thegateway www.thegatewayonline.ca March 27, 2013feature 14 thegateway www.thegatewayonline.ca Volume 103, Issue 26 feature 15

Guéladé started writing to show that anyone can pull off a thrifted look. Her weekly posts feature her friends wearing outfits she styles using her own garments, often combining new pieces from her closet with thrifted finds from Value Village.

“You don’t have to be thrifty A to Z — you can mix and match from different places and shop everywhere and get a final result that is unique,” she explains.

Unlike brand name shops, thrift stores are filled with one-of-a-kind pieces that ultimately push people to think beyond the trends.

“With thrift shopping, you really get to develop what your style is because you find yourself not being attached to a brand or a look. You are freer. You come (to the thrift store) and it’s really your senses — whatever you touch and bring close to you ... There’s a reason why you’re attracted to it. Nobody else is telling you this is cool.

“It’s really about looking for a piece that works for you and that makes you happy. You don’t wear it for other people to enjoy it.”

Thriftingphotos by AmirAli Sharifi and Selena Phillips-Boyle

models: Jacquelin Gregoire, Annie Pumphrey, and Alex MigdalSpecial thanks to Goodwill Industries of Alberta

The stale perfume of used garments, endless racks of oversized grandpa sweaters, poly-ester dress shirts and mom jeans — it might not seem like it, but thrift stores contain

hidden gems within this sea of heinous clothing. And U of A education student Lébassé Guéladé is out to spread the word about the power of thrifting with her blog, La Thrift.

ThrifTing Tips

1You don’t have to start at the first rack you see and spend the whole day there. Instead, look for a spe-cific section of clothing such as blazers, dresses or sweaters.

2 For guys, it’s best to go with the right size. When a girl wears something baggy or loose, it can look sexy, but on a guy, it just looks frumpy.

3Invest in a few nice belts — they can work magic. If you find a cool skirt that doesn’t quite fit, just pull it up over your chest and belt it at the middle of your waist — it works perfectly.

4 Be wary of plaid clothing. You might be drawn to it, but it’s almost a bit cliché, too obviously something you found in a thrift shop.

5Dry-clean almost everything. It’s expensive, but it gets rid of that thrift store smell. Definitely dry-clean jackets, hats and delicate things like dresses, but don’t pay for dry-cleaning on clothes that can withstand a

washing machine.

6 Don’t buy anything with a stain. If you see a stain, it won’t come off.

7 If you find something you like that fits you, just buy it. Chances are you won’t be able to find it again if you leave and come back for it later.

8Get a membership card for Value Village so you know when the 50 per cent sales are. The cheaper, the better.

9Don’t have any expectations when you go thrift shopping. You might find success or you might strike out — you can’t predict how things will go.

For the uninitiated, thrift shopping can be a daunting experience. But Lébassé has a few tips to make things easier, helping you become a thrift shop pro in no time.

Jacket: $11.99

Dress shirt: $5.99

Jacket: $7.99

Dress: $7.99

Purse: $6

Vest: $4.99

Dress: $6.99

Necklace: $4

Boots: $6

Sweater: $5.99

Dress shirt: $5.99

Vest: $3.99

Belt: $3.99

Dress: $6.99

Dress: $6.99

Sweater: $5.99

Heels: $12

>>> Check out thegatewayonline.ca for more photos and our thrifting video feature!

words and styling by Julianna Damer