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Sam High (left) and Jessica Kay accepted Get Out's challenge to score a few killer outfits for less than $50 each. Here they don the duds.

Julio Jimenez Get Out

Getting thrifty: How far does $50 go at a resale shop?

By Chris Page, Get Out

January 4, 2007

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A little over a decade ago, thrift-store chic reigned supreme, with grungers and indie rockers mauling racks of vintage hand-me-downs in search of anti-fashion cool.
These days, not so much.

Thrift shoppers admit they hit Goodwill for more a pragmatic reason: “You get everything cheap,” says Mesa thrifter Jessica Kay, 22.

Kay, who makes an occasional buck buying used clothing and selling to higher-end thrift stores like Buffalo Exchange, along with Gilbert’s Sam High, a 23-year-old with slightly less thrift-savvy, accepted a Get Out challenge: Turn a $50 budget each, and a few hours one recent afternoon, into a couple of cool outfits.

We trailed them to Tempe’s hip Buffalo Exchange (a franchise of the Tucson-based chain where Bad Religion plays overhead and the used threads often come at a hipster premium) and over to the Mesa Thrift Store, a down-market shop where the cheap stuff profits Vietnam veterans’ charities.

Here’s our duo’s thrift score.

Sam High whips up the basics of a new outfit with used duds at Tempe’s Buffalo Exchange. (Chris Page/Get Out)

Sam High, 23 of Gilbert

Lace tank, $8, at Buffalo Exchange

Denim purse, $3.98, at Mesa Thrift Store

Snoopy magnet belt, $2.98, at Mesa Thrift Store

Skirt, $10, at Buffalo Exchange

Funky heels, $12, at Buffalo Exchange

Mandolin case (for the pint-size gangster’s Tommy gun), $9.98, at Mesa Thrift Store

Total: $46.94

Comment: “I want to keep this belt.” (And she did.)

Thrift whiz Jessica Kay checks a mirror at the Mesa Thrift Store. (Chris Page/Get Out)

Jessica Kay, 22 of Mesa

Kangol hat, $8.50, from Buffalo Exchange

Avocado purse, $4.98, from Mesa Thrift Store

Cherry Coke T-shirt, $7, from Buffalo Exchange

Long-sleeve undershirt, $5, from Buffalo Exchange

Studded belt, $2.98, at Mesa Thrift Store

Denim skirt, $6.98, from Mesa Thrift Store

Kickin’ calf-high boots, $6.98, from Mesa Thrift Store

Total: $42.42

Comments: “I would never spend this much myself.”

Contact Chris Page by email, or phone (480) 898-5656

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Reader comments (1)

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Coach Girl

I loved this article! I appreciate that we all have choices as to where we can buy our clothing - and resale stores never fail. These two young ladies show how easy it is to find cute clothing.

I like to make my dollar stretch and shopping at resale/consignment/thrift stores helps.

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December 1, 2007

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