Going Retro: a cool way to save money

In high school and college, my friends and I used to practically live at thrift stores. We found the coolest coats, dresses, coffee tables, and kitchen stuff ever, and we could still afford to get a coffee later. At some point, we found the benefit of paying more for well-made, brand new clothes - we looked more put together, and the form-fitting stuff actually stretches, these days. We learned to dress the corporate way - nothing too colorful, classic stuff that would last for years, and a good brand doesn't hurt, either.

Now, after willingly taking the jump from being employed-with-benefits to freelance-and-living-on-a-shoestring, I'm starting to resent the years of bland dressing, of worrying about whether it will go with at least three other things I own, and whether I can wear it five years from now. What's the difference in wearing clothes that you've owned for five years and wearing things that someone else wore 25 years ago? The difference is that the latter is probably back in style, and the former is just a classic white blouse that you hate, after wearing it for five years.

I think I'm going retro again. Not totally - I am a Marshall's fan, and I love finding trendy stuff at the mall - stuff that will last only for a season, but that's all you need it for, anyway. Retro is so cool for certain things though, and can keep up your sense of hawtness, even if you can't afford that sweet coat in the Nordstrom's window, or the great Jimmy Choos online.

Retro coats can't be beat, and since dressing up these days seems to be a once-a-year thing for me and everyone else I know, getting a killer 50's style evening dress for a special night is perfect. I found the My Mom, The Style Icon blog via CNN today, and it sealed my love for Retro again. Look at those women! Feminine, sexy, wearing too fab clothes that are probably being copied by a lot of designers these days, anyway. Old costume jewelry - another great way to get a sweet look for a not-so-painful price.

Have any of you tried to revisit your thrift store days? If so, are you having any withdrawals from Dillard's or Macy's?