Highwaisted fitted pilazo pant: $5, vintage-inspired gray sweater: $6, lime-green polka dot blazer: $6, light brown thick belt with gold buckle: $5, shopping at a thrift store: not exactly priceless but a great deal.
Thrift shops may have the connotation they are only a place for underprivileged people to shop. However, fashion-forward people on a budget are skimming the racks for good deals, too.
Among the endless racks of clothing items and chattering people, accounting senior Yinka Cordoso had an armful of jackets, blazers, pants and blouses.
“I could spend hours in here, there’s so many things,” Cordoso said referring to Texas Thrift Store on the corner of Cooper Street and Pioneer Parkway.
“This is my favorite thrift store because I think it’s the biggest in Arlington,” she said.
Cordoso sported a black coat with tights and black oxfords. Her hair was pulled back to show off a pair of gold earrings — she described her specific style as retro old-school inspired.
She said knowing that helps her when shopping at thrift stores. However, she also said style doesn’t matter.
“Students should thrift because we don’t have a lot of money to spend and the store has everything for a good price,” she said. “I could go to Forever 21 and spend $20 on a top and come here and spend $5 on a similar top.”
Cordoso bought three pants, one blouse, two blazers, a sweater and a belt for a total of $32.26.
Sophia Rozell, Texas Thrift Store night supervisor, said she thinks people save a lot of money shopping at the store.
“We always have UTA students come in here to shop,” she said. “And students should come because they would have a large variety of clothes to choose from.”
For some students, the negative connotations about thrift stores still remain.
When biology sophomore Sonia Ike first came to the United States from Nigeria, she said her family shopped at Goodwill all the time, but now thrift shopping is a last resort for her.
“I don’t know how I feel about wearing clothes that someone else wore,” she said. “But if I’m shopping and can’t find what I’m looking for, I’ll look for a retro look at a thrift store.”
But for Cordoso, thrift shopping is all about expression. She said the variety of different clothing gives people the chance to express themselves.
“A thing about thrift shopping is that you get things that no one else has,” she said. “It gives you chance to be you.”
Follow Nicole on Twitter: @NicLuna
Arlington Thrift Shops
Salvation Army
1301 E. Abram St.
817-681-9488
Goodwill
1100 W. Arkansas Lane
817-459-2688
Plato’s Closet
5904 S. Cooper St.
817-466-4430
Rerun Consignment Boutique
3603 W. Park Row Drive
817-460-5825
Back to the Rack Resale Boutique
4520 Matlock Road No. 600
817-417-0484
Ladies Plus Size Resale Shop
5975 S. Cooper St. No. 135
817-557-8087
Collins Park Thrift
817 E. Park Row Drive
817-274-3885
