I Buy Used Clothing and I Have No Shame
By: Kendra Perley
Tags: Self, Consumerism, Environment, Fashion, Lifestyle

I Buy Used Clothing and I Have No Shame

Photo by Prudence Earl on Unsplash

I’m going to be really honest here; I think the consumerist society of our country is toxic. We have become a land of gross excess, while many still live in extreme poverty. People with means treat quality goods as disposable so they can make room for what’s shiny and new.

And here’s another truth: I’ve been there.

I’ve never been wealthy, but I’ve been middle-class my whole life, always having what I needed with some extra cash to spend. When I was younger, I bought into the marketing of wanting clothes that were trendy and name-brand handbags. And don’t get me wrong, for a lot of things, you get what you pay for. Some items are just better quality than others, which means a higher price tag.

But here’s the thing, pre-worn clothing is just as good. Sure, it may be a few seasons old, but it’s got that gently worn, broken-in feel.

For me, pre-loved clothing stores have been a lifesaver for dressing my boys. I find it ridiculous how expensive tiny little pants can be for an infant who will grow out of them in 3–6 months. And have you met a four-year-old boy? Their adventurous play results in stains and tears nearly as soon as they are clothed. I care a lot less when a hole in the knee winds up on a pair of $2 pants than on one that costs me $20+.

Yes, I do buy some items new. Shoes for instance. Shoes get a lot of wear, especially from active boys. I can buy a new pair and have my oldest son wear out of them within a few months. I’m fortunate that they are at an age where they don’t care about name-brand clothing or what they wear. Shaming others based on the clothes they wear adds a whole other layer to our elitist society.

Buying used serves me a greater purpose than saving some cash. It’s the idea of recycling perfectly good clothing and keeping them out of landfills that makes me happy.

I can appreciate fashion for what it is, but walking into a mall or department store is overwhelming and I have begun to view it through a different lens. It is shocking the sheer amount of stuff that we are encouraged to buy. Yes, if you need a new pair of pants because yours have split at the seams, you absolutely should replace them. But I encourage you to question your motivations for buying new. Is it to keep up with the Joneses? This buying habit will not only burn a hole in your wallet, but it will drain you mentally.

And for me, I wear used clothes, too. I recently made a trip to our local thrift store and spent $7 on two shirts that would have cost the original owners about $100. And you know what? I’ve received several compliments on them and people are shocked to learn they came from a thrift store.

I want to clarify that I’m not buying vintage clothing (i.e. clothing from another era). Buying and wearing vintage clothing is a lifestyle/fashion choice that I absolutely support. But as a mom with relatively little fashion sense, vintage styles just haven’t worked for me. The clothing I look for at used stores may be a few years old, but still blend in with relatively current mainstream style. I’m not a flashy person, so I gravitate toward neutral staple pieces.

My interest in thrift-store clothing started back in high school when my friends and I would drive over to our Salvation Army store in search of oddball t-shirts. You know, kooky shirts that people collected as souvenirs from their travels or given as a reward for participating in a rock, paper, scissors competition. We liked shirts that told a story and set us apart.

I’m not quite as adventurous in my wardrobe as I once was. Finding comfortable pieces that work with being a mom to littles and still look presentable is my new look. And I’ve found that thrift store clothing and items you can snag from garage sales are hidden gems.

In this life, there is no prize for having the nicest things. That’s a race with no finish line. You can compete and compete with others but end up with nothing more than a good photo opportunity to post to your social media accounts.

There are people in this country who don’t have the opportunity to buy new, expensive things. They have no other options than to stroll thrift stores in search of new-to-them clothing. And to them I say, I hope you don’t fear shame or judgment.

We have let our consumerist society dilute our minds and allow those who produce goods and have the most wealth to dictate what image we should aspire to.

Ultimately, the value of your life isn’t based on a $150 pair of jeans or the next season’s designer bag. Life is what you make it and the legacy you leave behind.