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Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

Thrift is the new black

Most students have a hard time waking up for an 8 a.m. class. But with a little incentive — aka Black Friday deals — waking up over winter break at an ungodly hour is somehow justified.

A savvy thrifter shops the racks of ReThreads. Photo by Amanda Frank/[email protected].

But if your idea of holiday shopping isn’t about pitching a tent in front of Best Buy or dodging and weaving through a stampede of determined soccer moms, it’s still possible to feel the rush of getting that great deal without the anxiety.

Say hello to thrifting.

Thrifting is a shopping method based on taking other people’s old clothes and accessories and making them your own. It’s primarily centered around specialty stores that resell vintage and used apparel at discounted prices.

Marian Pintar, a sophomore in the College of Communication, knows she can find a cute outfit at a popular outlet like H&M. However, when purchasing a $34 sweater is not in the budget, she said she turns to thrifting to find original and fashionable deals.

“Thrifting is like treasure hunting,” Pintar said. “I don’t feel guilty after buying something.”

For Pintar, thrifting is not only an affordable way to shop but also a creative outlet. This past summer, she purchased two large glass lamps for $7 at a Goodwill store. Pintar’s mother criticized her for buying something “so ugly,” but she was determined to make the lamps her own, painting tree branches on the lampshades, to match the tree decals on her dorm room walls.

“(Thrifting) challenges you to come up with a way to reuse and recycle even if it’s obviously dated,” Pintar said.

Taking something of lower quality and refurbishing it to make it new is also known as “upcycling,” and it’s an ideology that is not only eco-friendly and fun but also financially savvy.

While Black Friday deals seem too good to be true, the low prices quickly add up. According to Investopedia.com, an online financial education compendium, the average Black Friday shopper spent about $365 in 2010.

While thrifting does take time and patience, finding the perfect piece at a low price is worth it, and there are tricks to make the experience worthwhile.

The best piece of advice is to not get overwhelmed. Thrift stores have so much material that most shops arrange their clothing by the article. Stick to one type of clothing at a time, or shop for a piece to go with a specific accessory. It can be best to go into the store with an idea of what you’re looking for but also to be open to surprises.

Experimentation is key. Pintar said she often gets the most compliments on her outfits comprised of different pieces she has put together. Another tip is to check out the “reject” rack. One person’s trash can be a thrifter’s treasure; it just takes some digging.

It may seem obvious to check for damages, but it’s something people often overlook. Turn clothes inside out and check for holes or snags. When buying boots, take the heels and tap them against each other. If either heel wavers,  it’s a good indicator that the boots will not last very long.

Milwaukee has a variety of secondhand stores. Hopping on the 10 bus will take you right to ReThreads, an upscale consignment shop located at 2943 N. Humboldt Blvd. The elegantly decorated store is quaint but trendy, carrying many vintage maxi dresses but also $8 Sperrys. The store also has a rack behind the counter that features Chanel and other designers.

ReThreads also carries a wide assortments of accessories. Boots from combat to cowboy are sold in new or very good condition, and indigenous feathered jewelry and dainty collections fill the counters.

Amy Vergeront, an assistant manager at ReThreads, says keeping an open mind is important when shopping at resale stores.

“You may look at something and say, ‘That’s not really me,’” Vergeront said. “But people are surprised by the different styles you can choose from at a thrift store.”

Several resale stores are located in a two-block radius in the Third Ward, merely another bus ride away from campus. Retique, a branch of Goodwill located at 190 N. Broadway, is selling many trendy thick-cabled sweaters for winter. In addition, Upscale Resale, a men’s resale suit shop at 181 N. Broadway, carries brands like Burberry, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

Chelsie Layman, a sophomore in the College of Communication, found a Dooney and Bourke bag for $10 in East Town Women’s Resale, two stores away from Upscale Resale.

ReThreads offers gently used fashions for everyone. Photo by Amanda Frank/[email protected].

Layman enjoys thrifting in her spare time and also works at Hoarder’s World, 203 N. Broadway, a miscellaneous antique store that carries everything from kitchen chairs to records to real glass eyeballs. Hoarder’s World contains mostly vintage furniture, but it’s definitely college-friendly.

“You can find a lot of really unique things for a dorm room or an apartment, whether that is something small to hang on a wall, or a trunk to use as a coffee table,” Layman said.

The prices are friendly to a college budget and negotiable. All the pieces have bottom-line selling prices, but haggling down towards that point will get you the best deal.

No matter how you spend Black Friday, remember to keep your pocketbook and sanity in mind. Thrifting is an inexpensive and low-stress avenue for holiday shopping. Perhaps the best part: It gives you a chance to sleep in after Thanksgiving.

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