BEST Clothing/Y2K Thrift haul (10 items for 10 dollars 💋)

As the stereotype goes, grad students are broke. That, and constantly talking about their dissertations. I’m here to tell you about how to improve the former (your brokeness) so that you can focus on the latter (your thesis). We all know I love thrifting, but recently, my thrift stores started to price their clothes like museum-worthy, abstract art. Why else would they try to sell an old shirt for $15.99?

Thus commenced my foray into the goodwill bins. I came armed with gloves, a thick mask, and a can-do attitude. This was mostly for fun, but I found some amazing pieces for a little under $1 each.

First, my favorite dress, and probably the best $1 I spent. This is originally from Moda International.

My second favorite. As you can tell, I’m going in order of most to least favorite, because our millennial attention spans can only handle so much suspense. $1, American Apparel.

Who knew forever 21 ever sold silk? This stunning milkmaid top proves the cynics wrong. It was also $1, but a bit of a fixer-upper. One of the black buttons is missing– will need to replace.

Silk Anne Klein hair scarf- 25 cents. Top- $1, Brandy Melville

Some people in my religion cover their hair once they get married with a hair scarf. I wear them as accessories, but the history is interesting.

A burgundy, vintage pencil skirt. $2. Don’t laugh at the clean laundry in the back; I couldn’t wait to sort it and just wanted to try everything on!

A Guess shirt for probably less than $1.

Two more hair scarves that I picked out. I like to look for all silk, but recently I’ve become less picky because one silk scarf lost its life in my washing machine. And you have to wash thrifted clothes really well, even if that means scrubbing them to their death.

Paris blues top, 75 cents. I wanted to like it, but I think it looks too childish on me.

Marciano by Guess top for $1. Love it. Skirt, which was a bit of a fail, also for $1. I was the most excited for it, but it ended up being unflattering. If you guys have ideas of how to style it, let me know!

I also bought this designer bat. It’s by Reformation and currently drying in my bathroom. I tried it on and looked like Severus Snape. Someone please tell me how to wear this shirt/dress/cape?

Lastly, this stunning vintage tank top. I knotted the straps so that I could ask my grandma to alter them (they are currently too long).

Overall, I’m thrilled with what I found, especially for a total of $10.92! Something I’ve started doing is taking the clothing that I don’t wear anymore and leaving it in a bag in the alley labeled “free”. I no longer want to donate to corporations that mark up their clothes so much, especially since now, people who need them the most can’t afford them. It makes me happy knowing that instead, someone will be getting it for free!