Hmm, would you rather buy five tops for $95.99 or get six tops for $7.94?
Spring is here, bringing warmer weather and time for tanks and casual summer tops. No matter your age or body type, tanks and sleeveless tops are great staples to have in your wardrobe. You can wear them under sweaters, cardigans, t-shirts, layered or by themselves. They’re versatile: you can wear them with shorts, pants, jeans and skirts, or keep it casual, or wear one with a suit. And they’re great way to add pops of color and look seasonally fresh.
So by now (if you’ve read any of our fashion posts), you know I like to buy clothes but not pay a lot for them and I get most of mine at thrift stores. While the items below aren’t the same, they are similar in style and color….Can you tell which article of clothing was bought at full price and which was bought at a thrift store?
A.
One of these hot pink tanks cost $19.99 and one cost 99 cents. Can you tell which one's more expensive?
B.
I love all three of these tops. I've worn them with jeans, dressy skirts, shorts....one cost 99 cents, one cost $1.99 and one cost $58....
C.
Hot colors and stripes...both of these look very similar but one cost 99 cents and one cost $6.00. Six dollars isn't that expensive but if you went to a thrift store you could get at least a couple of tanks for that same price...
D.
Another $6.00 versus 99 cents....can you tell?
E.
These two tops are similar in color, kind of different in style but they could both be worn with the same items of clothing. I got some great deals on my last shopping spree...one of these cost me $1.99 and the other was $6.00.
Answers-
- A. Brand on the left is Rafaella and cost $19.99, Brand on the right is Ellemenno and cost 99 cents at arc.
- B. Brand on upper left is New York City Design Co and cost 99 cents at Goodwill. Brand on upper right is Ann Taylor and cost $1.99 at arc. Bottom brand is White House Black Market and cost $58 (didn’t buy it this season.)
- C. Gilligan & O’Malley is the brand on the left and cost 99 cents while the Brand on the right was $6.00 (Mossimo.)
- D. Another Mossimo brand on the left for $6.00, the Brand on the right is Tommy Hilfiger and cost me 99 cents at arc.
- E. My Jones New York top on the left was $1.99 at arc and on the right is a $6.00 Mossimo top.
I don’t know about you, but I think all my thrift store finds look as great as all the tops bought new…..and huge difference in price.
I could identify most of them, because the thrift store ones look more worn out/stretched than the new ones.
If clothing was manufactured to last longer and didn’t stain quite so easily, buying t-shirts that sit close to your body and get sweated on (and spilled on) would make more sense.
It’s fine if you don’t care if your shirts never look brand new, and if you’re very close to a second-hand store and can stop there all the time to go shopping.
But if you only get 6 months of wear out of a $2 shirt before it has “bacon collar,” stains, and other signs of wear and tear, and the new shirt would get you 3 years for $6, then are you really saving anything, considering you now have to make 6 trips to the 2nd hand shop to replace it in the same amount of time?
Hey Stephanie, Thanks for your input. I will say that I’m not the best photographer and I was having a hard time getting the clothes to hang…When I wear these tops, they do not look stretched out and we’re always very careful checking for stains, etc. If you look back at any pics from our makeovers or video, I don’t think anyone would be able to tell the clothes come from thrift stores. But thrift store shopping’s not for everyone…and you DO have to know what you’re looking for…if it’s not in great shape, it’s not worth spending any money on.
I could also tell which ones were from the thrift store and which ones weren’t. I think it’s because the thrift store ones looked slightly older in style, but I guess it doesn’t matter much when you’re wearing it on a day to day basis, because you’re not comparing them side by side and looking for differences.
I really think it’s my photos…I did a “fashion show” for 10 ladies before I posted this and in person, 90% thought the thrift stores tops were the new outfits….for example, pics (A) of the pink tanks, everyone thought the solid was thrift store and the print one was new…but I like hearing the input.
The fact you were having trouble getting the clothes to hang right is kind of the point, though– they’re stretched out.
Maybe they don’t look stretched out to you, right now. But a good question is “do they last as long as new?” The answer is probably no. So, a shirt that costs $2 used and $6 new has to last at least 1/3 as long as the new shirt in order to be worth the cost. I would say, in the case of these particular shirts, they don’t look like they’re going to last that long.
Again, thanks for your thoughts…..
I shop at thrift stores all the time and get years of wear out of my clothing. Most of my closet is thrift and trust me….you would not know it. I often times find items with the original store price tags on, brand new off the rack and never worn. Now that is a good find!! Knowing your brands and buying good quality is important whether you are shopping new or used.
I TOTALLY agree with you! I can’t even count how many clothes I’ve actually donated myself that were brand new. I buy something, it hangs in the closet, and then I decide I don’t really like it or it doesn’t fit like I want…too late to return it so it gets donated with the tags on and never worn.
I could not tell which top was new are bought at a thrift store. i might have to give it a try.