Thrifting is, indeed, an art requiring patience, determination, a strategy, and, of course, creativity. But, after a successful shopping excursion, one can walk away with some fashionable items.
Cherie Wolter, owner of Aura, 449 State St., handpicks her inventory and sells apparel on consignment, offering unique pieces at a smaller price than designers.
\I think people look for quality and they are also looking for unique pieces,"" Wolter said. ""So you don't buy necessarily a whole outfit, but you can buy different pieces that you can mix and match with things that you already have.""
For women, shopping at vintage stores becomes more of a hunt to find hidden treasures. Sure, women may spot that perfect little clutch, unique accessory or even a funky shirt, but finding an entire outfit, much less a wardrobe, at a second-hand store is quite challenging.
Men, on the other hand, have it pretty darn easy. Fashion is not as fleeting for them as it is for women. Also, women are much harder to fit, whereas men can wear loose-fitting clothes and pull off the vintage style quite well.
Additionally, Wolter said men tend to dress and buy in pieces more so than women, which makes thrifting a more feasible task for men.
""For menswear, I tend to sell pieces. So, I'll sell trousers, shirts and a lot of suits,"" Wolter said. ""It takes women who are really adventurous and creative with their outfits to buy vintage.""
Walls of thrift stores are lined with blazers, buttoned-down shirts, polos, suits, vests and jackets, all perfect for any willing guy with a savvy merchandise eye. Any of these items can be added easily into a guy's wardrobe, creating the perfect vintage look.
Kyle Pfister, who cloaks himself mostly in thrift gear, sees great value in shopping at places like St. Vincent de Paul (St. Vinny's), 1900 S. Park St., or Dig & Save, 1221 S. Williamson St.
""I figure why not support recycling, the individualistic style, the DIY movement and be kind of my own person,"" Pfister said. ""You actually get to inject a little bit of your personality into your fashion, which is often missing today, especially in male clothing.""
Pfister even said that when he shops with other friends at these stores, the males often buy substantially more than females. He and his male friends usually walk out of thrift stores with more than they anticipated.
On the other hand, Aliza Segal has a number of thrift items, but her experiences tend to be more a hit or miss.
""Usually the goal is to have fun and if I stumble upon something cool, then that's great,"" Segal said.
Wherever you shop second-hand, whether you are a lady or gent, you can still walk away with some fashionable luxuries defining your personality. Successful thrifting seems to be a male-dominated knack, but everyone can find something that suits his or her style.
