Jackie Jardine: Thrift Store Academic

Book learnin' from a thrift shoppin' blogger.

Last week I was surprised to check my email and find a rather interesting request from a former professor of mine. Professor Atkins, a man I respect as both a mentor and a published writer, wanted me to be a guest speaker for his Editorial Writing class at Arcadia University. Since following Let's Go Thrifting through my Linkedin account, Professor Atkins was intrigued by my work and wanted his students to hear my experience and advice as a blogger. 

While at first I was flattered at being considered an expert in blogging, flattery was soon replaced with anxiety. What if these students have no interest in what I have to say? What if I'm bombarded with technical questions to which I have no answers? What if I stutter or fall flat on my face or forget to zip the fly on my pants? 

I soon put all that that aside and decided to share some of my experiences in blogging...and thrifting.  After making the journey to Glenside, PA and stepping into Boyer Hall, I took my place behind the podium and gave my first guest lecture as a professional blogger. I discussed the initial idea for Let's Go Thrifting, some of the problems I've encountered along the way and my plans for the future. I also shared some tips of the trade and discussed the need for a knowledge of social media as aspiring journalists. And to my surprise, I was greeted by students who were not just eager to learn about the blogging process as a journalistic tool, but eager to learn about my particular expertise...in thrifting! 

While I did obviously go into my specialized interest of thrift shopping as the topic of my blog, I tried to keep the lecture as something of a broader-based info session on blogging in general. And this was for two reasons:

1. I didn't want to bore what I thought would be a disinterested student body who couldn't care less about my penchant for finding the peculiar at the thrift store.
2. I was invited as a guest speaker on blogging for journalism students, not as a speaker on thrifting for potential shoppers.

But there were questions on blogging and thrifting alike. How often do you go thrifting? You were at the new Impact Thrift Store!? How does the thrift pricing policy work?


I was so excited at the opportunity to discuss thrifting with the students, before I knew it, class was over. And after the lecture, I was met with a warm applause, I was asked for specific help on some of the students' blogs and I even handed out a few business cards. I guess that makes me something of an expert. Who knew that documenting creepy clowns and strange vintage books could accredit me as a guest lecturer at Arcadia University and as a correspondent for the Impact Thrift Store opening in just these last few weeks? Exciting things are on the horizon for Let's Go Thrifting! And I'm so glad all of you can be a part of it. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing in my firsthand observations on wacky secondhand finds. 

Blog on and stay thrifty! 

~ Jackie J. 

The Week in Review: We're Hitting the Road

In the housebound boredom of being on temporary sick leave, I had the time to evaluate what I own and what I am willing to part with through donations and sales at my Etsy shop. I still have a bit of organizing and de-cluttering to do, though most of the trouble lies in my closet, not my collections. And since I have the rare ability to say that I'm done work at a decent hour tomorrow night, I plan to do two things:

1. Sort through unworn and ill-fitting clothes for potential Goodwill donations and organize what's left into a sensible grouping of pants, shirts, skirts, gym clothes, casual,  professional and party wear.
2. Map out an itinerary of my favorite suburban thrift stores.

On Tuesday, following my physical therapy appointment and a quick stop at the local library, I plan to properly celebrate my newly found freedom from temporary immobility by partaking in a solo Thrift Road Trip. I need to gain some fresh blog inspiration. And of course I hope to find some quirky vintage oddities, maybe stock up on some items for my shop. And....drum roll, please... I am also in search for an assemblage of items for my next Blog Follower Giveaway!

And don't think I've forgotten about The Trading Post idea. That is still very much in the works. So bloggers, readers and friends, prepare your wares for the trading. And prepare your minds for the blowing, by way of future thrift fails, weird and wonderful finds and a miscellany of misadventures!

The Week in Review: What We Wear

Since starting a new venture in fashion writing, I’ve come to nurture a heightened awareness of textiles, garments, ensembles, accessories and the overall look of passersby. I mentally note what works and what doesn’t. When reading fashion magazines I clip clothes, shoes and accessories I find interesting for my own Look Book—pages of which I will scan and share with you at a later time. I then use my Look Book to search for thrifty alternatives to high end designers.

While thrifted fashion finds were minimal this week, I’m still hopeful. Planning to fully utilize secondhand means to expand my wardrobe is especially important given the current size situation. I’m still losing weight, slowly but surely. But it’s not the most ideal time to commit to an entirely new wardrobe. I’m cautiously looking for clothes that fit…for now. But I am really searching for a few pieces that will fit even better… a few weeks from now.
In the meantime, I have been hitting the books for fashion inspiration.

I found this nostalgic book in New Hope, PA. While it wasn’t thrifted, I did buy it from an independent book store…on sale.





I enjoy the color and pattern of some of the fabrics, but will be the first to say that 70’s fashion isn’t cut for every body type. Some of the ensembles highlighted are ill-fitting, and judging by some of the hesitant body language in the models’ posing, they weren’t entirely comfortable either.

The women are amateurs at best, likely friends of the author and not models by trade. But that’s okay. Actually I think the real-woman look in outfits that border on costumes lends a little charm to the idea. And while I’m not limiting my fashion focus to just bell bottoms and polyester, there is a guilty pleasure in admiring the craze of past eras.

After all, fashion is a continuum of ideas and past inspiration. Take the shirt dress. We have the 60’s to thank for this current trend. Of course the modern take on the trend means a shorter hem and a skinny belt at the waist, but I love the look all the same.

Now if only I can thrift one in my size.

What thrifted fashion have you found?