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BY JULIANA MACRI

In print | October 5, 2006

Alas, the money your parents left you with when they dropped you off is long gone, spent on booze and late night Acapulco’s (oh, and books. Right). Now, every dollar you earn on student wage in the admissions office or as waitstaff in Paces is imbued with the additional value of your suffering, and every dollar you part with reminds you of those paper cuts you got from filing or the frustration of having to explain to disgruntled customers why there isn’t any cheese, or ice cream, or hummus (or, did I forget to mention, bread) left.

And so you say to yourself: there will be no more frivolous spending, or impulsive purchases or excessive luxuries from here on out. No, this money is for emergencies only. Speaking of which, have you noticed that it is getting rather chilly outside? Come to think of it, I do need a new sweater, because this one doesn’t match those jeans I wanted to buy.

You might be afraid to admit it because you go to Swarthmore College, where fashion is like so last season and frumpy is the new black, but you know you love to shop. You love buying new things and wearing new things and then feeling like you are at the cutting edge of modern style, which is in fact easier than you’d imagine it to be because you go to Swarthmore College (see preceding sentence if confused).

So, I am here to advise you on how to satisfy your materialistic cravings with minimal guilt. First, you must make peace with yourself. In typical Swarthmore fashion, I justify my drive to consume using what I learned in Bio 2; if you look good in that new skirt, you are more likely to procure a viable mate and pass your genetic material on to the next generation. Those creationists don’t know what’s up; this is science.

Secondly, you need to know where to go. Philly can trap you in with high-end, expensive shopping, but it also has plenty of second-hand, consignment and thrift shops. The best of these can be found around Rittenhouse Square and South Street.

The best place to find great deals on name-brand clothing is Buffalo Exchange (1713 Chestnut Street). Buffalo Exchange gets the majority of their clothes from the public - you can go in and sell your own anytime during open hours - but they are conscientious of not just buying any old castaways. Leslie Weinstein, store manager said, “we buy based on what we see people buying, trying on and asking for, and current and future trends in pop culture.”

Walking through the store, it is clear that they have a good sense of what will sell. Clothes are all in great condition, and the sizes, styles and brands represent quite well what the majority of American teenagers and young adults want to wear. They have clothes from Diesel, Abercrombie, Polo, Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew and much more. Furthermore, the prices are generally one third of what you would pay retail. T-shirts cost between $10-15, jeans $10-25 (designer styles might range from $40-60), sweaters $15-25, and boots and shoes from $15-40. Among my best finds were a pair of Sevens for $30, a cashmere sweater for $25 and a down North Face jacket for $50. In addition, they had a rack of jeweled ’80s style jean jackets, tutus, striped tights and other Halloween costume attire for the upcoming holiday.

For those seeking a more grown-up look, Sophisticated Seconds is in the same neighborhood, at 2019 Sansom Street. Much of the clothing looks like something your mother might wear, with brands like Eileen Fisher, Anne Klein, Armani, Perry Ellis and Levi being prominent. However, with a little sifting, you can find some good deals on something that would be appropriate for a job interview. This is also a good place to go for accessories; they have belts, hats, ties, bags, shoes and tons of big, gaudy jewelry.

If name brand just isn’t your thing, South Street is where you want to be. As a destination for many college students, South Street features several second-hand shops. Some, including Greene Street (700 South Street), are much like Buffalo Exchange; others, like Retrospect (534 South Street) and Time Zone (535 South Street) appeal to more alternative fashion seekers. These stores are much more like a typical Goodwill or Salvation Army, where the majority of clothes have no recognizable labels and finding a particular size or style is basically a crapshoot. The store is a little mustier and less organized, but if you stick with it, you might end up with a new favorite vintage article of clothing that is guaranteed to be unique.

This is just a small sampling of all the inexpensive shopping options available in Philadelphia. To find a store that will suit your style, visit http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/ and browse reviews and ratings.

So, go shop your hearts out, my fellow Swarthmoreans. If it is wrong, why does it feel so right?

WHERE TO GO

Buffalo Exchannge
1713 Chestnut Street

Sophisticated Seconds
2019 Sansom Street

Greene Street Consignment
700 South Street

Retrospect
534 South Street

Time Zone
535 South Street

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