Iwould not consider myself a very materialistic person. Although I do greatly enjoy the comforts of a couch, the convenience of my iPhone, driving my Toyota and of course, sporting my inexpensive wardrobe.
For students on campus, clothes can be of the greatest or least importance. I am a firm believer in the principle “dress for success,” and the way you dress can determine the way you feel.
With that being said, in order to accomplish this, I shop diligently at several places. It is true that I am a big fan of Eddie Bauer, Target, Old Navy and Forever 21. However, I receive greater shopping satisfaction from local stores, such as Goodwill and Barkin’ Barn.
There is a certain challenge within the realm of “thrifting” that causes me to be creative and flexible. Whether you are shopping for a blouse, skirt, jeans or shorts, it takes a certain amount of imagination to find what you are looking for in each piece.
The real treasure is when you make a purchase you hadn’t originally planned to make. A pair of red, white and teal plaid overalls — you bet I wear those every year at my camp’s talent show. A pair of khaki Eddie Bauer shorts, not only my favorite brand, but for $3.50? You can probably spot me wearing them nearly every day in the summer. Then there are the unique finds from T-shirts of events that you may or may not have actually attended.
Let’s get real. A huge perk of smart shopping is price. If I’m in a retail store, I go straight to the clearance racks in hopes of finding anything under $15. For that same amount you can buy a week’s worth of shirts at Goodwill. Trust me, I might have done this the entire second week of the semester.
The real thrill I receive in all of this is not about the clothes. Though I do appreciate the many colorful, humorous garments that I have acquired, I take pleasure in knowing that my purchases profit the needs of others. Helping people learn the importance of work and saving animals of the Searcy Animal Shelter by shopping at the Barkin’ Barn gives me much more incentive to buy an oversized sweater than any window display in a mall ever could.
I am grateful for this time in life when it is acceptable to wear jeans most days, or to have the freedom to express my personal taste through my scarf collection. For I know the days of appropriate work and business dress are soon to come. But for today, I can simply study and delight in my coral imported Egyptian cotton Jones New York cardigan for $2.50.
