National Thrifting Day

McKenna Snow
MSMU Class of 2023

(8/2023) "Buy it nice or buy it twice" is generally a helpful rule of thumb when purchasing things that you’ll need for years to come. Buying nice clothing, especially, can be a worthy investment—linen fabrics will be sturdier and longer-lasting than synthetic materials, and they’ll likely be more breathable, too. A hand-made cashmere sweater will be softer and warmer than a sweater made from rayon that will shrink after one wash and improper dry. However, when I’ve looked at price tags for cashmere sweaters, it is evident to me that in this case, buying nice isn’t just unnecessary, it simply isn’t feasible.

However, I try to avoid purchasing cheaper clothing from fast-fashion stores. The insistent pressure to keep up with what’s "in" this week, even though it will change next week, along with the darker production and labor practices of many companies that create cheap fashion, are both reason enough for me to strive to stay away. More ethical companies, however, are oftentimes more expensive, especially since the quality is usually better. But I cannot get all my clothing from all these better, nicer brands, simply because I can’t afford it. So I face a dilemma: my moral preference is to avoid the fast-fashion industry, and my frugality limits the ability to "buy nice" to my heart’s content.

The solution? Thrifting. The good news is, you don’t have to go to the top of the line, name-brand stores to buy things nice. You don’t have to go to the best of the best kitchenware store or dorm-decorating department to find what you’ll need for your new home, apartment or college life. Thrift stores often have gently-used decorations and furniture. Moreover, thrift stores are a fantastic option to not only downsize your own closet through donating gently-used items and clothing, but they are also a great place to find great-quality clothing for a fraction of the price.

If you’ve never gone thrifting before, I suggest you give it a try. A great day to go is August 16th, which is National Thrifting Day, a day to celebrate reusing, donating, and re-purchasing gently-used items and clothing.

I am a huge fan of thrifting, and have been going to thrift stores for years. When I was in ninth grade, my friend invited me to be her plus-one at a dance her private school was hosting. I was so excited to get dressed up in a fancy prom-dress style gown and go to this dance with my friend. But upon going to a department store to see their options for dresses, I realized that their price tags far exceeded what I could afford, and I would have to look elsewhere. For weeks, my mom and I looked at thrift stores, and had very little success, but we continued to look to find just the right dress.

We were out running errands probably a week before this dance. I still didn’t have a dress, and felt like I had looked everywhere. I asked my mom if I could just run into the local Goodwill one more time, even though I had already checked there last week. I ran in with my sister, and found their formal dress section. Lo and behold, I found a beautiful formal dress that fit perfectly. It was in almost perfect condition, and I felt lovely in it. It was probably around twenty dollars in total. The dress was perfect for the dance with my friend, and I didn’t have to worry about wasting tons of money on a dress I really only wore once.

Similarly, some of my favorite outfits have been entirely thrifted. I found a top-quality maroon flannel button up I wore all through high school in the wintertime, and even through college. I have found beautiful skirts for daily Mass, and casual dresses for summertime, almost always under ten dollars. I also found the twinkling, long string of icicle lights that I hung in my dorm for a grand total of four dollars. They lasted me the entirety of my senior year, and added an element of cozy décor that helped me feel at home. One of my favorite mugs, a neat dark blue mug with a fox carved into it, was found on a thrifting adventure out with my boyfriend. In the same trip, I purchased a flower vase for 99 cents, so that the flowers my boyfriend brought me could finally have a proper place on my desk.

This year, I’ve been in need of some nicer shoes for fall, but have been waiting to find the right pair at the right price. Just a few days ago, I went on a double-thrifting adventure with my sister and a friend; at the first thrift store, I found a pair of tan shoes, great brand, great condition, and great for fall—that I purchased for five dollars. At the second store several miles down the road, I found the exact same pair of shoes, but in black, in near-perfect condition. Needless to say, my closet for fall is about ready to go. From all my experiences both in thrifting and finding what I need, and also by donating during spring cleanings, I cannot stress enough the value of thrift stores.

You can find a lot of treasures thrifting. You can’t find everything you need, but you can find a lot, and it’s worth the treasure hunt. It’s also a good habit to go through your closets and get rid of what you truly don’t wear, or donate that extra piece of furniture for someone else to get good use out of.

Buying nice doesn’t have to mean breaking your bank account. It can mean an outing with friends or family members to one’s local thrift store—you never know what you might find. Maybe a prom dress, maybe a framed picture, maybe a new pair of shoes. Here’s to August 16th, National Thrifting Day. Let’s all pitch in to combat wastefulness, excessive consumerism, and the myth that buying nice means buying over-priced. Go to your local thrift store and see what treasures you might find!