There goes Suz, proving her INFJ-ness. LOL...

LOL, Jeneva!! So true.

Yes, Shannon -- I would say the thrifted or consigned items must be truly good items. The fit must be good (or possible to make perfect with only minor adjustments, e.g. hemming or tapering...no overhauls, sleeve removals, etc.)

Here are my personal benchmarks:

1. Thrifted item must be something that I genuinely want to wear RIGHT NOW (or for an already known-about occasion, e.g. a fancy party). Perhaps even more so than with my full price purchases, if I'm not eager to wear it out of the bag, it probably won't earn its cost, even if the cost is less than $10.

2. Thrifted items are best as "extras" vs. wardrobe essentials. True, sometimes you'll find an essential like a terrific pair of pants or a pencil skirt or whatever at a thrift store. But typically, thrift and consignment store money is best spent on those extras that you otherwise simply could not afford or might not permit yourself to buy...e.g. my suede skirt. When I am in consignment and thrift stores I definitely keep an eye out for those perfect essentials, but my main goal is to find something "fun." This is my version of fast fashion. It is RECYCLED fashion....and after a season, I feel no guilt in recycling it again.

3. Thrifted item must not be bought simply for the sake of buying something. This one, admittedly, is tough. A lot of times I think we go thrifting (or discount shopping) in search of some retail therapy more than in search of filling an actual need or even a deep want. We just know we get a thrill from the "find" or the "deal" and we think we will come home with that magic piece that will give our wardrobe the zing it seems at that moment to lack (or give us the zing we lack).

Well, truthfully, if you set and keep to a thrifting budget, maybe it's okay to buy for the sake of buying. It doesn't hurt anybody (after all, it's recycled, not even bad for the environment, really) and if it makes us happy, so what?

The problem comes in when it DOESN't make us happy, when we end up feeling wasteful for not wearing the things, or weak for giving in to an impulse, or silly for spending on something trivial when we could have waited and got something more substantial.

When I first started visiting the thrift and consignment shops last year, my wardrobe was so sparse, I was so unused to shopping, I had so little idea of my wants or needs, that I just felt awful if I didn't come home with SOMEthing...even if it wasn't great. With the help of YLF I have become much more picky about my thrifting, but even now it is tough for me to walk away sometimes with nothing. I do think I am making progress, though. The last four times I was in the consignment store I walked away without a single pang when nothing called out to me. I am looking for quality now, even in my consignment stuff.

Does that make sense?

Oh dear! I am just starting my first cup of coffee and this thread is so perfect for me, I need to read it again later. Shannon, I think Suz is really on the money (hee hee?). The real challenge is to go into a thrift/consignment store and only buy the really worthwhile things - which means leaving empty handed most of the time. My best, most loved and used items are second hand and I fund my purchases by thrifting and selling and it is a truly relaxing hobby for me so I am no where near considering stopping. Nonetheless, I am trying to be super picky about my wardrobe and not fritter away my "profits" on a bunch of stuff that will soon be in the purge category. AND instead of buying a bunch of random stuff I used my entire budget last month to buy the Anyi Lu booties (which went on sale) that I have been lusting after since Angie posted them last July - which I still have not received since my re-shipper sent them the slowest possible way (thanks Mom). Sorry for going on and on, I knew I should wait until I drank my coffee.

ETA: "It is RECYCLED fashion....and after a season, I feel no guilt in recycling it again."

I mean to say I SHOULD feel no guilt. Of course I DO still feel guilt. Heck, I spent money on myself, didn't I? Even if it was pennies?

well, I hereby vow to remind myself NOT to feel guilty, and to allow myself to recycle if I am sick of the stuff after a season. And, on that note, I have several jackets to take to consignment.

Chuckling at Shevia. I can't wait to see your new booties!

Shannon, I fully support your new strategy. I can't begin to tell you how much thrifted stuff ends up being passed on when I review closets. Please do not misunderstand me - thrifting has the potential to be fabulous and rewarding - but there is an art to it and it's easy to fall into the "well it only costs $10" mentality - which means lots of okay stuff, lots of dated stuff and nothing killer.

Me too, Angie, me too!

I'm in! Like Janet, it's not thrift stores, but Marshall's, TJ Maxx, etc. I've bought so many cheap, but good enough items over the years that I had forgotten that there's an alternative: buying items that you love that *aren't* at the discount store or on the department store clearance rack. Since joining YLF, I've started buying some higher quality items and not letting a low price be my decision point. I've even managed to choke down a couple of full-price items. ;p

I went to Marshalls today, but I didn't see any contenders for purchase. Not even close. I think what happens is when you stop settling for second-best, you stop wanting to settle. I am content to go home empty-handed than buy something that doesn't make me feel fab.

I'm still purging the things I don't love, which hurts a bit because some items I've never worn. It's a slow process because they need replacements and I still haven't found anything I love. But I'm trying to be patient this time around.

ETA: I did actually thrift a blazer (my first thrift store clothing purchase). It's wool and a nice charcoal grey with pink and white pinstripes. I worry, because I don't get excited about wearing it. I think the fit is off...it's probably too big. But it was a bargain. I'm going to try wearing it again tomorrow and see how I feel.

Shannon, I have only had time to skim the comments but I will go back and read properly this evening. I think you touched on it here but my comment relates to us developing a keen eye and being disciplined. I am doing my best to apply the same criteria to thrifted items as I do new items. Just as an example, two items I have thrifted in the past 12 months are very active and valuable members of my wardrobe (pics below - the jackets - oh and thereare my yellow vintage loafers in #1)I love these as much as I love some of my "new" more pricey peices. I LOVE shopping. DH says if it was an olympic sport, I would be a gold medal holder! And I love shopping everywhere! YLF has taught me discipline and discernment. I rarely come home with things from thirft stores now, but when I do, I am confident of my choice. I know you enjoy shopping and you have a very good eye, perhaps it's just the discipline part and overcoming the intitial emotional response to a garment that needs working on? Having said that, I encourage and support you which ever way you decide to approach this

Great advice from Suz, and I like that it gives you the permission to still thrift occasionally

Deborah's extra strict criteria for thrifting sounds really wise. I also love a good scour of the Goodwill, but am training myself to be extra picky in the dressing room. I do NOT need to bring home an alterations project, or anything that's pretty good. (I have plenty of pretty good in my closet already

One thing I might add to thrifting (especially for me) would be 1-in-1-out. If something is worthy of coming home with you from the thrift store, maybe it should be SO worthy that you have something else to kick out to make room. . .

"I know you enjoy shopping and you have a very good eye, perhaps it's just the discipline part and overcoming the intitial emotional response to a garment that needs working on?"

Deborah - are you in my head? I think you have spelled it out precisely. I do have emotional responses to clothing and I often will choose a piece not thinking out clearly how it will play with the rest of my wardrobe and if it really fits properly.

Angie - I knew you would support me in this! We've talked about this before I think.

I want to thank all of you for chiming in on this thread. This has given me A LOT to think about. As much as I like the idea of sticking to a thrifting budget I've decided that for now, I'm not going to thrift at all. I really NEED to see how I do without it - do I shop that way because I truly enjoy it or am I using thrifting to fill other emotional needs? I feel that a quit cold turkey approach is required right now and then I'll revisit the issue later when my mind is more clear on it. Does that make sense?

Yes, Shannon, it makes lots of sense to me.

After all, you do not actually NEED anything at the moment, and your budget allows you to buy full price, in fact, so you are not in a situation like some others who MUST shop at thrift or discount (or not buy anything at all).

Another solution of mine is simply not to go to those shops....this is in fact what I have largely been doing this season. Once I stop going for a while I don't miss it. But I do shop more online. Not necessarily buying...but looking. I rarely pull the trigger.

Yep, that's what I'm going to do Suz - not go into those shops.

Excellent Shannon - I think you are on the right track!!

Shannon, I am late to this, but I wanted to chime in to say that I think taking the rest of the winter off thrifting is still a good idea.

Now, I do think Suz's plan is perfect for the long haul! But as a self-professed thrifting addict who has actually stopped going to the favorite swap meet for a few months, it really does help to go cold turkey for a bit. I think even that $20 per month keeps us a little bit tied to the cycle of getting something new all the time. It might make it easier to sock that $20 away for a big purchase if you aren't jonesing, you know?

Shannon, I think taking a break and going cold turkey sounds like what you need to do right now. It might give you clarity on what you're really getting out of the thrift store experience.

I thrift but I only go with my sister when she's in town and has extra time. Since she lives 4 hours away that equals only 3 or 4 times a year. When I go with my sister she can talk me out of buying something that doesn't fit perfect (and me to her). Sisters are harsh critics. I also never shop for wardrobe essentials at the thrift store - it's just for fun stuff.

Like Janet and Henley, my problem spots are Ross and Marshall's. They're right next door to where we go for doggy training. I do not need to buy another "cute for Ross" shirt or nifty spatula. Mind, I've gotten things I really like at both places - including my navy patent Me Too pumps, which are an MVP for me this year. But I keep going in looking for chunky sweaters when these stores favor a different type of sweater. I'm pretty sure I've shopped Ross & Marshall's out, for right now at least.

You would be proud of me today...I dropped stuff off at the consignment but walked away with NOTHING.

It was easy, actually. I just raised my standards super high. Told myself the only thing I'd come home with would be a great silk scarf in a colour I want (if they had it) or a REALLY high end item (e.g. the Theory trousers I got for free a while back). They had nothing even remotely resembling these, so I left with nothing.

With all of my weight loss my wardrobe for the last year has been 70% thrifted and 30% clearance. I would go broke other wise. The thing is, thrifted items can't be just "good enough".....they really need to work with the rest of your clothing and fit perfectly. This entire process of loosing weight, needing new clothing and finding a style out side of Lane Bryant has been so valuable. The thrifting process has really helped since I've had to try everything.

I can see how thrifting can be hard for someone with a developed style.....you just have to be super picky. I do think it allows you to experiment though so I would not count it out entirely.... just have a limit.

Oh man! I missed this thread yesterday while I was out, ahem, thrifting. *coughs*

Suz is definitely the voice in my head! I loved the criteria she set for thrifting items. I am probably addicted as well. I have wasted as much money as I've saved, but somehow it seems less intimidating to waste it in small increments. I *have* been running those no-go items back to my consignment store and taking the cash for further shopping. In fact, I recently used my profits to outfit both kids who accompanied me to a Saver's 50% off sale. The stuff I ended up with was not as great, and I'm already dis-enamored with most of it.

I remember taking a hiatus from thrifting for a few months last winter. It's a good idea I think (except I just took a friend on as a client and I have to shop for her). I'm at the point where I don't *need* any more winter clothes, and I don't want to shop for summer clothes in my off season because there's always something a little *off* about them when I do. Soooooo, maybe I will do this on a provisional basis with you.

No thrift store clothing for me until March 1st. And maybe beyond. I was noticing that out of all my summer clothes, only two items were purchased new. That is just whacked! I now have enough clothes that I don't have to go around naked, so maybe I can just start buying a new piece here and there (although some new items were a disappointment to me too, as with Suz, that's no guarantee of item happiness). I have to post the things I bought yesterday and then that's it for me! I can't believe I'm actually going to do this....

I'll hold your hand Claire - we CAN DO THIS!!!

And I will cheer you both on!! GO!!

Claire, it might be hugely tempting if you are shopping for a friend, but on the other hand, it might actually be all the thrifting you need....it might distract you from looking for yourself.