24°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Rockin 'the thrift shop
They can afford to shop wherever they want, but some music stars prefer the thrill of the hunt
Elle Varner (CP)
Miguel (CP)
NEW YORK -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis aren't the only ones poppin' tags at thrift shops.
In light of the hip-hop duo's No. 1 smash Thrift Shop, musicians including Debbie Harry, Miguel and Elle Varner discuss their adventures buying used clothes, even after their careers took off.
-- -- --
Debbie Harry loves to search for unique items at thrift shops, but sometimes the Blondie frontwoman had to do it because times were hard.
"At various times in my life (it has) been really necessarily to shop like that," she said in an interview.
Harry, 67, said she also hit up thrift shops to fuel her creativity when deciding what to wear to an event or photo shoot. Her favourite used item? A silver 1960s Betsey Johnson jumpsuit.
"Let's face it, when you don't have a lot of money and have to dress cool, it's the best way to go," she said.
The singer says she loves thrift shops in Florida and that as a kid her bargain shopping annoyed her father. "My dad was horrified when I was in high school and I would come home with something from Salvation Army," she said. "He was terrified that I would be bringing a large population of bugs."
She also enjoys thrift shopping because it's somewhat of an adrenaline rush.
"In a way it's a sense of adventure too because you're not walking in and seeing a rack of clothing," she said. "You have to go in and hunt and it can be very entertaining."
-- -- --
While on his latest international tour, Los Angeles-born Miguel was happy to meet his fans with different accents. He was also hype about his fans' thrift shops.
"I tried to do it while we were on tour in Europe. I did a little bit in Stockholm, Sweden, a little bit in London," recalled Miguel, who was sporting his favourite rag -- a red one from a thrift store -- in his back pocket.
The pint-sized R&B singer is known for his smooth sound and chic style. His look is mostly clean -- fitted blazers and tight jeans are his forte. He's also an accessories guy.
He prefers clothes from thrift shops because "it's like clothes with character."
-- -- --
When Elle Varner made her debut to the music world with her first music video, she did so in a hand-me-down.
"The jacket I'm wearing in the Only Wanna Give It to You (music video) was $4 at Goodwill," she said of the bright orange blazer that got attention on urban blogs when the video was released in 2011.
"It's hot -- and wasn't everyone wearing coloured blazers after that?" she asked happily, giving herself credit for helping to push the trend.
Grammy-nominated Varner, a rising R&B singer, says she loves to thrift shop. She even called herself "a thrift queen."
Her favourite spot for "thrifting" in New York is Beacon's Closet. In Los Angeles, the singer "used to love Jet Rag, but it's so crazy now on Sunday mornings."
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 16, 2013 E10
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Life & Style
- Back to Top
- Return to Life & Style
Poll
Most Popular Life & Style
- Just for kicks: shoe swap hits town
- Make it look natural; companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun
- 'WhatsApp Messenger' top paid iPhone app in Canada
- Airborne laser spots ancient city complex of roads, canals hidden under dense Cambodian forest
- Even elite athletes sometimes feel depressed after completing a marathon
- Study shows commonly prescribed statin drugs and some antibiotics can interact
- Bark in the park more than a lark
- The old wooden church
- Pets of the week
- U.S. court upholds Canadian company's patent for couples vibrator
- Even elite athletes sometimes feel depressed after completing a marathon
- Apple's big week
- Just for kicks: shoe swap hits town
- Make it look natural; companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun
- Study shows commonly prescribed statin drugs and some antibiotics can interact
- Yaz and Yasmin pills linked to 23 deaths, say Health Canada documents
- Small-town Ohio police chief gives quick repercussion for criminals through Facebook floggings
- Ontario workers who fear chemical made them sick told to file claim
- Doctors say public purse and public health at risk because of government cuts
- More than 400 people ordered to leave homes in Fort McMurray due to flooding
- Deadly liver cancer on the rise, but half of cases preventable: Cancer Society
- Climate change keeping early birds from getting worms: study
- Overabundance of carp threatening ecosystem at Saskatchewan's Wascana Lake
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- Carb-loading and sports drinks: debunking marathon myths
- Two dead, one injured after helicopter crashes north of Fort McMurray, Alberta
- You can't break bad eating patterns, but you can modify them to your advantage
- Magazine's creator says style has no size
- Dr. Henry Morgentaler, the controversial abortion rights crusader, dead at 90
- The end of the credit card?
- Study shows commonly prescribed statin drugs and some antibiotics can interact
- Just for kicks: shoe swap hits town
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Website helps Parkinson's patients avoid protein-medication interaction
- Make it look natural; companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun
- 'WhatsApp Messenger' top paid iPhone app in Canada
- Bark in the park more than a lark
- Yaz and Yasmin pills linked to 23 deaths, say Health Canada documents
- Study shows commonly prescribed statin drugs and some antibiotics can interact
- Even elite athletes sometimes feel depressed after completing a marathon
- The old wooden church
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Turks and chaos
- Groin soreness sign of testicular cancer
- Website helps Parkinson's patients avoid protein-medication interaction
- Poor preschooler eating habits can raise cholesterol, set stage for heart disease
- Make it look natural; companies work to make packaged foods appear homespun
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- Cramping their style
- Specialist moving to Toronto after 23 years at cutting-edge sleep lab
- Markdown maven tells world of Winnipeg deals
- Carb-loading and sports drinks: debunking marathon myths
- Iron overload often missed diagnosis for heart problems
- You can't break bad eating patterns, but you can modify them to your advantage
- Yaz and Yasmin pills linked to 23 deaths, say Health Canada documents
- His nose knows: City perfume maker can concoct your personal aroma
- Genealogical searches connect present to past
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.