At the thrift shop: How $20 can buy you a new wardrobe
Hit song rings true at area second-hand stores
Rappers Macklemore and Ryan Lewis aren’t the only ones popping tags and looking for some vintage clothes Granddad would wear.
Their multiplatinum hit “Thrift Shop” has become an anthem celebrating finding fashionable used clothes with only $20 in your pocket. The rap duo was everywhere at this year’s South by Southwest Music Festival.
Inspired by their catchy song that seems unavoidable right now, I went to five thrift shops around town with $20 in my pocket to see if it’s possible to find jaw-dropping fashions for mere bucks.
Goodwill
As the song goes, another man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up. Although you might not find a John Wayne fringe look-alike, you easily can walk away with the most basic shirts and pants. For only $20.54 I left clad in a sparkly, knit top from Loft, a pair of Old Navy brand jeans and a matching maroon clutch large enough for the essentials. If you’re in the hunt for some good accessories, don’t pass up this location, with most purses, sunglasses and the like averaging a little less than $5 per item.
Big Bertha’s Paradise
Contrary to its former name (Big Bertha’s Bargain Basement), Big Bertha’s is neither big nor in a basement, and no, I didn’t run into Bertha either. That being said, this might just be your treasure chest if you’re hunting for some unique vintage looks. A little more expensive than the others, Bertha’s makes up for its steep prices by offering classic pieces from the 1920s that are hard to come by at competing thrift stores. Although the cheapest item I found was a bangle for a little less than $20, the store is cozy, with an intimate selection. I ended up leaving with a $22 gold-and-black dress striped dress (think bumble bee, but with a modern twist), that I negotiated down from $28.
WHERE TO SHOP
St.Vincent De Paul, 1327 S. Congress Ave.512-442-5652, www.svdpstoreaustin.org
Buffalo Exchange, 2904 Guadalupe St. 512-480-9922, www.buffaloexchange.com
Top Drawer Thrift Shop, 4902 Burnet Road.512-454-5161, projecttransitions.org/services/topdrawer.html
Goodwill, 5555 N.Lamar Blvd. B100.512-451-2306, www.austingoodwill.org
Big Bertha’s Paradise, 112 E. North Loop Blvd.,512-444-5908