Treasure Hunting: Pros and Cons

Today, I am going to explain each side of my treasure hunting style doubloon. Actually, screw the doubloon pirate reference. You know how I love brooches. I would rather explain both sides of the brooch. One side is glitzy, colorful, wonderful, and draws all the attention BUT the other.... is dark, not special, and has a giant sharp pin that can stick you, or even worse can snag your sweater yarns and ruin it! Oh the Tragedy! Shopping at discount and thrift stores has significant highs and lows. Treasure hunting. Pros and Cons. Here we go:

PROS:
1) Low Cost- I'm hard pressed to pay over $10 for anything and to pay over $20 it has to be really special. As long as you make sure it's high quality then there shouldn't be a problem. If you don't spend a lot of money on your clothes, you can play harder. So what if I accidentally destroyed these shorts with paint? They cost $6. And Surprise! Now they look good splattered with paint. With all the money you save on clothes you'll have lots more to spend on music and sushi.

2) Unique items- There is a ton of great stuff waiting to be discovered! Going to a thrift store is the only way to get neat vintage pieces without paying a ton of money. Afraid of showing up at a party wearing the same dress as that girl from your English class? Don't go to the mall. Go to Gabes. They probably only carry three of the totally rad dress you end up buying so chances are slim that little miss Chaucer worshiper will be wearing it. 

3) Fun- Going shopping with friends is always a good time but it can turn pretty silly when making outfits in a goodwill. And there have been so many times when I've found something and been amazed that it even exists on this planet.

4) Adventurous Outfits and Experience- Shopping should be an adventure. I like to be surprised by what I find. Sometimes you ask yourself, "What if I wore green corduroy pants? Would I wear them?" Well, buy them and find out! You can stretch your style range if there's nothing (as in no great expense) to hold you back. It's fun to improvise.

5) Forced Creativity- Many people are creative but don't use their talents. Treasure hunting forces you to be a little more creative to incorporate unique things into your wardrobe and stretch your imagination which is a good thing. Sometimes you are forced to see the potential in a dress that with a shorter hem line would be great. Don't be afraid to cut up and change things. If it's cheap and you accidentally ruin it then all you did was buy experience to use next time you plays clothes doctor. Because you've ended up with lime green high heels that you love, you will find a way to wear them. You have to!


CONS:
1) Trouble for impulse buyers-Yes, stuff is cheap but that can make it hard to say no. Know where to draw the line and make the tough choices. Yes, these cute suede boots come in four colors but you don't need all of them. You can't even wear suede year round. Calm down.

2) Hard to find specifics- There is some weird paradox which makes it impossible to find something when you're really hunting for it. I have been looking for a flesh-tone slip at Gabes for months. Months! Sure, I could get one somewhere else but then it would be more expensive and I won't wear it that much anyways. Something will turn up... someday.... I hope....

3) Time Consuming- You can get lost in a black hole of shopping. Everything is different so you have to take time to look at well...everything! And then it's pretty loosely organized at thrifty discount places so you never know where the gems are hiding. 

4) Must Carefully Inspect Treasures- Be careful! Sometimes there are holes or stains. Be sure to try on BOTH shoes. Example: One time at Gabes I was thrilled to find a pair of gold jazz shoes. The store was about to close and there was only this one pair. I normally wear a size 7 but these were size 8. I tried on the left shoe and it was a little big but only $3 and felt ok. I raced home and prepared to skip around in my silly new shoes but when I put on the right shoe, it turned out to be a size 9. What the hell?! I couldn't wear them. Broke my heart. I gave them to goodwill where they were bought by some weirdo with unevenly sized feet.

5) Buyers Remorse-Consider this your shopping hangover. After a shopping binge you might say "Oh craaaap! I really over did it last night. Nothing matches! And I'm running out of closet space! What am I going to do with all this stuff?!" Don't worry. Have bloody mary or a mimosa and go back to bed. Go shopping after your nap to feel better. (ha.) The reverse can also happen. Sometimes you talk yourself out of getting something and regret it. When you go back, it might (probably) will be gone and you'll be feeling blue about the one that got away.