Frugal Fashionista: Thrifting, Consigning, & Swapping

Can't afford to Rip the Runway?  Instead praying you will look Hip Someday?

Lusting after Gucci, Fendi and Prada? But opening your closet and seeing Zip, Zilch, and Nada?

Is the closest you ever came to owning a pair of red bottoms that day you stepped in a puddle of hobo fight blood in the MARTA station bathroom???

Chile, Boo! 

You don't need all that stuff to look like a million bucks!

This blog entry is to help take you from a Wishing Window Shopper to a Frugal Fashionista...

Without playing yourself for a baller!

(snap!)

Don't get me wrong, I love my boutiques and online stores where I buy oh-so-cute outfits that you could never find at your local mall; but thrift and consignment stores are shopping's best kept secret, and a Frugal Fashionishta Fav! Keep in mind that being frugal is an art form, so you have to be current on your trends so that you don't look as if you just escaped some twisted time warp.  You also need to know how and where to shop.  The most frugalest (I know that's not a word. Don't start) places to shop are at thrift stores, consignment shops, and at clothing swaps.  In order to make these shopping experiences work for you, you must first know what each of these are:

Thrifiting



Thrifting:  Shopping at a thrift store.  Doing this gets you great vintage/ boho chic clothes at rock bottom prices.  The picture on the top right resembles an outfit that could be found at just about any thrift store, but is actually a look from one of designer  Kenzo's recent collections.  The picture on the bottom shows what can happen when combining pieces from a thrift store with newer pieces, or pieces already in your closet!  Buyer Beware: There is a lot of digging involved in thrifting, but if you love the thrill of the chase, go for it!

Consignment Shops



Consignment shops: Places that give you money or a store credit in exchange for your gently used clothes!  Your inner Frugal Fashionista should have just shrieked!  These places are easier to shop than thrift stores because they usually only purchase clothes that are trendy and up to date, offering you the latest styles at great prices!  There is a lot less digging involved here than at thrift stores; hence the slight price hike. If you can't get down with being seen in a thrift store, you'll enjoy consignment shopping because they typically have a boutique feel.  I love to shop at consignment stores in upscale areas because you have ladies dropping off great garments from last season that are still relevent in current fashion.

Clothing Swaps



Clothing swaps have recently crept onto the scene, and are taking Frugal Fashionistas to the next level!  A clothing swap could be an event, or a party you have with your girlfriends.  Here's how it works:  Each person is required to bring a minimum number of items... say, at least three wearable garments, a piece of jewelry, and a handbag.  Consider those items as your cover charge. Once you're in, you meet up with people who also brought clothes to swap, and the two of you make a deal!  The key to swapping is to bring trendy pieces that you still like to wear, but could bear to part with for something else... you know, to keep your style interesting.  I've been able to find clothing swaps by googling "clothing swap" for my local area.  If you can't find one, organize one with your friends! Make a night of it!

This was the first installment of many ways to be a Frugal Fashionista, so stay tuned!  And don't forget to comment on this or any other of my blogs!(Gmail account required) I'd love to hear from you!  Shout out to my readers in the UK, Russia, Germany, and Nepal!  I see you!

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