The $10.48 woman

I came. I saw. I conquered.
I rummaged. I raked. I found.
Put me in a Goodwill store and I will dominate the fiercest of the chichi and have money to spare.
But everyone I talked to dissed the local thrift scene. “Don’t waste your time thrifting here unless you’re looking for extra-large giveaway T-shirts,” they said. That sounded like a challenge to me.
And it was a challenge. I visited four stores, four times each, within about a week’s time before I had a complete ensemble.
What does it take to be a successful thrifter? Time, patience, and maybe a water bottle. While you won’t find it this summer in Beijing, thrifting should be an Olympic sport. All those laps around the racks of shoes and aisles of clothing require robust cardio health, strong legs, and determination under pressure — the stuff of a great athlete.
To win a thrifting gold medal, you must follow my Six Commandments of Thrifting.

First, thou shalt set aside an entire day. You cannot rush or you will never find anything. You have to get down and get dirty, sift through piles of someone else’s trash and make it your treasure.

Second, thou shalt not create an agenda. You never know what you may find. If you begin your excursion with a precise outfit in mind, you are doomed to fail. Instead, find one piece you love and build around it.

Third, thou shalt use thine eyes. Detecting small rips and stains requires extreme attention to detail.

Fourth, thou shalt enlist a sidekick. A second set of eyes will not only help you find the imperfections, but help you track down the perfect pieces that you overlooked.

Fifth, thou shalt receive the blessings of the fitting room. Most thrift stores have them. Find something and try it on. While this seems like a no-brainer, it’s a step people try to skip when buying at bargain prices, and absolute foolishness when you’re making every penny count.

Finally, thou shalt not give in. Thrift stores are picked over daily and receive new gems regularly. Check back often. The good stuff vanishes fast.
I know you’re itching to learn what I found and how I made old, worn, and dated clothing look chic and stylish.
My first day out was almost a bust. Then I found a vintage 1970s asparagus-colored suitcase at Lifesavers Mission Thrift, 2065 East University Drive in Auburn. (I painted it to look like a watermelon.) On Day Two, I broke one of my own rules. I failed to leave enough time. I started at 10 a.m. and was due at work at 5 p.m. I felt rushed and gave up early. It wasn’t until Day Three that I made my first legitimate purchase.

An oversized, short-sleeve button-up blouse called to me from across the room at Harvest Thrift, 804 Columbus Parkway in Opelika. It was $4.99. Then, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a semi-wide — about 1 inches — tan belt with a vintage look. The color matched a pair of boots I scored earlier in the year at a Cincinnati thrift store. Another buck and a half bought the belt. But I still had nothing to cover my bottom — a very important area to dress. I called it a day after several hours of searching and decided to start fresh the following day.
I headed back to Harvest Thrift on Day Four and struck gold.

The heavens opened and I heard a voice: “Taylor, this is it. May your derriere be naked no more.” Surely it was something near to celestial inspiration when I picked up this particular pair of pants, because they looked atrocious on the hanger. But once in the fitting room, I pulled up the pants and was amazed. They were the skinniest skinny jeans I had ever encountered. They were perfect. Surely I could put together an outfit with these black flat-front 1980s jeans.
The moral of that story: Give ugly a chance.
Back at Lifesavers Mission Thrift I found a long teal skirt. Although I didn’t need it, I couldn’t resist. Because of the skirt’s length and its granny elastic waistband, I could let it sit on my hips, or pull it up to my waist for a different look. Options are fabulous. Both Day Four finds were $3.99 apiece.
With my $10.48 ensemble complete, I realized I had missed the Salvation Army store on Opelika Road in Auburn. I drove there immediately to look it over, and discovered a place I definitely won’t miss next time.

With enough clothes to create two outfits, I flex my muscles at all who doubted that fabulous finds could come from Lee County thrift stores.
That makes the score: Thrift Store Haters, zero. Taylor Dungjen, one.