As thrifting has developed into a sustainable method of shopping while still participating in the most recent trends, the question of ‘Where to thrift?’ has been hopping from teen to teen in hopes of finding new places to venture out on the hunt of unique, affordable pieces. 

Maddie Thompson 11 is an avid thrifter in Monument and shares a little insight on her personal experience whilst thrifting. She goes to the Goodwill on Jackson Creek Parkway about once a week to search for pieces to add to her primarily thrifted closet. 

Goodwill has a solid selection for everyday wear according to Thompson, but there are occasionally some gems that can be found within the store. Thompson describes her token find that she bought at the Monument location.

“I found a Coach handbag. It’s hot pink and it’s so cute. And it was like $8.”

Although Goodwill is the typical place for Monument residents to go to, there are also other spots around the area to go thrifting. Maddie describes her list of favorites.

“There’s Plato’s Closet. There’s the one in the mall, there is the one on the Air Force Base, which most people can’t go to but if you can, it’s amazing,” Thompson said. “There’s also the Arc, which is generally like nicer stuff, especially the one by Garden of the Gods.” 

The thrift store located in the Chapel Hills Mall that Thompson touched on, ‘The Hause Thrift and Lounge’, is a new and trendy hotspot for vintage consignment. This store is more so of a place where shoppers can find things like early 2000s pieces or casual wear, which seem to be popular styles to go after. The atmosphere is fun and transforms the previous, negative stereotypes on thrifting into a new idea of fashion-forward, affordable environmental preservation. The contrast between the different stores gives Monument thriftees a wide variety of shopping spots.

“The mall has kind of more like the y2k or streetwear look. But if I wanted, say, a prom dress, I’d probably go to the one Goodwill in Monument because they have such a good selection,” Thompson said.

The idea of thrifting has exponentially grown and become a typical outing for teens in order to participate in the everlasting cycle of fashion trends. It’s a way for everyone to put their own spin on the idea and make their outfits their own. 

Thompson said, “It’s so much cheaper, and I feel like I’m buying so much. I’m always buying things that are unique, that I can’t find necessarily just like stores in the mall. You never know what you’re gonna find, and a lot of times you find things that are totally out there.”