Meli's Thrift Journal

Experiences

Thrifting can be a self hobby or group activity!

Thrifting has not only been a hobby that I do by myself, but it is also something I can do with my friends. Going to Goodwill, or any second hand store for that matter, I have always found it more eventful with friends. There are times when I would want to go by myself, but I am a hardcore believer in sharing experiences with others. When I get bored at home, I would contact one of my friends to hang out and go thrifting. We would go through the racks, not looking for anything in particular, and either leave with a whole new wardrobe, or just fun memories, or both.

What’s fun about thrifting for me is the fact that I don’t get the urge of having to leave the store buying anything, unlike shopping at a mall. Instead, the thrift experience is the main point of the whole trip. Thrifting is also a great and spontaneous date idea that you can do with your significant other. You and your partner could pick out a new outfit for each other, give each other a new identity, and then do something for the day dressed as your new persona. This is also a fun activity to do with friends, of course.

Having a friend with you as you thrift is beneficial because they can be the deciding factor of your purchase. If I have a piece of clothing that I can’t decide whether to buy or not, I would go to my friends for their opinion. In addition, trying on clothes in the dressing room is even more fun with friends! Based on the picture, you can tell that I love taking them for my thrift memories. If you are new to the thrifting world, call up a friend and ask if they would like to come with and check the scene out for themselves.

Thrift Finds

Corduroy Jacket With A Fluffy Leopard Print Collar

The specific definition of corduroy is that it is a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs. The word actually translates to “King’s cord” and I believe that everyone is a king or queen, therefore everybody should have at least one article of clothing that is corduroy in their closet.

February is a cold month in San Marcos, TX. Not only is the temperature low, but the wind is blowing hard as well. A jacket better be a part of your outfit when walking around campus every single day.

One of my favorite thrift finds ever is a beige colored corduroy jacket with a fluffy leopard print collar. The jacket is from the brand Kikit Jeans and I bought it back home during winter break at my local Goodwill for $10. An amazing price considering that it has cheetah prints and is a corduroy material. Both are fashion styles that are very popular right now.

Why corduroy should be a staple piece in every wardrobe:

Perfect for cold weather, like the one in San Marcos. The thick material locks heat in.
It is timeless. Vintage clothing is always making a comeback and corduroy first made an introduction in the fashion world around the late 1700’s.
Neutral for the win. When going for a corduroy jacket, a more muted tone (beige, black, brown) would be best so that there are more options for what to layer underneath.
Be bold with colors. When going for statement corduroy pants, don’t be afraid to find one that is in a bright color. Stand out from the rest!

Buying this jacket at a mall could have left a hole in my wallet. Finding it at my local thrift store however, brought me so much joy because of its affordability and the fact that it was such a unique find! Cheetah prints are something that I always associate myself with so the collar was the perfect little embellishment to the jacket. Personally, I gravitate more towards sweatshirts but I don’t believe there is such a thing as corduroy sweatshirts. Jackets are like the cousin of sweatshirts, and this specific jacket is one of my favorite thrift finds ever.

Get To Know Me & My Passion

Hi everyone, I’m Meli Simbolon!

Here are a few facts about who I am. First of all, I am a First Generation Freshman college student at Texas State University, Eat ‘Em Up Cats! I am studying for my Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Advertising, and minoring in Communication Studies. A few things that I love consist of going thrifting, editing pictures and videos, hanging out with my friends and family, and cuddling up with my pets.

This blog started as a semester-long project for my Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media class, but I truly am looking forward to growing my digital footprint talking about a topic I am passionate about.

I was born in the country of Indonesia and moved to Houston, Texas at the age of seven with my mom. Growing up with little money, I quickly learned how to be grateful for what I have. Now, being a college student on a budget, I appreciate the art of buying great products for an affordable price. This led to my passion for thrifting clothes, which will be the main topic of my blog.

Being an only child, I have no older sibling to follow as a role model when it comes to the way I dress. Going to thrift stores, you never know what is available there, and it may even broaden your fashion sense and open your eyes to new styles. My audience is anyone and everyone who wants to find themselves through fashion. Not just by going to the mall and buying the latest item, but to look through the racks and getting creative with what you choose to wear.

Throughout my blog, I wish to explore the realms of affordable clothing purchases. Along with that, I also want to look at the topic of fast fashion and how it is a growing concern for our planet. I want to talk about the joy of thrifting, and the benefits it has in regards to being more sustainable and Earth friendly.

I hope my love of thrifting will encourage you to go out to your nearest Goodwill and check it out for yourselves. Always remember that fashion is not only what you wear, it is also a way to express who you are as a person.

Thank you for reading this short introduction of who I am and what my blog is all about. I would love to get to know all my readers a little better. Feel free to contact me at any time if you share the same interest or would just like to make a new friend. Follow me on Twitter for more pictures of my thrift finds. I look forward to reading any sort of feedback, personal second-hand shopping stories, or tips. Have a beautiful day!