This is Campus Fashion, your source of inspiration for seasonal trends, cool finds, and wardrobe basics to keep you looking stylish throughout the year.
Being fashionable on a budget is hard, especially with the high cost of living. For many, shopping second hand is the way to go. An internet trend popular with YouTube vloggers features the “Come Thrift With Me” style videos that show viewers what can be thrifted with a hundred dollar budget. While an interesting concept, not everyone has a hundred dollars in their clothing budget. Would it be possible to find an outfit for only five dollars?
For this investigation, limited by a five dollar budget, I chose what I consider to be the two best thrift stores in Abbotsford, where I would try and find one entire outfit by looking only in the clearance sections.
One thing I have learned through my thrifting experience is that you can find items that are surprisingly cheap if you know where to look. My number one rule: always start in the clearance section. You never know what you may find.
I began my search at LIFE’s Second Chance thrift store, which has a dollar room with a great selection of clothing, coats, and accessories for a dollar a piece. There I found a genuine black suede leather moto jacket from Forever 21. On average, leather jackets can be pricey. A similar style to what I found in the dollar room can go for about $397 brand new.
The next piece I found in the dollar room was a pair of dark wash jeans by Wax Jeans Collective that fit perfectly. This was a piece I almost missed out on which is why it is important to take a careful look at everything that is on clearance.
For accessories, I found a chunky blush pink scarf that added a nice cozy touch to the outfit. Remember to always check out the accessories — you never know what you will find.
At three dollars total, I was able to find three items for the outfit at the first thrift store.
With only two dollars left to spend, I moved on to MCC Clothing Etc. This store is only a couple of blocks away from LIFE’s Second Chance and has one of the best selections of clothing for clearance prices, at 50 cents a piece. There, on the 50 cent rack, I found a Banana Republic charcoal grey shawl-collared sweater that looked brand new: the perfect piece to complete the outfit.
Here’s a pro tip: a good rule of thumb is to stay with a neutral pallet. It is much easier to thrift for clothing in versatile, neutral colours like black, grey, white, and nude pinks, especially when you have a limited budget.
The total cost for the outfit ended up being only $3.50, taxes included. This shows that not only is it possible to find a cute outfit while thrifting, but it’s also fun knowing you aren’t breaking the bank while doing it.
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
