Thrifty threads

As the average price for a pair of designer jeans or a new pair of Ugg boots continues to skyrocket, it is no wonder many IU students are turning to stores that offer vintage clothing and second-hand apparel to complete their look.\nBloomington boasts nearly a dozen thrift stores that sell used clothing, shoes and other attire at affordable prices.\n“We sell truly vintage clothing donated as consignment by customers,” said Riley Manion, Manager of Cactus Flower, located downtown. “Our styles range from popular clothes in the ‘30s through the ‘90s.”\nThe store buys clothes from different companies that follow trends of popular clothing that emulates past time periods, said Manion. The newly-manufactured clothes are located downstairs.\n“We try to pick and choose from companies that offer a unique look,” Manion said. “If the company follows a ‘50s trend in the fall and then an ‘80s trend from the winter, we choose the clothes that would best fit college students.”\nWhether it’s true vintage apparel or a new design that follows a 19th- or 20th-century look-alike, the prices at Cactus Flower are in most cases much lower than local retail prices, Manion said.\nThe thrift shops in the area seem to all follow a trend of offering the same type of pieces on retail for much lower prices.\n“(Thrift stores) are definitely a good idea, especially for students,” sophomore Debbie Marder said. “You can usually find the clothes you want, like decent jeans, at lower prices.” \n“We try to accommodate all price ranges,” Manion said. “If we feel something is too pricey, we may choose a similar design at a lower price.”\nThe Vintage Wearhouse, located on Fourth Street close to downtown, follows similar guidelines for selling quality clothing at lower prices.\n“We have here antiques, collectables and jewelry for the same quality but for a much lower price than you could find at a store like Macy’s,” said store owner Sara Harvey.\nThe store sells costumes such as imitation “flapper” designs from the ‘20s and old designs from the ‘60s that have recently come back into fashion, Harvey said.\n“People come into (Vintage Wearhouse) find costumes for special occasions and everyday wear as well,” she said.\nPlato’s Closet, the Red Barn Thrift Store in Martinsville, Richland Bean Blossom Family Thrift Store and even the Salvation Army Thrift Store and the local Goodwill Industries are among the hand-me-down stores that offer up their worn goods to citizens and students alike.\nSome stores, like Plato’s Closet, 1145 College Mall Rd., specialize in selling used designer jeans and teen wear, according to Jerrica Richard, assistant manager.\n“Our most popular selling item is jeans,” Richard said, “though we sell everything from purses, shoes, lotions and even some stuff for around the house.” \nThe store offers a special consignment system in which teens can sell their used designer wear to the store and get a certain amount of money back depending on the quality and clothing label, Richard said.\n“Sellers will usually get more for big designer names like Tommy Hilfiger or American Eagle,” said Richard. \nThe store then gives the seller 30 to 35 percent of what they will end up selling the item for. The store guarantees their selling prices to be 70 percent cheaper than the same item on retail.