Who knows what bargains lurk in secondhand stores? (Photo by Janne Hellsten) Today is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, which got me thinking about one of the perks of being an oldest child. Usually, being the first-born works against you: you're forced to spend your Saturday afternoons as free slave labor, babysitting younger siblings while your mother attends her Tupperware parties. But being the eldest also means that you avoid the dreaded hand-me-down; those secondhand atrocities with stubborn zippers and frayed hems that get passed down by older brothers and sisters. What recycled clothes I did inherit as a child were passed on by neighbors whose parents had better fashion sense than mine. I wore ill-fitting sweaters knitted by well-intentioned godparents, while my friends wore bright sundresses with ruffles in all the right places. As my friends grew out of their clothes, I reaped the benefits, collecting eighties-style jumpers with cute bows, trendy denim dresses, and shirts that didn't look like they were ordered out of a Land’s End catalogue (no offense, Mom). As I got older and was no longer reliant on my parents for my wardrobe choices, I discovered that having friends with good taste and an addiction to shopping worked to my advantage. Over the years, I've inherited form-fitting trench coats, black leather pumps, sexy strapless dresses, and other chic pieces I would have lacked the confidence to purchase myself. I've since moved on from my geeky childhood and adolescent years, eventually learning how to build a wardrobe and style of my own. But I haven't given up on the secondhand experience quite yet. While dropping off some odds and ends at a local Goodwill store recently, I happened to wander in and stumble across a gently-used velvet blazer from Banana Republic. I grinned, and snatched it up for a fifteenth of the original price. How’s that for being fashionable? Suggested Sites... Hand-Me-Downs - secondhand website for parents to swap and sell used childrens' clothing, furniture, and more. Freecycle - organization that helps people trade everything from clothes to electronics locally for free. Vintage Shopping Guide - directory of vintage stores nationwide, plus articles on recycled clothing and fashion. How to Host a Swap Shop - how to host parties toswap clothing with your friends. Clothing Swap - hints on trading and swapping clothes online and in person.

Directory categories: Vintage Clothing, Bartering and Swapping, Freecycling, Fashion and Beauty

Archived under: 1980s, Apparel, Beauty, Celebrations, Charity, Clothing and Accessories, Creativity, Events, Fashion, Freecycling, Green Living, In Character, Philanthropy, Recycling, Shopping

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