Taboo?

**strezzed** · 06-17-2009, 04:35 PM

A new friend and I were talking about shopping and I asked her where she got the shirt she was wearing. She gave me a name of a store in the mall (where I never go) and I didn't recognize the name. When she asked where I got my shirt, I told her Value Village. Her jaw dropped.

Then she admitted that's really where her shirt is from. She just didn't want to say it because of the taboo associated with secondhand clothes. Well, I've pretty much always had secondhand clothing in my life, so it's basically all I've known. She told me I was "brave" for admitting that's where I shop. And then asked me not to tell anyone that's where she shops. I still don't get it. If you have to lie about it, aren't you hanging out with the wrong crowd?

Do any of you lie when asked where you buy your clothes? If so, why?

**Michelle** · 06-17-2009, 04:57 PM

I don't lie about it, but I know a few people who do. Why? I don't know...maybe they're just embarrassed for some reason :dunno:.

**lisaflex** · 06-17-2009, 05:14 PM

nope. no reason! when i find a great buy, i love to tell all...

**Contrary Housewife** · 06-17-2009, 05:17 PM

Nope. I don't care what people think about where I shop.

**mama2James** · 06-17-2009, 05:21 PM

No lies here! If I got my great shirt for 50 cents you'd better believe I'm going to tell you when you ask!

**porembam** · 06-17-2009, 08:16 PM

I don't lie - but I never offer any info either

**sunshine** · 06-17-2009, 08:25 PM

No lies here. . . but my dd used to tell her friends that she didn't know where I got her clothes. Her standard answer when asked was " mom got it for me somewhere."

**mauimagic** · 06-17-2009, 08:31 PM

How sad for your friend!! I don't lie about where I get anything - it would be too hard to remember all the lies

**Debbie-cat** · 06-17-2009, 09:35 PM

Too bad your friend doesn't have enough self confidence. I never lie about where I get my clothes...actually I am very happy to say they are used!

**fairydana** · 06-17-2009, 11:34 PM

I am proud to tell people where I got my stuff. Especially if they are giving me a compliment. I feel sad for your friend.

I have gotten several of my friends interested in shopping with me~!

**laura-n-sasha** · 06-17-2009, 11:51 PM

I guess the type of upbringing that she had, would make her think that buying secondhand is bad. Personally I love telling people I got great deals on clothing.
However, us Americans are very different from say French or Spanish (Europeans) - they say that it cost this amount, to make it appear more rich. We usually I got it for this cheap.We show off by saying we got it for cheaper, while they say - see how much I can afford.

Just two ways to look at what people are saying. Not wrong or right, just different.

**frugalwarrior** · 06-18-2009, 08:01 AM

I personally can't wait to tell people the deal price but then again I don't feel any social pressure over it because peoples oninions don't run my life. Funny story though.

We live in a formerly privledged area. My children go to school w/ auto execs. kids and Kid Rocks kid (people like that). The impress me crowd. My DD is artistic and likes to remake clothes.I started shopping at the Salvation Army w/ her at least 8 years ago. I couldn't pay $40. for a pair of jeans a ten year old wanted to remake could I? We called it the SA Boutique. It was our little joke. All the kids loved her clothes.They begged her to take them to the SA Boutique too. I just rip a stitch at that conversation. Mom and Dad come home to their $2 mil. house (formerly) and their kid is begging to go resale shopping. Many kids were going w/ us and not telling their parents later. people are so bizarre. For all the gum on your shoes looks people give me I smile. We pay our bills on time and I know the things I have are things I want. Not things I purchased because everyone else was doing it.

**YankeeMom** · 06-18-2009, 08:40 AM

I don't care who knows where I get my clothes. I'm proud of having spent less on my entire wardrobe than some people spend on one outfit.

*currently wearing a free t-shirt and clearanced sweatpants

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-18-2009, 08:48 AM

I think some people are embarassed to say they are buying used clothes. I think for some, it just has a stigma attached to it.

I have a neighbor who grew up very priveledged. She and her husband are middle class, but are not hurting for money in any way. A few years ago (mind you, she is in her 30's) me and another neighbor took her out garage saling for the first time in her life.

She was astounded. She couldn't believe people were selling name brand clothes for a quarter or a buck. She's been hooked ever since! She always has to come over on Friday and share all the good deals she got, but I would bet that there are certain people she wouldn't be comfortable telling. I think it has a lot to do with how you were raised.

I was raised on second hand clothes and handme downs...so they don't bother me a bit!

**imagine** · 06-18-2009, 09:33 AM

Second hand isn't taboo here. That said I have found that the preteen teen girls around my son's age don't tend to try hard not to mention if they get hand me downs or from the Salvation Army. Don't know if they want to appear to be richer than they are or if second hand means not the latest up to the min fashion or what. Might just be a teenage thing.

Now my son is not ashamed of hand me downs or thrift clothes but I have noticed that instead of blurting out that something is a hand me down he say that his friend gave it to him.

It seems to me that at least here with my friends, adults are bragging about our finds and hand me downs. I know several that say they only buy second hand.