If you are even somewhat aware of the current fashion scene, you know that vintage is in. Fashion constantly builds upon itself, borrowing ideas from the past and reinventing trends from previous decades, and authentic vintage clothing is what every style-conscious person wants to wear right now.

It’s interesting, it’s unique and, best of all, it’s cheap — or so it used to be. Formerly inexpensive vintage boutiques and shops have begun to raise their prices, thus eliminating one of the chief benefits of purchasing pre-owned clothing: affordability.

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard that the economy sucks, and if you’re reading this, you’re most likely a poor college student with limited funds to spend on shopping, much less on clothes that aren’t even new. To get your fix of vintage threads at outrageously low prices, shop at Goodwill. Or The Salvation Army. Or any other donation center or thrift store that you come across, for that matter. But Goodwill is my favorite.

Before you write Goodwill off as a place to shop for cheap Halloween costumes and inexpensive furniture for your first apartment, allow me to explain the abundance of other awesome things it has to offer.

I started to shop at Goodwill for the incomparably low prices, but I stayed for the sense of accomplishment I felt after digging through racks upon racks of clothing to find the perfect addition to my wardrobe.

I remember my first true score from Goodwill. It was a black sequined shift dress with a label of a brand that I didn’t recognize. Yet it was almost identical to designer dresses being sold in department stores at the time. From then on, I was hooked.

My next perfect find was an incredible Chanel look-alike black bag with a long chain strap and quilted exterior. Some of my other favorite discoveries have included an interesting floral dolman sleeve top, a black shirt with neckline cutouts and the perfect pair of brown lace-up booties. None of these exquisite items cost more than $10, and I purchased most of them for under $5.

Another thing that I love about Goodwill is that in some ways, it forces a sense of style upon the consumer. In order to illustrate this point, consider this: Anyone can go into a store like Urban Outfitters, randomly pull an outfit off the rack and come out looking good. The same can definitely not be said for Goodwill.

Remember that Goodwill is full of all kinds of rejected and ill-fitting clothing, so not every item in the store is going to be a special piece. Also, keep in mind that not every article can really be considered “vintage” in the true sense of the word. Most of the clothing is only a few years, or even seasons, old. Weeding out the worthy clothes from the junk is a really great way to develop an individual sense of style.

Thrift store shopping is not for everyone. If you’re concerned with labels and designers, you should probably seek your vintage fix elsewhere. But personally, I love that Goodwill doesn’t distinguish between high-end designer Moschino and Target brand Mossimo. A top is a top, a dress is a dress and a purse is a purse. At Goodwill, they’re all about the same price regardless of the name on the label.

In the midst of my vigorous and meticulous hunt for clothing, I sometimes forget that what I’m actually doing is helping out a great cause. The store is called Goodwill for a reason — because all of the money that it makes goes toward funding programs which provide job training and placement to people in need.

If you look at it this way, shopping at Goodwill is a win-win situation: You’re helping those in need and at the same time adding unique items to your wardrobe.

The Goodwill organization would not work if it weren’t for the generous donations of clothing, accessories, appliances and furniture it receives on a regular basis. The next time you clean out your closet, remember that instead of throwing away your old clothing, you can donate it to any Goodwill store and benefit a great cause. And if you see some fashionable person walking down the street wearing your cast-offs, you’ll know who to thank.

E-mail Katie at [email protected].