The reason I’m on the hunt for a good consignment store

I need to survive the Vermont winter!

By September of this year, I will be in Vermont to start my collegiate career which, as of the time I’m writing this, sports a nice 17 degrees Fahrenheit and promises a low of negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit in just a few days. Even though Oregon is better than, let’s say Florida and Texas in its variation of the seasons, I still have not fully prepared myself mentally for the cold winters I will surely have to endure during my four years at college.

What kind of winter clothes will I need? I’ve started to ponder the amount of chucky sweaters and wool-lined leggings I’ll need to fend off the cold. There’s a new practical wardrobe I’m telling myself I need, even though it will most likely take a turn for the impractical before my mom reminds me that college is not, in fact, a fashion show.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about sustainability in clothing. For the new year, I emptied out my closet and drawers, compiling four trash bags full of clothes. All the items went to St. Vincent De Paul, but I still feel guilty for the exorbitant amount of waste that clothing creates for our environment. So, to remedy this, I’m hoping to make the reasonable goal to purchase at least some of the pieces on my college wish list second hand – embracing my inner thrifter.

Now, while things like a large puffer coat and warmer socks than Nike anklets are things I’ll need to purchase new, I’m hoping to dedicate myself to sweater hunting. Through this process, I can start to transition myself towards a more sustainable outlook on my wardrobe and start implementing a lifestyle of thoughtfulness instead of rapid buying.

Consignment store hunting: I’ve also learned about an online consignment store called Thredup, which boasts great reviews and results by people who use it including my friends. Then, in Portland, there are so many other stores to choose from – from high end consignment shops to plentiful Good Wills. And yes, if I shop at the thrift stores Hawthorn, I might not be paying discounted rates, but I’ll still be contributing to breaking the cycle of fast fashion and instead, giving life to a pre-owned piece of clothing.

Elisabeth Dellit is an 12th Grader at Jesuit High School. She enjoys reading, writing creative stories, baking/cooking and participating in her school’s drama program.