My Surprising Turn as a Model and 5 Good Reasons to Shop Resale

Thanks to my friend Jodi, I got to experience the fun and glamour of being part of a fashion show on Sunday. The show is an annual fundraiser at the Guadalupe Resale Shop in Naples, which exists to support Guadalupe Center’s mission to break the cycle of poverty through education in Immokalee, Florida. I already had a ticket and was looking forward to seeing Jodi strut down the runway. But another volunteer, Anna, became sick that morning and couldn’t model the three looks she’d chosen. Jodi thought that I was about Anna’s size and asked me if I would step in.

Model? At the last minute? Moi?……. I would love to!

I rushed home from a sweaty tennis game and did my hair and make-up, even applying mascara, which shows how excited I was about this gig because you know I hate that stuff. I grabbed a strapless bra and a couple pair of shoes and drove over to the Guadalupe Shop to join the backstage excitement. There were 16 or so women (mainly Guadalupe volunteers and staff) ready to show off the outfits they’d created. All the clothes were selected from the extensive selection of donated clothing at the shop, and everyone looked fantastic. I was worried that Anna’s outfits might be too tight/baggy/awkward on me, but luckily they fit just right, which was kind of a miracle. Phew!

Here are pics of my three ensembles, and one of Jodi. Thanks to my pal Linda for playing photographer!

As you can see from the big grin on my face I was not exuding any of the cool, chic detachment of professional runway models. The crowd of 120+ ladies was warm, chatty and complimentary and included a couple dozen of our tennis pals, so it was all too much fun. Jodi stole the show, making a dramatic exit by flinging off her fur coat and dragging it across the floor. You can check her out in the video below (it’s a little fuzzy). Well played Jodi!

We paraded out together for the finale, then members of the audience were invited to stay to mingle and shop. That’s when things really got lively! Imagine combing through racks of shoes, bags, accessories, sportswear and ballgowns with over a hundred women. I loved it. I would have bought the cream lace dress I wore, but all three of the outfits I modeled were snapped up—which was the point of the show. Happily, the event raised a great deal of money for a really great cause.

Two of our friendly fans and fellow shoppers, Linda and Kathy.

Shopping at a resale shop is different than going to a mall or department store. Here are five reasons to shop secondhand.

It’s very fun. Shopping resale is like a treasure hunt, you don’t know what you’ll discover. The thrill of the hunt is real and it’s even more exhilarating with friends.
It’s a bargain. The clothes are much, much less expensive than original retail prices and if it’s a quality resale shop, the items are in great condition. At Guadalupe, many things had the original tags and had never been worn. It’s also a great place to fine affordable items for a theme party or holiday, that you probably won’t wear very often.
It expands your style. The lower price points mean you can experiment with styles and brands you might not consider normally. I don’t think I would have would have chosen any of the dresses I wore in the fashion show and I ended up loving them all. I need a fancier life!
It’s good for the environment. Secondhand shopping prevents perfectly usable items from becoming landfill and conserves the energy and materials it takes to produce new clothing.
It’s supports your community. Like the Guadaloupe Resale Shop, many secondhand shops support worthy causes. A Chicago area example is the North Shore Exchange, a consignment store dealing in high end luxury goods that donates all its profits to Chicago area charities. Even if the shop isn’t a non-profit, you’re supporting a local business (instead of a national chain) when you buy from them.

How do you feel about thrift, resale or consignment shopping?

I’m back to sweat pants and sneakers this week, but the whirlwind experience of the fashion show still makes me smile. Getting dressed up can be a real pleasure sometimes. Here are a couple other fashion posts from the blog, if you’re interested. Have a great week!