The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.
Brooks Hatlen, The shawshank redemption (1994)
New old coats
I love thrifting.
I did a lot of thrift shopping while I was home in California for Christmas break. It wasn’t all just for pleasure. I had to (wanted to) get some button up shirts for school, to look more professional.
I managed to drag my mom to Goodwill. Problem is, she waited in the car for a while. I roamed the aisles unchecked.
I pick up button up after button up when…I see it.
A beautiful, long, black leather jacket. I approached the jacket and ran my fingers along the sleeve. Wait…is that real leather? I checked the tag, which looked old. It is–this is leather-leather. I dropped my button up shirts (that’s just for dramatic affect, let the record show that I hung those shirts neatly up on the rack by the mirror) and threw on the jacket.
Like a glove. Oh boy, it was so comfortable. The cut was somewhere between Angel, Spike, and Dean Winchester.
I was so excited about it that I bought it without checking it for ware. I mean, it was clearly not new–at least from the 90s–but I hadn’t noticed any holes or anything. I regained some self control once I got outside, and I looked the jacket over before putting it in the trunk of my car.
And found nothing. The cuffs were slightly worn, but that was it. The lining was perfect. The stitches were all intact.
And it got me thinking: if I bought a new leather jacket, I wouldn’t trust it to last.
Running fast
There are all sorts of reasons I like thrifting. Price range. Unique selection. But sometimes I want to buy old clothes just because they’re old.
Everything today feels thin. Loose. The stitches feel like they’re underpaid and the fabric is moonlighting as tissue paper. So I go hunting at a thrift store to find something that was made to last. An old thing that’s still standing.
Why is that? Why does it seem like old things are sturdier? Especially clothes?
I’m sure there’s an economic answer. I could do some research and dive into costs and budget cuts and all that.
But here’s what I think–what I see.
The world runs fast.
It jumped the starting pistol and hasn’t stopped for water. It doesn’t look back–not for long enough–and it doesn’t slow down. It doesn’t even know where it’s running to, it just goes. It goes and goes and goes, and everything in its peripheral blurs.
“So what?” you ask. “If the world always runs fast, than what’s the difference between old and new clothes?”
Good question.
I don’t know about you, but my imagination also tends to run fast. It finds an old piece of clothing an convinces me that thought and care and time went into making it. That it was designed to serve the wearer, not make a quick buck.
And I don’t know if that’s true. I’m sure there are experts who could tell me that I’m making up fantasies about a bygone era that I never lived in. And maybe that’s true.
But it’s nice to think that someone wanted to make my leather jacket. That they designed it with care in order for it to fall into the hands of someone like me, who would love and appreciate it for what it was.
It’s a nice thought. It’s a slow thought, a deep breath.
The world runs fast, but not everyone is a part of the world. Not everyone needs to be.
So…slow down. Buy a vintage leather jacket if you have to (I kid–unless…). Somethings are hard to appreciate when they’re rushed. Somethings need some thought, care, and time. Some people need those things, too.
Including you.
Hi Lucy, I’m a thrift shopper too, and love it! My rustic cabin is filled with thrift bargains, most of which are still quite adequate. And, seriously, last year (or was it the year before?), I bought a vintage, leather jacket at the thrift store. I still have it and love wearing it, but I am facing an issue of how to keep it clean. The ends of the sleeves are dirtied, and I’d like to get that remedied. Any suggestions?
I liked your ending: “So… slow down. …Some things are hard to appreciate when they’re rushed.”
Yes, thrift shoppers unite!
As for keeping leather clean, I’m right there with you. All I know to do is to keep it dry. The tag on my jacket specifies that it should be cleaned only by a professional (whatever that means!), so that’s the best advice I have, sorry.
I’m glad you like the ending! I’ve learned it from experience 🙂
This is so well done, you make me want to thrift (or charity shop as we say in England) for some thick, adventure-worthy clothes.
Love this line especially: “The world runs fast, but not everyone is a part of the world. Not everyone needs to be.”
Thank you, Iona! I hope you find some fun treasures :). And it’s true, God calls us to be apart from the world!
Love this.
Not as much as I love that leather jacket (I kid, I kid, thank you!)
A leather jacket in good condition, what a find! My finds include a pair of leather cowboy boots, which, I cleaned and wrapped as a Christmas present for myself. Many years later, I am still enjoying them.
Thank you! I’m so excited to wear it (once Ohio stops raining, haha). Those boots sound great!
Lucy, I love that you’ve written this! Thrifting is such a good example of a more grounded existence on this earth. Fast fashion is taking over and people are getting caught up in all sorts of quick fixes and hacks to improve their quality of life, but thats just it, it’s not quality, its quantity of time and possessions and discarding quickly what does give us amusement any longer. Enjoy your leather jacket, keep it and grow old with it!
Thank you, Kimber! I’m so tired of so-called “life hacks.” The idea has spun out of control, and so often lost meaning. Life should be experienced, not rushed for the vague idea of “convenience.” Thanks for reading!
Love this, Lucy! Reminds me of the Disciple song “Spinning”–“won’t the world just stop spinning for a minute???” lol
Great article as always!
Thanks, Noah! I’ll have to give that song a listen. Update: that song is perfect for one of my MCs (Robin, from my sci-fi Robin Hood retelling), haha!