Whether we like it or not, thrift
Why thrift?
Thrift shopping has many benefits aside from the obvious amount of money one can save compared to a trip to the mall. Thrift shopping keeps clothes out of landfills and also helps us stop feeding the “fast fashion” industry of cheap clothing that harms the environment and promotes unfair working conditions overseas! Thrift shopping helps even more than just you!
Today I’m giving you some of my own tried-and-true tips and tricks so you can score the best deals!
1. Set aside adequate time
A good find at a thrift store doesn’t just happen. You have to put (hopefully not) blood, (and probably) sweat, and tears if you want to walk out with something that you’ll be proud to say “It was only $3!” You can’t expect to spend less than 20-30 minutes per store when you’re sifting through mounds of clothing for the ~perfect~ top.
2. Know yourself and what you like
This is something I have had to learn, and I want to make sure you know it too.
Just because you find a good deal, doesn’t mean you have to buy it.
Say you find the coolest leather jacket, but you’ve never worn/wanted one in your life. If you wouldn’t normally be interested in it if it cost more or at a normal store, you probably shouldn’t get it. Don’t get the shirt with uneven hem because you think you’ll fix it even though you’ve never pulled out your sewing kit a day in your life. As I said, know yourself
My style includes classic styles and neutral colors, so I knew this black turtleneck was a must-have when I found it!
3. That being said, don’t be afraid to have fun with it.
One of my favorite things about thrift shopping is never knowing what I will find. I let myself take more risks in fashion when I’m thrifting.
4. Going off of that, it never hurts to try something on…
(As long as the place you’re at has a dressing room)
I bought this dress last year and even though I tried it on and loved it, I failed to realize how tight it actually was in the arms. It was still cute, but not functional (or very fun to wear to a semi-formal dance, yikes!) Learn from my mistakes and make sure it fits – and leaves room to bust a move.
5. Check return policies!!
This one is super important. Most thrift stores have very strict or even zero return policies, which goes back to why it’s necessary to try stuff on before! Ask a store if you are unsure or confused about anything, and they will most likely try to work with you.
6. Don’t try to look at everything
Unless it’s a small shop, it’s going to be hard to go through every single thing. Pick a few sections, think about things you are looking for, and focus on those
7. Be P A T I E N T.
You’re probably not going to strike gold on your first try. The
Shorts and pants are probably one of the hardest things to find at thrift stores because of the inconsistency in sizes, and just the fact that shopping for pants is always difficult. It took me years to track down denim shorts that were the oversized, grunge look I was picturing.
8. Also know you’re probably not going to walk in and find exactly what you were looking for.
Besides a single isolated occasion when I walked in telling my sister, “I really want a nice black turtleneck” and five minutes later found the perfect black turtleneck sweater (it’s the one pictured above!!), I’ve never seen exactly what I wanted when I saw it. A lot of my best finds happen when I’m not really looking for anything and simply stumble upon something I love.
Thrift stores also aren’t like stores at the mall, meaning you can’t just walk in and immediately find what you need in your size. Sometimes you will try on a skirt in your size that is way too small, or a shirt that is so stretched out
A downside of thrifting can be getting overwhelmed, discouraged or frustrated after not finding anything in rack after rack of disorganized clothes. Try not to let it get to you, go home, and come back another day!
I saw this purse sitting off to the side in a local thrift store for $2 and absolutely had to get it!
9. You don’t have to shop till you drop
Shopping in a mall is already tiring, but thrift shopping can be even more exhausting. You don’t have to try to get it all in one day. Find a few places you like, check them out every few weeks. If I ever find myself running errands with time to kill, I let myself go to a thrift store or two.
And after, you can treat yourself to ice cream or a cup of coffee with all the money you saved buying second-hand!
11. Look for sales and promotions at your local thrift stores.
A lot of thrift stores offer sales and deals on their already insanely cheap merchandise, so look out for that if you’re looking to save even more
10. Venture past Goodwill.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way hating on Goodwill because I definitely love them. But it’s 2019, and thrift stores are EVERYWHERE! Shopping at locally owned thrift stores means you’re promoting small businesses (love!) and also I’ve noticed more often than not, independent thrift stores exist to promote local charities and ministries sometimes better than a thrift store chain would.
Once you find a store you really like, become a regular there. get to know the people that work there, and even when they put new items out!
I got this jacket at one of my favorite thrift stores back home! Smaller, local thrift stores are sometimes pickier on what they take, and also often less picked over, which means you have a higher chance of finding something great!
12. You can also check out secondhand websites or boutiques
Maybe you’ve gotten this far down and you’re thinking to yourself, “this is all sounds great, but traditional thrift stores still don’t sound like they’re for me.”
Good news! In the age of the internet and also in the ever-present time of wanting a good deal, there are also lots of other options! From secondhand websites like thredUP and Poshmark to chains like Plato’s Closet and my personal favorite, Dirt Cheap, to even local upscale vintage boutiques full of carefully selected pieces, the options are truly endless. And you can apply all of these tips listed above to any used clothing store or online website.
I found this dress in New York in the cutest resale store called The Vintage Twin (they actually have a website too!) I instantly fell in love with it despite the fact it wasn’t something I would normally pick out in a store. It’s still one of my favorite pieces in my closet!
13. As I said earlier, HAVE FUN!
I consider thrifting one of my favorite pastimes, and definitely my favorite form of retail therapy. You don’t get the same laughs from the ridiculous things you find or feelings of excitement when you score the cutest thing for under $5 from anywhere else.
Thrifting has allowed me to have fun with my closet without breaking the bank!
I hope this post inspires you to find your nearest Goodwill! Happy thrifting!