Top 5 Reasons to Shop at Thrift Stores

As I've noted before, I'm a bit of a thrift store diva. However, I know that some people are skeptical of going to thrift stores because of this strange stigma that hangs over used clothes. In case you needed more convincing, here's a list of reasons why you should at least try secondhand shopping.

Top 5 Reasons to Shop at Thrift Stores

1. Cheap. This is really the best reason to shop at thrift stores. You can save a ton of money by getting slightly (or not at all) used clothing. With this economy, we can all use whatever money we can save, and thrift stores are a great way to do it.
2. Charity. Many thrift stores are not for profit. My local thrift store is also the food shelf, and the proceeds go to helping lower-income households in my community. The Salvation Army runs a ton of thrift stores, but whether or not you support them can often depend on your feelings about their moral compass which lists highly toward the Christian. The point is that you can find charity thrift stores almost everywhere and help someone out while finding your crazy new clothes.
3. Creativity. I, personally, wouldn't cut up a new dress to completely redesign it, but thrift store shopping encourages you to do just that. You can cut the bodice off a dress to make a skirt or chop the sleeves off a blouse. You can dye whatever you like black, if that suits your fancy. What you're getting aren't just clothes; they're raw materials.
4. Unique Items. Chances are, whatever you bought at the thrift store will not be on the racks anywhere. It might be twenty or thirty years old, a brand you've never heard of, or something handmade. You'll have the only one of whatever-it-is.
5.  Tradition. Most subcultures have a long history of thrift store shopping or secondhand buying. If you, like me, are into off-kilter fashion, then there is a historical precedent for shopping at thrift stores. The elder goths have done it, Lolitas have done it, steampunks have definitely done it. If they could found a fashion on thrift store shopping and DIY, you can continue it.