Styled Essence

Let’s talk about it.

Thrifting, as defined by Goodwill in Arizona, involves shopping at a thrift store, garage sale, or flea market, where used items are sold at discounted prices. It has become increasingly popular around the world, particularly in America and tourist cities abroad to thrift and scavenger for vintage finds.Vintage finds are items that are at least 20 years old but not over 100. These items tend to be more expensive due to their lasting value, rarity, and unique craft/creation, such as single-stitch sleeves on clothing or handmade furniture pieces and etc.

Now that, for those who didn’t know, you know the meanings of both, I’ve been recently researching a controversy that has emerged: Is it unfair for people who can afford brands like American Eagle to shop at thrift stores, which are traditionally meant for those who can’t afford new clothes and must buy second-hand items?

As to any other question the answer is yes and no. The Vintage Seeker article explains that many thrift stores, particularly independent ones, were once closely tied to local charities and community programs. This has led to the common belief that all thrift stores primarily exist to serve those who can’t afford to shop elsewhere. However, that’s no longer the only case. Some profit based thrift stores don’t sell items on behalf of charities but instead purchase donated goods in bulk at a flat rate from local charities. Once the charity receives this payment, it’s no longer involved. Plus, many of these stores also receive goods directly from the public, and purchasing those items doesn’t directly benefit any charity. With this trend, thrift store prices have become comparable to those of brand-new clothes, raising another question: Is thrifting still relevant and worth it in 2024-2025, or has it become just an aesthetic trend popular among teens and young adults?

Thrifting was once underrated for the opportunity to find vintage and out-of-date trends, but many would agree it has now gone too far. People tend to overshop because the low prices make it easy to justify, and gentrification has become an issue, where store managers may raise prices as thrift stores become more popular. Also, thrift flipping, where resellers exploit the item prices for the sake of their own profit, which undermines the original purpose of thrifting and these stores which I honestly don’t blame them for. You gotta do what you gotta do. However it leaves me wondering, how do we know if a leather jacket that’s now resold for $200 used to be $140 but was just slightly ripped and dirtied by the owner? That’s something that makes me raise an eyebrow and be cautious.

That said, it’s not entirely true that prices have risen primarily because of trends. Many articles argue that the price and value of everything have increased, so comparing items that used to cost 50 cents to a 10 dollar shirt today isn’t rational. Still, I believe some thrift markets inflate their prices to make a profit because it’s more convenient for them.

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Well known brands to look for and why.

I mostly dig for Harley Davidson shirts because they’re a vintage find, and I love how their shirts illustrate cities and countries from all over the world, which is really cool to me. I know a lot of people are on the hunt for JNCO jeans and shirts since it’s such an expensive brand, so finding something worth $40-$50 is a steal. They also represent an iconic fashion trend from the 90s, which is in style right now. Street style is super popular, and JNCO’s wide-legged jeans and cut-sleeve shirts fit perfectly into that look.

I don’t really shop for pants because it’s so hard to find ones that fit and that are exactly what I invisioned but everything can always be tailored and made to fit. Everything…I don’t care.

Vintage luxury brand purses can also be found for really cheap, and some are made with real leather. Scoring one of those would be a rare find and honestly, it might just feed your thrifting addiction !

I’ve also seen people find items from Aviator Nation, which has a more relaxed fit. Since it’s a pricey brand to resell, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for.

Essentials is another brand to look for, it’s minimalistic, but their hoodies go with everything. I’m still on the lookout for that!

As for boots, I wouldn’t recommend thrifting them most of the time since they’ve been worn before, and there’s a risk of them breaking or staining your socks, tights, etc. However, if you do find boots, the brand Aldo is great and very reliable, so they could last you a while and boots suit almost every outfit so I support!

At the end of the day, I personally love, love, love thrifting! It makes sense to me, and it’s also so entertaining and thrilling to search for something. When you find it, it feels like heaven, especially for those obsessed with fashion. Although some markets and stores overprice their goods a lot of the time somewhere, if you dig deep and hard enough, there is a gem hidden just for you.

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