We’ve all walked up and down the sweater racks in thrift stores for our ugly Christmas sweaters or to find some high waisted jeans to cut up, but have we stopped to consider that there is actually some great steals hiding beneath the shoulder pads and oversized jean dresses? Thrift store racks can be intimidating and quite daunting with the amounts of clothes squeezed on them, but for every 20 awful garments there is that one great piece just waiting to be found. As a college woman, I can honestly say that I have a shopping problem, and the only way that I can afford my shopping problem has been with the help of some seriously awesome local thrift stores. I take pride in my finds and I’m especially pleased with the small price I’ve had to pay. This is no way means you have to skip out on some quality clothes either. I’ve found some great name brands that luckily were still on the rack and I thought I’d share some of my favorites.
- Nori Hooded Jacket from Goodwill; Crocheted H&M dress from Plato’s Closet; Monoreno Layering Dress from Plato’s Closet
- Sweet N Sinful fringe vest from A.T.C.; Rogan shirt from Salvation Army; Old Navy skirt from Plato’s Closet
- Alternative Earth dark grey dress from Salvation Army; Free People white dress from Plato’s Closet; Upper West Side Chambray shirt from Salvation Army
- One Teaspoon Romper from A.T.C.
- MINKPINK patched dress from A.T.C.; Cherokee Jean Vest (Made from a jean jacket with scissors and bleach spray) from Salvation Army
Other ways to see people’s successful thrift store trips is to check out Youtube and search for “Thrift Store Hauls” (One of my favorite’s is The Thrifter’s Closet on Youtube). For those Lawrence locals, check out these places and I hope you score some deals:
Salvation Army: My first stop for most trips because of how cheap it is. Ladies, most Thursday’s are 50% off for women’s clothing. If it’s not a Thursday they’ll still give you 20% off with your student ID. Check in for other awesome discounts too because almost every day has a different deal. (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org)
Arizona Trading Company: A great stop on Mass. street for that shopping itch. They’ve got it all, from funky to neutral. I’ve found some of my favorite name brands here, and I can’t help but stop by every time I’m downtown. I’ve also found some pretty great stuff to put together a Halloween costume here. (Check out A.T.C. on Facebook)
Plato’s Closet: Whenever I find myself on that end of town I stop here to look for my staple pieces. Salvation Army’s dress selection isn’t the greatest, so for dresses I find myself here or at ATC. Depending on your comfort level on used shoes, I’ve found some like-new boots and wedges I couldn’t part with. (http://www.platosclosetlawrence.com)
Thrifting Online and phone App: Poshmark is the way to go. I’ve found myself on this app for hours searching anything and everything. The benefits are the ability to shop certain brands, colors, sizes, and types of clothing at the touch of a button. Not to mention you can sell your own stuff on here too or even make trades. (https://poshmark.com)
Savers: Although this is a Kansas City thrift store it is well worth your while if you’re in the area. They always have amazing prices and the store is super organized so it’s alot easier to make your way through specific sections. (http://www.savers.com)