My Goodwill haul.
On your salary, can you afford all the LARP gear you want AND all of the clothes you need to wear in work and everyday life? I can’t. So when I spend money on LARP gear, I go for value.
Over the years, I’ve utilized the following techniques to save money:
- Repurposing items (my favorite half-cloak used to be a skirt)
- Investing in one high-quality piece and purchasing second-hand items to match
- Play a character who wears a few of the same items I do
- Lost of persistent second-hand store shopping
On that last point – it’s a hit or miss. Most times, I leave Goodwill empty-handed, whether I’m looking for LARP items or personal items or both. Today, Christmas came early.
I scored a $55 haul of items for LARP and personal use. Only a handful of the items will require alteration, and all will look specific to my character’s culture (it’s Celtic-inspired). I also managed to find a new with tags grey winter coat for everyday use. I’ll pair my ‘gear’ – more expensive costume items like corsets and bodices – with the second-hand basics.
What are your favorite second-hand store finds?
