Finally, beat the crowds at Goodwill and shop thrifty online

By Ashley McGuire

There’s nothing worse than rocking the same cute, little dress that the girl sitting next to… There’s nothing worse than rocking the same cute, little dress that the girl sitting next to you in biology is wearing. And boys, you know it, too. You hate it, don’t you? There’s nothing more upsetting than getting all cute for class or a party only to find out that some person you’ve never met before looks like your twin.

Good news, though. You no longer have to fear being unoriginal or being the one imitated. There is a Web site that’s super hot, and you may not have heard of it, although it has been around for over two years.

If you like sporting vintage clothes, but can’t afford the overpriced styles of New York, and Goodwill never seems to have what you are searching for, www.vintagevantage.com is a Web site that you need to check out. Sporting one of these tees, you no longer have to fear that a girl/guy is eyeing you up and down in class because you both decided to wear the same shirt from Abercrombie ‘ Fitch.

Vintage Vantage is a cool collection of vintage T-shirts, inspired by designs from the ’70s and ’80s. Created in July 2001, it basically started with a few T-shirt finds in some thrift stores that made their way to eBay. Customers became more interested and the Web site was formed. What started with limited clientele quickly boomed. Several hundred of these T-shirts are sold weekly via eBay, another couple hundred from their Web site, and several hundred more have made their way to Urban Outfitters – maybe you will find someone sporting your vintage look after all.

The designs are funky and original. With sayings like “Hug a Stranger” and “We Be Illin’,” you’ll be one of the few on campus sporting something not found at the mall, considering there isn’t an Urban Outfitters in the Pittsburgh area.

If you want to order replications for decent prices – save the true vintage top-shelf tees going for $1,000 or more – you’ve clicked on the right Web site.

The site will link you to its online catalog to purchase the unique and comfy tees. The best part: Not only do they look good, but they feel great, too. Made out of the softest, thinnest fabric, as the Web site says, “The result is a T-shirt that blows away anything you’ve ever worn/seen/felt or heard about on seedy street corners. Indulge your torso.”

With your new Vintage Vantage tee, you’ll not only receive several jealous looks, but you’ll have an original fashion statement all your own.