My daughter bought a new t-shirt from her high school bookstore–it was a fundraiser for a club that she belongs to. We were talking about what size would fit her, which wound up being a pretty complicated discussion. Since she’s used to getting her clothing from thrift stores, almost all of what she buys has already been washed and dried by the previous owners. But her brand new t-shirt is 100% cotton and although it fits her this minute, it’s impossible to know how much shrinkage there will be once it’s been washed. I prefer my tried and true (and previously washed and dried) bargains any day!

You’d never know it by looking at me now, (which I’m awfully glad you cannot do because it’s 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside and it’s not all that warm inside either, so I’m looking rather bulky because of all the layers), but I own a large closet filled with really great clothes. Because I’m a textile artist, I know quality. Knowing quality and not having a lot of money–a perfect combination to make me seek out the cheapest resources for wonderful stuff to wear. That’s why the vast majority of what’s hanging in my closet is from thrift stores.

 Amazing what you can find in the thrifts if you look. Over the last 30 years, I’ve gotten so good at nosing out the bargains that I decided to write a book about it. The Secondhand Wardrobe: Chasing Down the Deals has an expected release date of September ’08. Meanwhile, I’ll be writing my random secondhand clothing thoughts here, awaiting your comments.