Do you think theres any shame in going in and buying secondhand clothing if u come from a middleclass family?

Question

Its just that when I go into those shops with my friends and their poorer families I feel really really embarrassed like someone might see me in there. I want to go to one so that I can get some nice jeans, and tops while I'm trying to lose weight that won't cost too much and that suit my bodyshape. How can I get over this, I know I shouldn't feel like that, but there isn't any sense in buying new clothes if they end up too big in a few months right?

Not saying that other people feel embarrassed or should, I'm just extrememly vain. I know clothes don't make a person.

Answer 1

just do it.

i regularly shop at 2nd hand stores and often will find clothes w/the tags still on them for 1/10th the original price.

my wife and i both have decent jobs, but every penny saved helps. if we save $5 per top and $5 per pants, and we each buy 4 of each, we have saved $80, or enough to take our entire family out to a nice dinner (and most likely can wear the clothes we just bought to the dinner).

My children are avid about shopping at 2nd hand stores and just love it! My 11 year old says he can get more clothes for the money and better brands than from WalMart!

I have an aunt who makes big bucks (exec at a national bank) and she shops almost exclusively at 2nd hand stores in the Kansas City MO area. She has bought everything from jeans and t-shirts to very nice cocktail/evening dresses (and often w/the dresses she will wear them to an event or 2 then donate them to another 2nd hand store!)

if someone looks down on you for shopping at 2nd hand stores, they are missing an opportunity and need their attitude adjusted.

Answer 2

Well I think it is an age thing. I used to feel embarrassed to go into KMart but now its like, "who cares?" Its about being smart. ANd about knowing quality. I get compliments on my clothes all the time and I shop at Ross. I'll get more compliments on a skirt I spent $8 bucks on than that designer one I spent $100 on. Also, if you know you can get something similar for a fraction of the price, why not go for it? If anyone sees you and is judging you in that way, is that really someone who's opinion should mnatter anyway? What kind of person has nothing better to do than look down on someone for being sensible? That is just immature and anyone doing that would be doing it out of insecurity in themself. That is the reason you care, its not vainness, its insecurity. We all have them but you just can't let them rule your life. There's nothing anyone, including you, should be ashamed of. When you get older you'll realize that it doesn't even remotely matter in the big scheme of things. It really, really doesn't. So I don't really know how to tell you not to care about something, you can't change who you are, but I guess just try to keep an open mind about things. Just shop smart and buy things that look well made, or it will look cheap. Other than that, if someone sees you, remember, they're in the same place as you so how can they judge? :-)

Answer 3

There shouldn't be any shame in going to buy secondhand clothes if you're 'middleclass'. You're right, there's no point in spending more than you need to (whether or not you have the money) on something, especially if you won't be wearing them for that long. I hope your friends who come from poorer families don't notice that you feel ashamed shopping with them...

Answer 4

There is NO shame in buying all ready worn clothes those clothes are all most brand new, and some clothes are too expensive in the store. If I were u when I went in to a store like that i would just forget about the fact that other people once wore these clothes, think of it like other people have already tried them on.

Answer 5

I love 2nd hand shops...I find that in the last few years that they have a lot better quality than they did years ago... i get most if not all my stuff from a thrift store, there is nothing better than getting 3 or 4 outfits for less than 20 dollars that look new and no one knows and if they did so what.

Answer 6

I know how you feel. Usually when I go in to shop, they assume I am there to make a donation because I don't look poor.

There's nothing wrong with shopping there. In the large cities, thrift stores are what's in: Chicago, LA, New York . . .people like having unique clothing that not everyone and their dog has (like Old Navy shirts, for example.)

Here are some thing to remember. If someone you know sees you in there, it's only because they're shopping too! If not, and they ask, you can always say you dropped off a box of old clothes.

If someone asks you where you got the shirt/pants, etc and you don't want to say, just tell them "I don't know where it's from. My mom got it for me. I'll ask her."

Answer 7

There really is nothing wrong in shopping for secondhand clothes. I think that people wouldn't know about it anyway unless you would tell them about it.

There are actually lots of people who prefer buying in secondhand shops rather than buying new ones.

Answer 8

just buy the clothes online.there are a lot of great vintage selections on ebay from every era for reasonable prices.i've bought a few nice vintage dresses on ebay myself:) i don't feel embarrassed. vintage items are usually one of a kind, unlike the clothing at the mall, where they have duplicate styles, so someone else might have the exact same shirt,etc.the horror of that happening:-D i think you're self-conscious that other people at the store are staring at you when they're probably worried that someone is staring at them too lol focus on what you're looking to buy and don't mind what other people at the store may think.

Answer 9

Of course there's no shame in it. Why are you feeling shame/embarrasment when you go? Are you worried that other people will look down on you if they see you there?
Here's a quote to think about: "Those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind."
In other words, people who are going to look down on you are worthless and you don't need to waste your time on them and the people who truly care about you and love you aren't going to think twice about you shopping at a second-hand store.
I recently bought a super-cute red cardigan from Anthropologie for $3 bucks at a second-hand store! I was stoked!

Answer 10

There are lots of reasons people shop @ second hand shops besides saving $.

1) To help the environment by keeping things out of land fill & giving items a second life.

2) To find vintage styles.

3) "Treasure hunting." Sometimes, one can find incredible items like a designer bag or fancy cookware @ a ridiculously low price.

Why are you embarassed? It is really about being judged by others re: $ or is it about being judged about your weight? Whatever the reason, your friends are your friends & it is your life & your $. Do what you think is right.