I forgot to mention my LJ anniversary at the start of October, six years, but really, I am closer to a better date to mark: three years ago this week, I made my first Sunday Style entry. I think they lasted for about a year and a half before most everything of what I posted had a sartorial lean to it…
I should mention that my brain is most often occupied with thoughts of thrifting and clothing these days. It came from a place of economy and solving boredom on a budget, and I am wholly okay with the process of it all.
In keeping with that, I have thought a good bit of late on how my experiences with thrift stores over the past three years has shifted my sense of budget, value and cost. I think it is fair to say that I spend approximately ten to twenty dollars a week at various thrift stores. When I think I need to save money, I look at that being most of my discretionary spending and consider cutting it. Then I add it up. Forget the fact that housewares and sometimes furniture are in the mix, and let’s say it is all clothing. That would be 500-1000 USD a year on the wardrobe. How far does that go in low-end department stores. High-end…? After that thought, I sit a bit better with it, especially knowing that there is other spending that I don’t yet track as well as my thrifting…
Let’s talk about neckties as a demonstration of value and cost. I do understand the value of things I find for almost nothing. I do, but it changes the price I am willing to pay for things. As for neckties, if I find a spectacular woven-pattern silk tie, I may pay up to four bucks for it. That is rare; I often pay one buck apiece for them. I consider that standard. The ties I pick up at the DAV are most often five for a dollar…
Yesterday, I stopped at this teeny, tiny little store just a bit away from where I am staying. It can be a bit trashy and I don’t look through much other than the ties. They had been out of neckties for two weeks. Yesterday, they had restocked. I bought ten ties, totaling ten dollars. They are exquisite ties in excellent condition. Some good names.
Out of curiosity, I googled some of the labels and checked average prices. The lowest cost of any tie in the bunch new would have afforded me thirty-five ties at a buck a piece. The best find in the haul was a gorgeous Burberry tie. It is hard to price their ties out of the current season. At the moment their site shows nothing but skinny ties, of which I am not such a fan, but they sell for 145 USD…
Somewhere in all of this is the core of my warped sense of value and cost and budget. I feel I am being ridiculous in how much time and money I invest in clothing, but then I step back and look at the rest of the world and realize how much so my thrifting allows me to dress outside of my means… It has left me unable to enjoy shopping in department stores. I mean, window-shopping, fine, but who actually wants to pay that much for poorly made things…? Bother.
I shop at discount stores (like Marhall’s, Burlington, TJ Maxx) for socks and undergarments. That is about it. And still I shop at Gordman’s and Big Lots! and such…
And sport coats…? I have so many at this point, that I rarely look at any that cost more than a quarter, and if so, they have to be stunning and unlike any I already have, and made to fit me perfectly…
I have become spoiled, I know this, but spoiling oneself on a shoestring budget seems an okay way to go.
I have the day off from work. So, I shall go out and about and celebrate three years of heightened style. On the list are socks, a-shirts, and I will stop into a Maj-R Thrift in the area, looking for a deal…
*smooch*
gryphon's hole 