Thrifting is the “New” Neiman Marcus

We live in a place where repurpose, recycle, reuse and refresh are the millennial norm.

Second hand is not just for octogenarians and the budget conscious anymore.

According to you-tubers…..

Everyone who is anyone, including celebs in dark sunnies, are out finding something old to start a trend or to follow one. Take the“Original Levi’s High-Waist Mom Jeans” sought after in LA as a wardrobe status item. French girls loved them too, rolled up with a sheer lacy blouse and heels or pointed toe flats. In Portland, I went into a store completely dedicated to these specific jeans. BTW, pretty much only tall models and younger things seem to look good in these. I confess, I tried the old trend again. I just looked like I was wearing baggy shapeless, crotch lumpy, lift and separate, mom jeans, but without muffin top.

It is just so on point, to wear a vintage designer gown for an event or a second-hand Chanel bag when shopping. There are trendy areas of consignment shops and even Designer Goodwill Stores. They don’t have serious designers, but they do have better quality items at a ridiculously higher price point. With the increase in videos about how and where to get your haul on, even the traditional Goodwill stores have gotten pricey.

Now as a good mentor, I seasonally cull my wardrobe by bagging any items that I have become disenchanted with. Maybe I was caught up in a moment of insanity when I purchased that faux fur jacket. Football and cold shoulder, neckline frills, items that looked fine in the store but made me look frumpy, lumpy and stretched in the harsh light of my bedroom mirror. So, I bag or box and place these pieces in holding.

In the past, my younger sister got all my hand-me overs, maybe Goodwill. If they were a bit longer, they were perfect for her. In recent days, the kid has blossomed into a vision of 22 year old perfection. As it should be. If you aren’t near perfect at 22 when you wake up, there is possibly no hope for your goddess future. Right after that collagen loss starts. We are almost the same size. Unfortunately for me, whenever we do those “Who Wore It Better” photos, I lose by 85%. She puts on a vintage inspired midi dress and she looks retro cute with her doc’s. Me, I just look like I got out of some religious cult in the hills of Utah or like the image of my Grandma Minnie on her farm, in a black and white photo from the 40’s. Another dress to go in the to go pile.

Who would have thought that “the kid” and her cousin would decide it was a good idea to rummage through my pile of discards. Not only do they thrift regularly, but they collect, restyle and repurpose. They make my losers seem so much more than wearable. So, I pass them onto her. I justify the dollars spent. Downside is, sister only gets the picked over, leftovers, so almost nothing left for Miami Sister anymore.

I do however, sleep better knowing that I am doing my part. I am keeping things fresh and free for others, with my fails. I am a contributing member of the refresh, repurpose and reuse thrifting world. Who said we can’t change our ways?