If you know me, you know how much I love to go thrift shopping. A few reasons I love thrifting: you get unique items, the “vintage” look is in, it’s less expensive than buying new, and it is better for the environment. If I had to give an estimate I would say that 70% of the clothes I own are thrifted. With that, I would like to think I know some pretty good tips on how to get the best finds at the thrift shop.
1.) Look Through Everything
If you are looking at clothes look through it all. Thrift stores don’t usually put sizes in the right spots, so it helps just to look through everything in a section.
2.) Look in the Men’s Section
The Men’s section can be full of hidden treasures. I personally love looking through the Men’s section for old college t-shirts and sweatshirts. The t-shirts always seem to be softer in the Men’s section and they usually have a wider selection.
3.) Check the Clothing for Stains or Holes
Before you purchase, be sure to check your items for stains or holes. Some stains are easy to remove with some searching on Pinterest or what I usually do is text my mom. Holes in items can also be a quick fix depending on the fabric.
4.) Don’t be Afraid to do Some DIY or Upcycle Pieces
One of my favorite things to do is altering pieces I have bought. I am notorious for buying big t-shirts and cutting them into crop tops. So many great ideas for DIY’s and upcycling exists on Pinterest and YouTube. Also, if you have a vision in your mind don’t be afraid try it out on a piece of scrap fabric or buy another piece as practice.
5.) Look for Special Deal Days
For an even bigger discount look up special shopping days at your local store. Most places will give you a student discount and when you walk in, they will tell you if they have a certain colored tag that is on sale that day. The best way to find out about special days is to to to ask an employee or look them up online.
6.) Go Dressed in Clothes You Can Easily Change Out Of
This is just a tip for clothes shopping in general. Wear clothes that you can easily change out of for fitting room purposes. This is also useful for trying on things like jackets while just walking around the store.
7.) Take Your Bestie With You!
When thrifting I love taking my bestie with as a second opinion and a second set of eyes. Having two people search through the racks means you’re less likely to overlook something awesome. It is also great for catching up and having fun together.