Ah, what's that smell? Back to school shopping! 'Tis the season for a new wardrobe, but you don't have to break the bank. I tend to find back to school shopping more stressful than Christmas shopping for distant cousins, my parents, and closest friends. It's a new year, which means new people to impress and new trends to try, right? However, when I was younger I missed those trends and had to go shopping (again) after the first week to purchase that one miniskirt every girl had. Coco Chanel has famously said, "fashion fades but style remains the same." Trends are starting everyday, and trying to have your style on point with a trend will make you broke.

Nostalgic outfits are always in, so why not go shopping at a thrift shop? Most of my favorite clothes are from second hand stores. They're a lot cheaper, you can find one-of-a-kind items, and it's fun to hunt for vintage clothes. I love thinking about the story behind the item. Who owned it? Why was it given away? Was it once a gift? You can learn a lot about a person by what they donate.

What I'm trying to say is: save your money and go thrift shopping. Make a day out of it! Try on some funky items with friends, shop for something you'd actually wear, and find deals. Old clothes are well made and last a long time. I prefer them over the clothes I buy at the mall. It's not for everyone, but I would recommend heading to your neighborhood Goodwill, second-hand store, or vintage store. And bring old clothes to sell! You get more money back if you take the in-store credit offer rather than the cash. f you're in the Portland area I recommend: Value Village, Red Light, Buffalo Exchange, and House of Vintage. In Los Angeles I'm obsessed with the Melrose Trading Post (open on Sundays and there's a $3 fee to enter) or Melrose in general. Melrose is probably the best place to find second hand goods. You can find cheap leather jackets, purses, and vintage items all around the street. At any second hand store I would say defiantly check out the shoe section. Shoes can be hard to break in and you can find cheap Frye's or Dr. Martens for under $30.

If you don't feel like searching through endless racks for what you're looking for, try Etsy or Ebay and type in the specific item you want. There's also cool apps like Poshmark and Depop where you can buy used items for cheap. Why wear the same Free People dress that every other girl has? Make a day out of thrift shopping and grab some brunch with your friends while finding new clothes.