Required to Dress Professionally
My job has a dress code. Employees are required to dress
professionally. In the last two or three years, state and federal budget cuts
have reduced my income. This income reduction means fewer clothing purchases at
the store. I have always liked to bargain shop for clothes, but it has been
more of a hobby than a necessity. Now, I find myself bargain shopping out of
necessity.
Where to Look For a Bargain
·
Thrift stores - Thrift stores are usually run by
volunteers and the clothing sizes are
roughly organized into sections. Great bargains can be found, but you
generally have to spend some time searching for them. Good Will and Salvation Army
are nationally known, not for profit, thrift stores. Most of these stores are fairly
well organized. I shop at both.
·
Resale shops - Resale shops usually, but not always, sell on consignment
for individuals. Generally, a consignment store will not accept clothing from low-end
retailers, or stores with names that end in "mart."
·
Yard sales - Look for subdivisions where professionals
and career people live. Professional and career people are great about selling
off their excess clothing for $5 or less. Citywide yard sales are a good place
to look for quality, second hand clothing, too.
Determine Your Color Range
If you sort your clothing by color before washing it, you
already know what your color range is. Don't sort your clothes? Then look
through your clothing and see what colors dominate your drawers and closet. My
color preferences change by number of
items in a certain color, but I always
have clothes in the range listed below.
·
Slacks and skirts in - black, brown, sage and
olive green, navy, or gray.
·
Blazers, jackets, or cardigans - black, dark
red, brown, gray, or navy
·
Blouses in solids or prints - yellow, green, pink, blue, dark red, or
brown
·
Purses in bright colors - lime green, turquoise,
red, ivory, or purple
Layering bright colors and prints with neutrals, such as
black, navy, brown, and gray, is such a fun way to add color to clothing. My
favorite way to use bright colors is with blouses and purses. An occasional
print skirt and dress also hang in the closet, but each one is in my color
range.
Let the Scanning Begin!
When I approach a clothing rack, I locate my size. I know this
seems like elementary information, but experience with thrift store
organization leads me to tell you this. Sometimes it can take a few minutes to
find your size... Start scanning for prints and solids, within your color
range, that will match clothing you already own. When you locate a suitable
item, remove it from the rack, and examine it. Look for two things on the label
or labels
·
First, what brand is it? - I have several brands
that I look for because the clothing fits me well.
·
Second, is it wash and wear? - Dry cleaning is
not in my budget, but skip this step if you can afford the cleaning bill. I
will pass up a bargain if a garment requires ironing. Ironing is not my least favorite task, but it is in the
bottom five.
Examine the complete item - front, back, and sides - for wear,
small stains, manufacturing defects, snagged threads, missing buttons, or torn
fabric. If a button is missing from a jacket, blouse, or cardigan, look for a
replacement button or two on the inside of the garment. I do not know how many
times I have found the replacement button(s) in place, ready for use. Yes,
there are people who will get rid of clothing because the button fell off; even when the manufacturer stitched a replacement
button onto the inside of the clothing. Frugality is genetic in my family
so I truly do not understand this.
Sorry, I did not mean to be sidetracked. Where was I? Oh,
now that you have thoroughly examined the garment and it is defect free; go try
it on and look it over again. Now
that you are happy with the fit of your bargain find, either pay for it or put
it on the checkout counter before continuing your bargain hunting. I always need two hands to skim through
clothing racks.
$1.89 Outfit
Earlier this week, on my way home from the post office, I
read a new sign; Crazy Lady's Resale Shop. Happily, I stopped to see
what bargains I might find in this new shop. Quickly (the hubby was at home
waiting for the mail), I scanned the clothing racks for career clothing. A
tropical print blouse, in subdued blues and greens, caught my eye; I removed it
from the rack. The tag revealed that it was from JC Penney's and was in almost
new condition. Swiftly (remember the hubby was waiting for me to bring the mail
home), I placed the blouse on the checkout counter. Returning to the clothing
racks, I continued skimming through the clothes until a pair of gray slacks
caught my eye. My heart beat happily; I just knew these slacks belonged with the blouse I had already found. A
quick check of the label verified my guess; the slacks were from JC Penney's
and matched the blouse. At the checkout counter, the cashier announced my
total,"$1.89." Wow, a two-piece outfit, in excellent shape, for $1.89.
I could not wait to get home and show Bill my new outfit and give him the mail.
Three for $5.00
Two days later, on my way home from a family visit, I
stopped at another resale shop that supports a ministry, God's Hand Extended;
in Owensville, MO. Guess what I found? My scanning revealed a brand-new, black and white cardigan from
Macy's, a like-new, red and black floral blouse in my favorite style, AND a
crocheted tablecloth in my favorite color, celadon. Total cost of the three
items? $5.00.
My plan: Pair these two with black slacks or skirt, and layer with a black or white shell. The red and black top is formal enough for a special occasion.
Tell Me About Your Best Bargain Find
Are you ready to start your own bargain adventure among the
clothing racks of your local resale shop, thrift store, or yard sale? Remember, bargain shopping should be FUN!
Leave a comment and tell me about your
best bargain find.
