As college students, we can’t always afford brand new clothes each season. Luckily, there’s a solution. We recycle paper, plastic and glass, but thrift stores and consignment shops are a great way to recycle clothes as well. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The Geneseo area is home to some great shops, like Frugal Fashionista on Main Street and Goodwill on Lakeville Road. These stores offer a decent selection of clothing - sometimes including brand names like Hollister and American Eagle - for very good prices. Instead of paying $40 or more for a new pair of jeans, you can purchase a secondhand pair that looks almost new for about $7 at Goodwill. Can you say bargain?
While Goodwill is a thrift store to which anyone can donate used items, Frugal Fashionista is a consignment shop, which is slightly different. The store only accepts brand-name clothing that’s in excellent condition.
Something great about both Goodwill and Frugal Fashionista is that they tend to arrange their clothing in color order. This way, it will take less time for you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
When you go thrifting, you want to make sure you try everything on before you buy it, as you would at a normal clothing store. You should also inspect the item carefully for any stains or tears that may be difficult to fix.
The blog “Thrift Store Confidential” urges you to take your time when shopping at secondhand stores. With some patience, you might just find an item perfect for you. If you find something you’re not sure about, don’t forget to hold on to it. If you put it down, someone else might find it, and unlike retail stores, there aren’t more in the back.
At both Goodwill and Frugal Fashionista you can find fall essentials like sweaters and hooded sweatshirts in a variety of colors, long sleeve T-shirts and skinny jeans. Head over to one of these shops, and expand your wardrobe without spending a fortune.