It may be 2023, but much of Gen Z’s fashion is reminiscent of vintage styles. And alongside these retro trends is a general increase in sustainability awareness and fast fashion cycles. Combined, these two aspects of fashion culture have made thrifting more popular than ever before for fashion-forward young adults. I’m all for it! Thrifting is a great way to practice slow fashion and mindful shopping, because it brings previously worn clothes back into circulation. Generally speaking, there’s also only one copy of an item at a thrift store, meaning that it takes longer to find items you truly love, helping cut back on the dreaded impulsive “add to cart” mentality. Older clothes also are often better quality than more modern pieces, because manufacturing focus was more on the longevity of garments. Yet, even with all these benefits, getting into thrifting can be daunting. Here are some tips on how to maximize your success at a thrift store!
First, think about where you shop. Not all thrift stores are created equal. Oftentimes, small local thrift stores have cheaper prices than chains. Chain thrift stores often are laid out nicely and are larger. Other alternatives include consignment and vintage shops, which tend to comb through donated or sold pieces with a more discerning eye, allowing for a more curated shopping experience. There are also plenty of online options, including “Plato’s Closet”-esque shops like ThredUp and marketplace-style apps like Poshmark or Vinted, all of which are nice if you want to be able to find a very specific sort of item (or if you just like to shop from the safety of your couch). Each of these types of stores has its benefits, and it really depends on what you’re hoping to find for which one is the best option for you. If you’re trying to ease into thrifting, however, starting with consignment shops and/or online shops may feel the most familiar, and will help you get used to the experience.
If you want to find gems while thrifting, go through EVERYTHING. When I thrift, I first scan each aisle for patterns, textures, and colors that stand out. Generally, I find my favorite things this way. Even so, I then go through each rack thoroughly, because you never know if something is hiding that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen. Exhibit A: a spaghetti-strap dress that I couldn’t see on its hanger that I only found by going through the aisle carefully, which is now one of the most-worn pieces in my closet. Also, go through sizes that are bigger or smaller than what you normally wear (for reference, I normally look through one size up/down for dresses and tops, and two sizes up/down for bottoms). Especially for vintage items, sizing used to be different, so you never know what might fit that you don’t expect. Similarly, because most clothes are previously worn, things may have stretched out or shrunk from wear. Lastly, sometimes clothes get put in the wrong section. I once found an old leather jacket in the kid’s section. Moral of the story–take your time and sort through it all!
Check the new and the “go back” racks.
I know, I know. This tip totally falls within the last one. I think it’s worth highlighting, though, because if you go to a thrift store that has a fitting room, other people may well have already picked out some great items and left them behind. If you don’t have a ton of time to thrift, let other shoppers do the work for you and go through what they didn’t want. New racks are also fun to sort through because they haven’t been sifted through as much, so you can often find great things there.
Style first, brand second.
One of the easiest pitfalls to buying unnecessary things while thrifting is by looking for a specific label or tag instead of actually looking at the physical qualities of an item. As much as you can, focus on looking for styles, cuts, etc of clothes that you enjoy before you sneak a peek at a tag. I make myself play the “is it cute or is it just Free People” game every time I thrift to make sure I don’t come home with something I don’t actually love! That being said, if you are really looking for a specific brand of item, check consignment stores or online sites first. You’ll likely have better luck and a wider range of options there.
If you’re thrifting somewhere without fitting rooms…
Learn your measurements! If you’re like me and have a hard time eyeballing what will fit you correctly, and often go to stores that don’t have a fitting room, bring a small tape measure with you to measure clothing, especially things that don’t have a lot of stretch to see if they fit.
Wear layers. I usually wear a thin cotton tank top with a zip up sweater over top, and either leggings or jeans when I thrift. This makes it easy to slip on tops, outerwear, and even skirts/dresses over your clothes to see if they fit without having to go into a dressing room. Yes, it can feel a little uncomfortable at first, and obviously follow any guidelines that your thrift stores have set about trying on garments, but it’s normally fine to at least try on jackets and sweaters over what you’re wearing.
Try the “around the neck” trick. Generally, if a pair of bottoms will fit your waist, when you wrap them around your neck, the two sides of the bottoms will just meet. If they overlap a lot, they will likely be too big, and if they don’t touch at all, they’re probably going to be a little snug.
Learn to sew! It’s a total gateway drug to not only mending or altering thrifted pieces but also to upcycling and making your own clothes. That way, if you find a perfect pair of jeans that you need to let out at the bottom, a skirt that needs to be taken in slightly at the waist, or a shirt that has a small hole, you’re still able to get it.
There you have it: my favorite tips on how to thrift like a pro. Don’t be discouraged if it takes some adjustment or if you don’t find much your first time shopping. Not every thrift store is going to have things that you like, and even finding one or two items is a total score. Plus, only getting a couple of things when you shop helps with practicing mindful addition of clothing into your wardrobe. Thrifting is a ton of fun, and in my opinion, once you start, it’s hard to ever go back!