Apparently, I Have No Style

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Recently I made a trip to a local grown-up clothing resale shop. A little different from the thrifty resale shops I generally frequent. This store will buy your old clothes while they also have a huge selection of used garments you can purchase as well. It is a pretty popular and trendy franchised shop.

I am trying hard to tidy up my closet and simplify life in 2011. So, I bit the bullet and purged. I got rid of my old favorite jeans that have not fit me since giving birth to the twins. My favorite sweaters and tops that are now a bit too short, but would fit perfect if I could just lose, oh, 15-20 pounds. I am so sentimental when it comes to my clothes, but the ones that no longer fit me were over taking my closet. So why not trade them in for some that fit just right.

I walk in with my BIG, pink, plastic container of neatly folded items. The staffer takes my name and hands me a card with the number 28 on it. “Give us 15-20 minutes to look through your clothes”, she said, “and we’ll call your number when we’re done”.  She was kind of a valley girl. Wait. She was like totally a valley girl. Like (pause) totally. A little hard to understand. But, on I went.

I looked around the store. Eyeing the clothes I will grab in trade, but I did not want to be too over zealous. After all, the goal was not to spend,  but to swap. Let’s see what my trade in value will be.

“Number 28, to the counter please.”

That’s my number. I make a bee line to the front, so excited. 

In her valley girl voice, that forced me to really focus in order to understand her, the very chic (trendier than me) staffer says “We are not able to buy any of your clothes- they are all out dated. We only go 1-2 years back in fashion.”

Did she just tell me I have no style? I am out of style? Say what? Could she have just bought one thing? Like out of pity?

It was a long walk back to the car with my big pink container…. still full of clothes. I defend it all in my mind thinking, I am not out of style. I would totally be wearing every piece of clothing in this box if it still fit me.  I know fashion.

My big pink container certainly did not include anything  Cole Haan like this savvy moto jacket.

There defiantly was not a pair of Michael Kors over the top turquoise summer sandals.

Nor were there any designer jeans like these from Marc by Marc Jacobs in my box.

Oh well. I guess that I should just be resolved to the fact that maybe I am a little out of style. For now.

But my kids are dressed adorably! (And one of the awesome thrifty resale shops that I frequent will totally love this plastic tub of clothes as a donation!)

Do you trade in your clothes at shops that will buy used items? Have you had good luck with that? I would love to hear about it.