I can relate to Paula Marantz Cohen

I found an essay on Thrirt Store shopping by Paul Marantz Cohen. Paula Marantz Cohen is a Professor of English at Drexel University. Her essays and stories have appeared in The Yale Review, The American Scholar, The Hudson Review, the Times Literary Supplement, and other publications.

Cohen's articulation of Thrift Store shopping nearly brought me to tears....

"Reverse snobbism is one — to boast about how little one spent on something when others like to boast about how much. A swipe at capitalism is another — diverting profits from the coffers of rapacious moguls. But most of all, I am motivated by the pleasure of the hunt: sifting through racks of undistinguished merchandise for something that has escaped the tar brush of cheapness and shoddiness; glimpsing the elegance of a garment underneath the deforming overlay of smocking, ruffles, and bows. If shopping is a sport that requires stamina and practice, it is also an art that requires vision and boldness — the willingness to snip off an offending swag or imagine how an extra-large shirt will look when belted and worn as a dress."

Her elequint decription of Thrift Store shopping makes me respect her. It also inspires me to keep going because....Thrift store shopping is an Art. I hope it inspires you too!

The full essay can be found at http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article10310702.aspx.