How to Dress like a Queen

We are a nation of waste, conspicuous-consumerism. The state of the world is due in part to the change from the thrift of our elders to the waste of the Gold Card generation. The more it costs, the more it impresses, seems to be the guideline.

But there are many of us on restricted incomes. I receive disability, which I am thankful for and respectful of, and the funds don't quite stretch to haute couture. . . or much beyond the charity clothing given free.

Now, I never was a fashion maven - far from it. Clean and tidy was always good enough for me. However, if you have an open mind there is a way to have nice things for next to nothing. Women today shop thrift stores or resale shops where they can get name brands for a fraction of the store cost.

Let's take it a step further. Goodwill - come on - get that scowl off. IF you are a thrifty and patient shopper you can dress well and furnish your living space for next to nothing. I am not saying to go in and grab the first thing in sight. It takes looking and discarding and careful inspection to find the real bargains.

Goodwill has tables that hold piles of clothing. Now we all know where they might have come from, but let's have a reality check here. Goodwill has so much clothing that they cannot hang it all - and the bins are priced at $1.29 per item, except for coats and jeans, which are $2.50.

Before you tune out, let me say that these bins or tables are a wonderland of everything from treasures to junk. Last winter I found a Pacific Trail jacket that looked brand new. The store down the street from me sells them for around $70.00 - I paid $4.00 and no one ever knew it wasn't new. In fact I had more than one person in my low-income housing building look me over and say they wished they could afford a coat like that. So I told them how they could.