I respond with “Oh I thrifted it for like 6 bucks”. I recently bought a Nike windbreaker for about $12 and that was sort of on the pricey side if I do say so myself. $12 is on the pricey side like just think about that for a second. I often find myself browsing through Forever 21 and saying “Uhm no thanks I can get that at the thrift store for like $3” and many of the friends I’ve turned towards thrift shopping now say the same thing.

Many people might be thrown off by the fact that everything is used but honestly that’s the part I love the most. Everything has a story behind it and every time I say that to one of my friends, I get the same response: “Okay Phoebe Buffay”. I’m not really complaining though, you can’t not love Phoebe. These pieces could have been passed down for years or bought just last year and only been worn once, either way it’s the unknown part that intrigues me. Just give the clothes a little wash and you’re good to go.

The best part however is that there is so much more than just clothes. I have little knick knacks around my room that are totally weird and random but hey they’re cute and were only like 50 cents. I’ve gotten back into reading a lot lately and the little library in my room is stocked up with books I got at the thrift store. 50 cents to a dollar for a book that normally retails for about $13 at Barnes & Noble? I think yes. It also opens me up to so many new books. I’m not losing much if I never do pick up that book again but it’ll still look real cute sitting there on my shelf.

Thrift shopping really gets me out of my comfort zone which I think we all need to do once in awhile. So get on Yelp, look for nearby thrift stores and secondhand shops and just go. Get that grandpa sweater and that obnoxious 80s blouse if you’re feeling it, again you’re not losing much. Even if it just hangs in your closet untouched, as many of my thrifted clothes end up because I was just feeling bold in the moment I purchased them.

Follow Ola on Instagram at @ola.abu and Twitter at @Olerrss and her blog–olaabu.com