THRIFTER

ballin on a budget 10 TIPS + TRICKS

interview w/ ABBY MCINTOSH

ISSue N0 1 the GOLDEN RULES of thrifting

editor in chief NATALIE PRICE editorial director MARGARET PARKS director of publicity CLARK WOODS

BRAND DEVELOPMENT sales coordinator MIA RAINES marketing director STEVE TURNER associate art director ANNIE BARNES brand development manager RACHEL LEWIS

ART & PRODUCTION art director AMY EVANS senior designer ERIC HARRIS designer CAROL MARTIN art production director RICHARD HILL production manager ALICE SMITH

PHOTOGRAPHY senior photo editor JUSTIN CARTER photo editor SUSAN MILLER photo researcher SCOTT ANDERSON production manager ALICE SMITH

COPY & RESEARCH associate editor JILLIAN COOPER senior copy editor AARON PARKS copy editor MAGGIE LEE article editor JOHN HUNT assistant editor ISAAC WRIGHT research director NEAL BAKER

P2 THRIFTER Issue No. 1 [DEC/18]

design director MAY RILEY creative director ROBIN CARPENTER senior writer KATHERINE WEST multimedia editor OWEN HAYES photography director ANDREA KELLY production director JILL WEBER

CoNtENT 04

how to make it a

MERRY THRIFTMAS

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T0P 5

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the GOLDEN RULES of thrifting

winter trends to shop at goodwill

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thrifting DIYS

ballin on a budget

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10 TIPS + TRICKS

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WHERE TO THRIFT ONLINE

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interview with ABBY MCINTOSH

FIVE

reasons to thrift

WHAT + WHAT NOT

to donate to thrift stores

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THE

GOLDEN RULES

Behold: the golden rules of thrifting! If you are new to thrifting or haven’t had much success, these rules are for you. And I promise you will never spend more than $25 on a shirt.

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YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT If two hours spent speed-sorting through musty clothes in a garishly lit superstore while Matchbox 20 plays on the radio sounds like torture to you, then don’t do it. If you are the kind of person who goes on eBay and searches for tchotchkes with free shipping that cost under $5 on the regular (seriously — this is fun, and how I do Christmas stockings), then maybe thrifting is for you. You have to really need the deals, or really want those diamond-in-the-rough fancy vintage pieces, for thrifting to be worth it.

OF THRIFTING

Holly Brown

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PAY ATTENTION TO MATERIALS In general, I avoid plastic-y blends like the plague.

They don’t look good on anyone, even the models, and they certainly don’t hold up well over time.

Always look at the tags and work on buying good, sturdy clothing made of cotton, wool, silk, or other natural fibers.

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KNOW YOUR BRANDS While a great piece can be made by anyone, you know the brands that you like (or wish you had more of). This can have the added bonus of helping you with sizing, if you know what you wear in that brand. I constantly find pieces that are Target brand, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and the Gap. My favorite brown pinstriped pants are Dockers that I got for $3. And especially if you are looking for basics (jeans, black work pants, long and short sleeved tees), go with a brand that you know you like and will last for a long time because of quality craftsmanship.

P4 THRIFTER Issue No. 1 [DEC/18]

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TRY ON EVERYTHING

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Yup, this is a pain. It is even more a pain if you are like me and fill up a cart with 30 items on the hectic 50% off days, when everyone camps out at the dressing rooms with their five children. But you must always, always try things on when you thrift. First of all, if you are a lady, you know that number sizes mean absolutely nothing.

Secondly, that shirt that looked perfect on the hanger could fit you in all the wrong places and you won’t have the energy to return something that was $5.

Just because Martha Stewart said it was easy doesn’t make it so. When was the last time you sewed something? Do you even own a sewing machine? If the answer is no, then you have no business “fixing” that perfect top with the little hole in the back, or altering that maxi dress to something more fitting. Trust me, just don’t do it. Your life will be better. On a related note — no, you won’t get that stain out.

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09 SHOP IN ALL SECTIONS

TAKE A CLARITIN AND WASH YOUR HANDS Old clothes are musty. And old hangers are greasy and dirty. It’s kind of gross, but you are an adult who can take a shower afterwards (while your new purchases go in the wash). My allergies always act up in the big stores, so I appreciate a good allergy pill and some tissues. Don’t let it get in the way of your thrifting joy.

(EXCEPT UNDERWEAR) Don’t buy used underwear, guys. But do try out all the sections in the store! When I was a skinny college student, I loved buying teen boys’ clothes because they fit, were simple, sturdy, and way cheaper than women’s clothing. I’ve found great, classic button-ups in the men’s section and I’m constantly on the lookout for small suit jackets that I can wear over tees. I don’t know if this works equally well for men in the women’s section, but I don’t know your life.

BE PATIENT, BUT PICKY When I was a young thrifter, I’d spent tons of time looking at every shirt on the rack, trying to make it work with my wardrobe. Now I speed through those hangers like a pro. Yeah, I might miss a find or two, but the really good things always jump out at you. Know what you like and it will come to you. And if it doesn’t, you didn’t realize it was there anyway.

DON'T GO THRIFTING LOOKING FOR ANYTHING SPECIFIC Keep your wants and needs in mind, but shop with an open mind. It’s more important to know your tastes and your fit, so you can be flexible when an awesome piece crosses your path. That vintage pencil skirt is a gift, do not pass it up because you needed tank tops!

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NO ALTERATIONS. NO DIY.

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GIVE BACK! Once those clothes have made the rounds in your wardrobe, and you’re spring cleaning, make sure you take a nice big box back to the donation center. If you’re lazy, Freecycle it! Give it a second, third, or even fourth life.

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HANNAH KLOSE P33 THRIFTER Issue No. 1 [DEC/18]

My unsustainable shopping habit was money-draining, space-consuming, wasteful, and, as I would later learn, takes a toll on the environment. After the painful culling process and in the face of a leaner college budget, I decided to start shopping smarter — both economically and environmentally.

Here are five reasons to thrift.

DO IT FOR THE PLANET 6000 kilograms of textiles goes to landfill every 10 minutes in Australia and if everyone lived the way we do in Australia we’d need more than three planets! The clothing industry is the second biggest polluter in the world and generates 11 million tonnes of waste annually, but the good news is op shops help to divert 300,000 tonnes of textiles from landfill each year so snap up some style secondhand and recycle baby!

DO IT FOR CHARITY If you’ve been looking for justification for going on a spending spree, you’ve got it! You never have to feel bad about making a purchase at an op shop, because you’re basically making a donation to charity! All the thrift shops do wonderful things for those in our own backyard and beyond and they need all the support they can get, so treat yo-self!

DO IT FOR THE WORKERS Buy second hand and you’ll help drive down consumer demand for cheap sweatshop goods. Slavery is still alive and well and currently affects more than 30 million people. Employees work between 10-18 hours a day and a seven-day working week is becoming the norm during the peak season, especially in China. The majority of workers in the global fashion industry rarely earn more than $2 a day.

DO IT FOR YOUR WALLET Who doesn’t loves a sneaky retail therapy session?!

Get a new ensemble for a fraction of the cost at your local op shop and do not lose sleep over your credit card statements. Currently Australians have over $32 billion owing on their plastic.

DO IT FOR YOUR CLOSET In the words of Fleetwood Mac…’go your own way’.

Create your own aesthetic with unique thrifted pieces and set your style apart on the street. Even though everyone seems to be twinning at the moment, I like knowing no one else will be wearing my ensemble.

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