A Skeptic Finds Salvation (Army)

On May 27 at 12:12pm, Donna wrote:

I kind of thought that uber-successful thrift shopping was limited to thin petite pretty girls like you.

I was proven wrong when I took a trip to my local Salvation Army. I was able to snag two dresses for a total of $7! The first one was a $3.50 black, white and red not too mini number that was perfect for a wedding I was attending soon. I paired it with a clutch from a Goodwill from years ago and a pair of Mia high-heel sandals that I got on clearance and damage discount for $27. I must’ve looked in 10 stores and many more online to find the perfect current sandals, but I didn’t want to pay more than say $50. Keep in mind that I was toting along two toddlers the whole time! After debuting this outfit, people are asking to go shopping with me!

Donna’s snagging two dresses for $7, TOTAL, is a feat even I haven’t achieved (yet). That she managed to do so with two toddlers in tow is an accomplishment beyond my conception (read: children fear me). The Salvation Army dress + Goodwill clutch + reduced-reduced-reduced price sandals exemplifies the notion of a truly Cheap JAPtastic outfit I am DYING to see (hint hint – bust out the camera, girlfriend), one clearly fab enough to merit public acclaim.

(Note: The public response to any given outfit is only to be taken seriously if it positively reinforces said outfit. Those ‘comedians’ delivering really witty one-liners in US Weekly’s Fashion Victims section? Fuck ‘em. Critics – regardless of whether or not they target celebrities or women on the street – aren’t fashion experts: They’re people too chicken shit to wear what they really want. Moving on…).

All that being said, what I’m most impressed by here isn’t how little Donna spent on her dress, or how well she put her outfit together, or that she’s now obvs a bonafide shopping guru. What I’m most impressed by is her willingness to take a chance on thrift in spite of her preconceived notions about it, and about shopping in general.

I’m well aware of how alienating my size can be: Easy for her to claim anyone can shop thrift, what the fuck would she know about shopping for a larger frame? I hate that shopping as we know it is designed to help women my size and hurt those who aren’t, and I hate Fashion for making it so. This is exactly why I’m such a fan of shopping secondhand. What you see in a thrift store doesn’t resemble what you see in a magazine; it reflects a mishmash of tastes, brands, styles and SIZES of real, live women. Seeing as what’s on those racks has actually been worn by real, live women, and seeing as the average American woman’s a size 14 (NBD, obvs), there’s actually more merchandise to choose from if you’re NOT my size. Where all of our varying sizes are concerned, there’s no place more inclusive than the world of the gently worn. I’m thrilled that Donna found this to be the case. And I hope her ability to strap on a pair and go for it inspires you to do the same.

A big fat MWAH for the Sharesies. Loves it.