Thursday, November 13, 2008

Everything's Better the Second Time Around

It's raining here and all week long I've been getting compliments on my new raincoat.

"New," as in, eight bucks at Goodwill. I keep hearing that the bad economy is putting a pinch on thrift stores, but so far I'm still uncovering treasures.

But a coworker tripped me up with his reason for steering clear of secondhand shops.

"I feel like I should leave the stuff for poor people who have no choice," he says.

I never thought of thrift stores as a social benefit we should preserve for those who need it most. For about two seconds, I actually felt guilty. Then I remembered that with my limited closet space, I donate as much to thrift stores as I buy. And besides, I'm usually buying the stuff nobody else wants because it's missing a name-brand and probably belonged to someone who's long been dead.

I suspect my coworker isn't being altruistic so much as hiding an aversion to wearing clothes that have been worn before. I tend to think it's good luck.

3 comments:

Jamie said...

You really are good at finding amazing clothes in thrift stores. I am never patient enough. I love the coat! I need a rain coat and can't fork over the 100 bucks for one. I could be 8 bucks though.

Anonymous said...

I wish you would watch for treasures for me because I freeze up when I walk in the door of DI! I think that you and Chris and Annie have magical eyes that see treasures where the rest of us see junk! Really cute.

Storm'n Normans said...

I dig the tights! I love the whole outfit!