Hmmmm...where did it all begin...?
I was in 7th grade, everyday I would walk home from school through the downtown of my hometown, and on 4th Street, we had an array of shops; for example, we had a Penny's, Woolworth's, a wig and bible store, antique and junk stores, a place to repair vaccum cleaners, an old-man hotel, consignment shops, offices, eateries, hairdressers, a commercial laundry, and of course the Salvation Army store.
Well, I was going to be in the school play, as a wild attired hairdresser -- well my K-mart duds were never going to work for costuming!
So a couple of my friends and I went into the thrift store after school, and wowowowowowow, the place was filled with all sorts of funky dresses and polyester shirts -- so gaudy -- I know this would be where I would find my costume!
Of course, I knew I didn't have any money, that this would be a place to visit with my mom on Saturday. I looked through all of the racks, and I was finding so many goodies, I could hardly control myself! I ended up hiding about 6 different outfits behind one of the full length mirrors, and hurried home to tell my mom what I had discovered, and hoped that she would be willing to take me there on Saturday...
I was in luck, my mom knew I needed a costume for the play, so convincing her was easy. I think I convinced her to end up buying all the dresses I had hidden behind the mirror (amazingly, they were right where I left them!) I got a black and white striped tube dress, which I did wear for my costume in the play, and of course ended up wearing to school for many years afterwards. I also got a dress with a black polyester bodice and gold plaid skirt, a red and black polyester dress with matching gold trim bolero (ah, I really do miss that one...) two brocade oriental dresses (never fit me, but I so loved the fabrics) and an enormous brocade dress someone had made (well, my mom told me not to get that one...) and a black and white polyester shirt with a geometric design, and a puke green golf sweater.
Fifteen years later...I still have the black and white polyester shirt and the puke green sweater. That sweater has been like a security blanket (and yes the condition of it...is well...loved!) I have traveled and lived in Paris, France and London, England, and that shirt and sweater have accompanied me in my travels.
Well, after my seventh grade discovery -- there was no going back! For the next five years I spent most of my babysitting money at the thrift stores -- trying to create outfits that were so different that the other girls at school wouldn't tease me for wearing K-mart clothes (to this day I will not buy clothing in a store with "mart" in the name).
I still have the orange vest and skirt by Alfred Shaeen I found at a Salvation Army, the fabric is like curtains, the print is a metallic oriental design...I wore that many times to the midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show when I was a groupie...doubt I still fit it though...
Ahhhh.....those where the days, 'eh?