Foraging for Fashion

While the new Marc Jacobs Stam Satchel screams sophistication, its $1,450 price tag may scream something else entirely ““ a hefty chunk of college tuition. However, students can be stylish without breaking the bank by hitting thrift stores and sale racks.

Especially now, in the depths of a national recession, there is something to be said for the art of dressing inexpensively without looking cheap .

In shiny black leggings and an oversize plaid flannel shirt, third-year sociology student Bora Kim looks like a walking Urban Outfitters advertisement. Kim, however, attributes her hip style to thrift store finds.

“When you are a college student, everyone shops in the same places, but with thrift stores you can guarantee that clothes are one-of-a-kind, and you aren’t going to see someone else wearing the same thing.” Kim said. “You just have to go in with an open mind and be willing to dig.”

Some sifting may be required in order to find that thrift store treasure; however, thrift stores make up for the effort with the variety and unbeatably low prices.

“Thrift stores are not only inexpensive, but they give you an opportunity to create an individual style, and they are everywhere in L.A.,” said fashionista Audrey Nguyen, a fourth-year bioengineering student and president of UC Fashion and Student Trends.

Finding secondhand stores can be as easy as walking into Westwood. Great deals can be found at Buffalo Exchange and the more quirky Thank You Mart, where all items are $3.99. Crossroads and Wasteland in Santa Monica also offer vintage and used finds, as well Jet Rag in Hollywood, which is a favorite spot of hipsters.

“Fashion is cyclical, and trends reinvent themselves, so if I see something in Urban Outfitters that I like, I look for something similar in vintage stores,” said Kim.

“Thrift shopping is always luck of the draw, but even if I find things that I am not really looking for, that is part of the fun.”

Kim not only credits thrift stores with the thrill of rare finds, but also with a more moral approach to shopping.

“If you shop at places like the Salvation Army, it is a win-win situation. You are helping the unfortunate by buying something unique for a good price,” Kim said.

“Thrift shopping is also a way of going green. It is recycling resources and making sure you don’t take too much from the world.”

In addition to secondhand stores, sale racks provide a budget-friendly option for patient shoppers who are willing to prioritize.

“Store windows are always flashy and alluring, but I go to the sale section first,” said Eve Ganski, a third-year art student.

Ganski, who primarily shops at department stores and boutiques, has sale shopping down to a science in order to stay within her budget.

“If something is really overstocked, it will usually end up on sale, especially if it is an unusual color,” Ganski said.

In order to save on more expensive items, Ganski also shops out of season.

“In the summer, I buy boots and coats because they are marked way down. Classic clothes will always be in style so it doesn’t matter when you buy them. … I take advantage of the fact that no one wants a peacoat in summer.”

While classic items can be purchased off-season and saved, more trendy items can be found at stores that inexpensively mimic designer looks. There is no need to splurge on designer pieces when Target features collections by designers like Sigerson Morrison and Isaac Mizrahi for fractional prices. Stores like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara also cater to runway looks without runway prices.

Whether you shop at cheap trendy stores, seek out sales and secondhand items, or do a little of each, being budget savvy can lead to a more edgy, current look. Smart consumption is becoming more and more stylish ““ and who knows, there might just be a designer label lurking in that dollar bin.

“You do not have to stop shopping just because you are on a budget,” Nguyen said. “You can look at it as an opportunity to get really creative with the clothing you have. You can mix and match, experiment with new styles, or stick with the basics, and still look high fashion.”

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