Thrift Shop

Some of you are aware of my Thrift Shop fetish; meaning I love it. I’m not exactly sure when it started, but I know I was aware of the value of Thrift Shopping a long time ago but didn't really “get it” until I lost 40lbs and needed a new wardrobe on, like, NO budget.

Recently I heard this song (that apparently came out last summer but either I didn’t hear it then or I didn't get what they were talking about) Thrift Shop and it has been absolutely cracking me up because, Hella yo, I can totally get all up in that...

And here are my reasons why. 

1. I only look expensive.

One of my BFFs used to say this all the time and I didn't really get it. Then one day I was shopping and found some Lucky brand jeans for $6.99 and my first thought was, HOLY CRAP! That was a fun day. 

Then it kept happening...

2. The Geiger

XX years ago I went on Study Abroad to London and part of our experience was three weeks of trekking in Europe, including Austria. I was kind of a dummy back in the day and had no clue about name brands and whatnot (jury’s out on whether that was a bad thing). So while my counterparts were shopping up a storm at Harrods and Portobello Road (my only reference being Bedknobs and Broomsticks, mind you) I was wandering clueless in Benetton and Laura Ashley. Then we went to Salzburg and everyone was buying a Geiger. I went to the Geiger store along with all the other tourists students and fell in love. I found the most beautiful pink Geiger sweater you will ever set your eyes on. I actually didn’t care that it was a “name brand” (it is?) I just loved it… but not being a card-carrying daddy’s girl like my friends, I had to say no to the Geiger. Either that or I would still be stuck in Paris—and since my 3-day stint in that lovely “city of light” was neither romantic nor even enjoyable (don’t get me started!) I did not even consider the prospect of being stranded in Paris for overspending my budget. NoThankYou!

Fast forward xx years and I am in Thrift-Shopping-Weekly mode (because I kept dropping sizes, doggoneit!) and EUREKA! I know they didn’t know what they had! I just know it because I found a lovely Geiger, in a beautiful shade of blue, with my name on it; aka $3.99. Yes. I’m not kidding. ::sigh:: college trauma healed.

3. People really give away this stuff?

Which leads me to my next “Are you serious?” thought that people really give away some amazing stuff! My BFF found me a Gucci jacket. Gucci, people. Most everything I get is in nearly mint condition and if it isn’t, well I don’t get it. Just because it’s a name doesn’t mean it’s a deal if there’s a mustard/ketchup/chocolate -orHeavenForbid- Blood stain on it; that is not a deal. And I am not completely about brand name but occasionally it’s nice to “look expensive” when you know you spent more on your shoes and the dry cleaning then you did on your whole ensemble!

And the last two tips? When to just say no…

4. Say no to the shoes.

I have bought shoes at the Thrift store, but most of the time I end up getting rid of them so I’ve stopped. We once found an adorable pair of Roxy wedges with the tags still on and that was acceptable but generally speaking I have found that shoes are not something you can get clean enough. Just saying…


5. & No to the lingerie.

Do I really need to explain this? Underwear, bras, nighties, swimsuits. Ew. The only exceptions are when a thrift store will get a donation of brand new items (i.e.; panties & socks still in the packaging) but even then I am cautious. There are just some things no amount of bleach can remove the “ick factor” from.

And finally… The song… I’ve tried to clean it up a bit but it’s still a little crude.

You’ve been warned.

(My favorite parts have been highlighted… enjoy!)

Thrift Shop 

by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Hey, Macklemore! Can we go thrift shopping? 

I'm gonna pop some tags 

Only got twenty dollars in my pocket 

I'm hunting, looking for a come-up 

This is freaking awesome 

Nah, Walk up to the club like, "What up, I got a big d__k!" 

I'm so pumped about some stuff from the thrift shop 

Ice on the fringe, it's so damn frosty 

That people like, "Damn! That's a cold ass honkey." 

Rollin' in, hella deep, headin' to the mezzanine, 

Dressed in all pink, 'cept my gator shoes, those are green 

Draped in a leopard mink, girls standin' next to me 

Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly's sheets 

(Piiisssssss) 

But shoot, it was ninety-nine cents! (Bag it) 

Coppin' it, washin' it, 'bout to go and get some compliments 

Passin' up on those moccasins someone else's been walkin' in 

But me and grungy freaking it man 

I am stuntin' and flossin' and 

Savin' my money and I'm hella happy that's a bargain, B 

I'ma take your grandpa's style, I'ma take your grandpa's style, 

No for real - ask your grandpa - can I have his hand-me-downs? (Thank you) 

Velour jumpsuit and some house slippers 

Dookie brown leather jacket that I found diggin' 

They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard 

I bought a skeet blanket, then I bought a kneeboard 

Hello, hello, my ace man, my Mello 

John Wayne ain't got nothing on my fringe game, hell no 

I could take some Pro Wings, make them cool, sell those 

The sneaker heads would be like "Aw, he got the Velcros" 

What you know about rockin' a wolf on your noggin? 

What you knowin' about wearin' a fur fox skin? 

I'm digging, I'm digging, I'm searching right through that luggage 

One man's trash, that's another man's come-up 

Thank your granddad for donating that plaid button-up shirt 

'Cause right now I'm up in her skirt 

I'm at the Goodwill, you can find me in the (Uptons) 

I'm not, I'm not sick of searchin' in that section (Uptons) 

Your grammy, your aunty, your momma, your mammy 

I'll take those flannel zebra jammies, second-hand, I rock that . 

The built-in onesie with the socks on that . 

I hit the party and they stop in that . 

They be like, "Oh, that Gucci - that's hella tight." 

I'm like, "Yo - that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt." 

Limited edition, let's do some simple addition 

Fifty dollars for a T-shirt - that's just some ignorant B 

I call that getting swindled and pimped 

I call that getting tricked by a business 

That shirt's hella dough 

And having the same one as six other people in this club is a hella don't 

Peep game, come take a look through my telescope 

Trying to get girls from a brand? Man you hella won't 

Man you hella won't 

(Goodwill... poppin' tags... yeah!) 

I wear your granddad's clothes 

I look incredible 

I'm in this big ass coat 

From that thrift shop down the road 

Is that your grandma's coat?