Thrift shopping often gets a bad rap – people think it takes too much time, they won’t find anything, and sometimes even the “I don’t want to wear someone’s old clothes!” But let me tell you, there is no better thrill than finding that high-end designer piece you’ve been drooling over at an insanely low price – it feels like you’ve just struck gold. Sometimes you’re even lucky enough to find items with the tags still on, completely unworn, or end up with a haul of clothes you never expected to find! That’s what puts the fun in thrifting; you never know what amazing pieces you could stumble upon, and there is nothing more satisfying than calculating how much money you saved. As a thrifting veteran myself, I’ve gathered my 6 best tips for making your shopping experience a success:
1. DO Find the Best (& Closest) Stores
A recent discovery of mine, http://www.thethriftshopper.com is like magic: all you have to do is put in your city or zip code, and it pulls up a list of all the closest thrift shops around you, along with their ratings and reviews from fellow thrift-shoppers. You’re welcome.
2. DON’T shop by size
We get very used to this habit when shopping in regular stores, however, it is not a good idea when thrifting. Because a thrift store carries so many different items and brands, no two items will be sized the same way. It is much easier if you shop based on what kinds of clothing you are looking for, and what catches your eye. You can also look through sections that you know are definitely not your size to wear them in a different way, which brings me to my next point…
3. DO Think outside the box
You can often find the best hidden gems in sections that you wouldn’t normally think to shop in. For example, when looking for on-trend pieces, the men’s section will have the best oversized graphic tees and college/sports team sweatshirts and t-shirts. If you are in the market for a silky slip dress/lacy top that are super trendy right now, look no further than the pajama section. Always look at how you could alter a piece to make it cuter, like cropping larger t-shirts, cutting a dress into a shirt, and wearing a bigger tee as a t-shirt dress! The options are endless when it comes to converting thrifted looks. Also, never forget to peek through the kids section. Sometimes, even the boys pants section will have Levi’s or other nice-quality jeans that can be cut into shorts or distressed!
4. DON’T buy it just because it’s cheap
I know it can be tempting to buy a shirt you’re only so-so about because it’s $5, but believe me, if you don’t love the way it looks in the store, you will regret buying it when you get home. To whittle down what you’re buying, think about if you will actually wear the item or if you already have something too similar.
5. DO wear simple clothes
Come to the thrift store wearing clothes that will be easy to change in and out of. It will make the dressing room a breeze, and you will be thanking yourself when the line is too long and you just want to throw something on over your clothes!
6. DON’T skip over the other sections
It is always worth scanning through the accessories and home decor sections, as well as a costume section! Sometimes you can find some great basic belts to add to your wardrobe in the accessories area, and the home decor section usually has cute mugs or cups for very low prices. Also, college is filled with tons of themed parties, so if you see a cute 70s outfit or potential Halloween costume for a good price, grab it while you can! Thrift stores can also be a great place to pick up some more wild pieces for Mardi Gras!