If you bought a really nice outfit in a thrift or consignment store, and someone asked where you got it, what would you say?

I think the days of feeling any sort of 'shame' for purchasing second hand should be dealt one last final death blow! Now are the days of recycling, being thrifty. I think bragging about how cheap you got your outfit should be the next fashion statement.

I've been a thrift store clothes horse for years now, finding great fashions and clothes like Calvin Cline shirts and pants with the tags still on for $3. When you find deals like that... how can you go back to paying $60+ for similar items? Of course there are still the people who judge on a certain set of standards.

Let them have their opinion, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

I agree with you DS, Bunny and Sambqt. This is a very responsible and awesome thing, and the more we can de-shame it and normalize it in the minds of people who think it's "embarrassing", the better. They are probably the same people who are still hosing down their paving when it gets dirty, etc.So in the words of the comedian, Jimeoin, I would feel happier not drawing attention to how expensive a new item was with pride, but proclaiming a secondhand item happily and saying "Seven dollars fifty!

BARGAIN!

I often shop at thrift or consignment stores, and I've never been ashamed to admit it. I'm a strong believer that a responsible consumer of the bounty of the earth takes only what they need. Not only am I saving money shopping at thrift stores, the money I spend goes toward helping those in need.

Not to mention the resources my shopping habits save in the manufacture of goods and transporting them to the market place. Congratulations on trying to educate your friend. I agree that it is sad that so many feel they can judge without giving a matter full thought.

I would be surprised she looked at you funny at all. Unless she has been in another world these last few years, being frugal is the best way to save money these economic hard times. I'd be proud, like you were, that you are able to put together such a nice outfit for practically nothing.

Phooey on her! Congrats to you!

I'd just say what I normally say -- that it was a gift. It's not that I'm ashamed of it or anything, mind you. I don't really feel comfortable saying where I bought my clothes in the first place, regardless of where I got them.

I've never had anyone push after I said this, so it'd probably get the job done and avoid embarrassment.

I would say where I bought it. I never really care about what other people think of me. I don't do things for them or to impress others.

I buy used cars so whats the difference.

Sorry to hear that the person you talked to about your great purchase was apparently so closed minded. I think it’s great luck to find an awesome outfit for such a low price, even if it was second hand. I have purchased items in thrift stores and consignment stores before, and although I never bought articles of clothing yet, I did find some great buys in the children’s toy and book section, movies, CD’s, software, and other goodies.

Most if not all were in very good condition and some were even brand new, never used, and still in their original packaging. And best of all I got them for a tiny fraction of the original price. Did I tell anybody they were second hand items from a thrift store?

Well, most people never asked me, but I did – very proudly – let some of my friends know about my awesomely cheap finds and referred them to the thrift store I shopped at. Some of my friends actually went there and purchased items for their own children as well and nobody ever frowned upon the fact that I bought used items. I have also hosted a number of yard/garage sales in the past few years and I have to say that the turn-out rate was always tremendous.

Most of our neighbors came by and shopped our goodies. None were too good or too embarrassed even to check out what we had to sell. Some were even pretty interested in certain items, such as our baby clothing (most of which was rarely to never used).

Overall, many people shopped at yard sales, good-deal hunting, and no one was judged for doing so. Just because something is second hand, does not automatically make it second class. It could be brand new and never used.

Somebody may have bought it just weeks or months before, realized he/she did not need it or could not use it after all, and made the decision to sell it at an upcoming yard sale or at a consignment store for some profit, after being unable to return it to the store (or online website) for a refund. When I go shopping for clothing, I am the type of person who first scans the sales racks to make see whether great clothing I saw in the store previously are already on sale. Sometimes I luck out and find nice items for half or a quarter of the original price.

Other times I am not so lucky. However, I do have enough sense to set my spending limits to a certain amount (for example no more than $25-$30 for a shirt and no more than $40 for a pair of pants – and that’s already too much). I prefer to get more for my money and not spend enormous amounts on any one particular item.

I do value quality articles, but I know enough to touch-test the fabric to determine whether the article would quickly fade, wear out, or fuzz out after repeated washing. I am willing to pay a bit more for higher quality articles, but not so much to where I have to ask myself “Do I really need this piece of clothing so badly to have to spend so much money for it? €?.

I wouldn't be concerned about the opinion of anyone so shallow that they value overpriced new clothing over thrift store bargains. Like you, I would proudly brag about my bargain. My husband has a very wealthy friend who loves to bargain hunt at garage sales and brags about the deals he gets.

Everyone knows he can afford to pay top dollar for anything he wants, but they find it fascinating that he is a bargain hunter.

As some of you may have expected, I'll play devil's advocate here. The reputation of a business is always the business's responsibility to maintain and improve. Most thrift stores just don't care how they are viewed.

How knowledgeable are the sales people? How much do they help you? I've never been in a Thrift store where anyone made it their business to make sure I had the best experience possible.

If you had a bad experience at a Thrift store, how far would they really go to make it up to you? To be fair, I hear there are some amazing thrift stores in California with great fashions and professional sales people. Personally though, I've never been in one.

If I got an item that I loved at a thrift store, I'd wear it. However, if someone asked me where I got it I'd probably dodge the question. Also, just to be clear, I view items on consignment to be a completely different ballgame.

I'd buy consignment items all day long.

I'm proud to say I'm smart enough to shop thrifty.. people who feel everything has to be new to be good will die in the apocalypse lol ..makes me feel better when folks are snobby to me.

Well I would say that a freind or relative gave it to me. I probably would say this because I would not know where to buy it.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.