"At What Cost?" Vintage vs. Thrift Shopping

It was when I stepped into a vintage shop in Williamsburg that I realized that the lines are blurred. There were slews of high school students and young tourists eager to step into the small boutique shop that they had passed by. I was drawn to the store myself when I caught a glimpse of the sign situated outside. The words read, “Nothing haunts us like the vintage we didn’t buy.” Of course, I instantly wanted to go in just like everyone else that was passing by on the sidewalk. Besides the beautiful clothing that caught my eye, I noticed the number of people that quickly turned around to leave shortly after glancing at the price tags of the merchandise. Before you ask: Yes, they did at least admire some of the clothing on display. I mean, as they should. They had vintage YSL and Chanel pieces that were intentionally and carefully picked from the runway. They were one-of-a-kind pieces that everyone would want.

After having this experience, I realized how the timeless art of vintage shopping has been swept up by our generation's obsession with thrifting. Do not get me wrong, I love thrifting for new clothes. If you ask any of my friends, they will tell you that I wear the same two-dollar jeans every week that I bought from Goodwill. Thrifting is sustainable and has alleviated much of the waste issue that plagues the fashion industry. At the same time, I have noticed that thrifting has stolen the spotlight from vintage clothing. Although I have come to realize that as a college student, I may never be able to afford these items, I always stop by to appreciate the vintage clothing. These pieces are one of a kind, and straight off the runway. Oftentimes they are unique and you will never see them ever again, except if you buy them. These pieces are the blueprint for modern-day fashion. And we can all be honest; thrifting is to be considered a completely separate art form on its own. You are carefully sifting through bins of old clothing to coordinate an outfit. Some of these clothes include old band t-shirts, and in my case, farmer jeans. They may have mud stains on the knees and holes right at the seam. The pieces you find may not be perfect on their own. Your entire closet needs to be situated at the forefront of your brain while thrifting so that you can know if it's worth the buy. As a lover of both thrifting and vintage shopping, I have watched as these two forms consistently get confused in conversation and in action. It is important to acknowledge the distinction between the two.

Next time you pass by a vintage shop, go in and have no intentions of buying anything. Go in and appreciate the clothing for what it is. I have been making an effort to stop looking at the price tags. Sometimes, it can get discouraging as my brain instinctively compares it to thrift stores. I appreciate thrifting and vintage shopping, but as someone that loves fashion…I have to acknowledge them as completely separate entities. I simply stopped asking “At what cost?”