You Can Look Good on a Dime!
Growing up in the sixties and seventies was an exciting time for me when it came to fashion and style. I was introduced to thrift stores early on, especially the ones in Greenwich Village and around the High School of Art & Design in New York City, where I was a student. One of my most memorable finds was my first fur coat. I thought I was the epitome of style— until I realized that every time the wind blew, so did bits of my fur! My family got a good laugh out of it, but I was determined to make it work. Eventually, I accepted that the coat was beyond saving in its original form. So, in true creative fashion, I repurposed it— cutting off the sleeves, collar, and lapel and attaching them to a burgundy pantsuit I had made. And let me tell you, once I put that outfit on, you couldn’ t tell me a thing!
And that is what thrifting helps you to do – repurpose, restore, and renew – garments that were created for a particular customer can now be transformed to fit you, transformed to shape your style, add value to your wardrobe, and save you lots of money. Most importantly, items can be transformed into something different and new( e. g. jeans into tote bags).
Why I Thrift
There are a couple of reasons why I thrift. First, looking stylish and staying on trend isn’ t about spending a fortune— it’ s about knowing how to curate pieces that reflect your unique style. Almost my entire wardrobe— 98 percent of it, is thrifted. Every Sunday at church, women would complement my outfits and say, ' I know you didn’ t get that from the thrift store!' My response was always the same: ' Yes, I did!' Without fail, their next words were, ' I need to go shopping with you.' That’ s how Thriftstopping with Gail was born. I started taking groups of women on thrift shopping trips, showing them how to find stylish treasures for less.
Here are some valuable tips to help you save money and find stylish treasures while thrift shopping:
1. Have a Plan but Stay Open-Minded
Make a list of items you need but be flexible— thrift stores have unique finds that may surprise you.
4. Brand Awareness is Key Know high-end brands and designer labels that indicate quality.
B y: R e v. G a i l D a v i s
Some thrift stores price all brands the same, meaning you can score designer pieces for a fraction of retail.
5. Try Everything On
Sizes vary across brands and decades, so always check the fit rather than relying on the tag. Bring a belt or accessories to see how an item can be styled before deciding..
The other reason focuses on sustainability. Fashion has a growing waste problem, with ever-increasing volumes of used textiles filling landfills and overcrowding thrift stores worldwide. The average American consumer discards an estimated 81 pounds of clothing and shoes every year, creating a total of almost 13 million tons of textile waste nationwide, according to the most recent available data( from 2018). Of this waste, just 13 % is recycled, while the remaining 87 %, or 11 million tons, is sent to landfills or incineration.
In conclusion, thrift shopping is more than just a way to save money— it’ s an opportunity to embrace creativity, sustainability, and individuality in fashion. My journey with secondhand fashion started in the vibrant streets of New York City, where I learned that style isn’ t about how much you spend, but how you curate and reinvent pieces to express yourself. Whether you repurpose a vintage coat, score a designer find for a fraction of the price, or transform an old garment into something new, thrifting allows you to tell your own fashion story. More importantly, it supports sustainability by reducing textile waste and slowing the cycle of fast fashion. So, the next time you step into a thrift store, remember you’ re not just shopping, you’ re making a statement, preserving the past, and shaping the future of fashion.
Keep a Pinterest or mood board of styles you love to guide your search.
2. Know the Best Days to Shop
Many thrift stores restock items on certain days or have exclusive discounts( e. g., half-off tags, senior or student discounts).
Go early for the best selection or later for markdowns. 3. Check for Quality Materials
Look for well-made fabrics like wool, silk, cashmere, and 100 % cotton. Avoid items with excessive pilling, fading, or stretched-out seams unless you plan to upcycle.
Sweet Potato Biscuits with Honey Butter
Servings: 8 biscuits Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup mashed sweet potato 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt 2 cups self-rising flour 1 / 4 teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 / 4 cup milk
Honey Butter: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1 tablespoon honey
Chef Ann Marie Bennett
Recipe
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Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 ° F. In a bowl, mix sweet potato and yogurt until smooth. In another bowl, combine flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in sweet potato mixture and milk to form a dough. Roll out dough and cut into biscuits. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes. For honey butter, mix butter and honey until smooth. Serve with warm biscuits. https:// news. climate. columbia. edu / 2025 / 01 / 28 / who-should-be-responsible-for-used-clothing /
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