The (Oddly Meticulous) Art of Gainesville Thrifting
You know her—she dons vintage Victoria’s Secret lace tops and a perfectly-fitting pair of bedazzled low-rise jeans. She sports a pair of sleek, tortoise sunnies that put your ten dollar Amazon shades to shame, and, of course, it’s all (somehow) thrifted.
For a layman thrifter (AKA, yours truly), the second-hand shopping scene is one of intense intimidation, especially in a trendsetting (I’m being generous, OK?) college town like Gainesville. I grew up in a small, old-people town, where thrifting finds were limited to the occasional ironic tee or the semi-cute-semi-waste-of-space tchotchke. Few reaped the benefits of our local Goodwill—but was that because of the lack of cool pieces, or the lack of a good eye?
Inspired by a slew of badass Gainesville residents, I set out on a wild wardrobe quest to reset my wardrobe in an affordable yet stylish manner. I wanted the question “Where’d you get your [insert sick-looking hypothetical article of clothing here] from?” to slowly morph into a question I loved to hate. I needed to become a Gainesville thrifter.
Through my advanced research in learning how to adopt this persona (perusing the Florida Vintage Market), I gathered evidence that thrifting is far more reminiscent of an art than a shopping to-do. There is methodology! There is technique! And there are plenty of patterns to look for when thrifting—not just the kinds found on fabric. From these thrifting patterns, I rounded up five of my personal favorite tips for the thrifting novice.
Image courtesy of Izzy Scarpatti
Look everywhere
If you stay put in the women’s t-shirt section, you’re never gonna find that it-girl outfit. I’ve always felt weird as fuck patrolling the men’s denim section as a teenage girl, but apparently that’s wear that golden pair of Levi straight legs may lie (I’ve never found them there, but the legend persists).
Looking everywhere also applies to thrift stores as a whole. While I had multiple individuals implore that I don’t discredit Flashbacks, the A1 curated vintage fashion shop in Gainesville, I was also advised to check out the classics—Salvation Army, Goodwill, you know the kind—for the cheapest finds.
“But don’t throw yourself headfirst into the bins,” says Chloe Zijl, owner of God Save The Closet, a curated booth featured at Gainesville’s Florida Vintage Market in late September. Instead, Chloe recommends perusing the many vintage markets held on campus. Try rummaging through the $5 baskets sprinkled around at almost every clothing tent—it’ll build your second-hand shopping stamina.
Image Courtesy: Florida Vintage Market
2. Take your sweet, sweet time
Sorry babe, there’s no such thing as a “quick trip” to the thrift store. According to Izzy Scarpatti, co-owner of The Florida Vintage Market (and a Gainesville native), the process of hunting takes time—and that’s a part of its beauty.
Instead of blocking off an hour for a thrift run, block off your entire afternoon. Buy yourself a coffee and browse the thrift store leisurely. If you’re more focused on timing than actually peeling through pieces, you’re probably not going to find that one-of-a-kind, “I thrifted it” item. And enjoy the process!
“The hunt is the best part,” says Scarpatti. “Your trip is worth it when you finally find [a piece of clothing] you’ve been looking for all day long.”
3. Thrift with a purpose
Despite constantly envisioning a Pinterest board-style outfit in my head, I find that I almost never visit the thrift store on the hunt for specific items. I come in with a vibe in mind—and clearly, that hasn’t worked.
In contrast to my own habits, frequent thrifters appear to have specific styles that they’re on the lookout for. “Look for what makes you happy, don’t just buy something because you think it’s trendy,” shares Surisa Botes, a Gainesville thrifter and model for Rowdy Magazine.
Next time you thrift, try nailing down specific textures, styles and cuts you want to find on your outing. Both Scarpatti and Zijl noted their affinity for hyper-femininity, hunting for lacy pieces almost always. In searching for a specific texture rather than a “vibe”, more may come to a thrifter’s eye.
4. Have endurance
If shoppers were classified like runners, the Amazon Prime baddies would be sprinters. And the thrifters? That’s iron man type shit.
“It can be annoying, it can be time-consuming, but it’s the most rewarding. You cannot leave any shirt or pair of shorts unturned,” says Scarpatti. “I’ve had the greatest thrift trips after I have put maximum effort into shopping.”
But if you find yourself walking aimlessly in circles around the 34th Street Goodwill, don’t feel discouraged. Take a step back from that one t-shirt rack you’ve been subconsciously returning to and mentally reset. Think: What parts of the store have you already covered? Which areas have you been (perhaps subconsciously) avoiding?
And if you need a break—take it. Odds are, the hidden holy grail of miniskirts isn’t going to disappear within the day or two you take off from the thrift. If anything, you might come back to the thrift with a new stylistic perspective, or at least conveniently return when a few new pieces are stocked.
5. Step Out of Your Comfort Clothes
Look, I’m an SEC girl at heart. I love athleisure. But in order to fully embrace the mind of a well-thrifted Gainesvillian, I’ve had to step out of my Aerie crossover shorts, both literally and figuratively (I simply can’t be spotted at the thrift store in a matching set).
When exploring the thrift store, take five extra minutes to peel through pieces you’d typically avoid (I’m looking at you, long-sleeve blouse section). Don’t sacrifice your entire sense of style, but rather challenge it. “Drift out of your comfort zone, but slowly,” advises Zijl.
For me, I’ll still be wearing my Hokas for jaunts around campus, but I might style my kicks with an old baseball cap and a makeshift baby tee from the Plato’s Closet youth section. Thrifting is all about expanding our horizons, right? People may not be asking where I got my outfit from just yet, but with the expertise of Gainesville’s thriftiest, I’m well on my way to mastering the quirks of the local second-hand scene.
Strike Out,
Writer: Laila Mayfield
Editor: Olivia Hansen
Laila (pronounced LIE-luh, unfortunately) Mayfield is a writer for Strike Magazine GNV. When she's not drafting a piece on her latest pop culture hyper-fixation, she can probably be found running (very slowly) around campus, updating her Letterboxd, or eating a bowl of Special K Red Berries cereal. Got any questions (or film recs)? You can reach out to her on Instagram @lailamayfield or send any inquiries by email lailamayfield@icloud.com.
