More than once, I came out of a store with more than a dozen items for $ 50. At the end of last week, I went back, with only $ 20 in my pockets, and came out with a mink hat, a pair of leather boots, a leather bag and a pair of white high waisted jeans just like I have been wanting for several months already. I was really worthy of Macklemore!
You guessed it, the best way to renew your wardrobe for cheap is by thrift shopping! Especially when the goal is to get some new pieces to complete a look or feel like you have new pieces to wear, thrift saves money, as well as reducing the amount of garments that end up in the garbage dump. For the regulars, the following article might seem simplistic, but it is certain that novices can feel a little intimidated by the idea of these large spaces filled with clothes in a single copy.
So here are some tips I would have liked to be given when I started shopping in thrift stores:
Taking your time is the key
You do not want to go there and only to spend a few minutes. Indeed, to increase your chances of finding an interesting item, you have to be ready to comb through each row. As I mentioned above, each article is in one copy. This prevents us from quickly locating a piece that interests us. Personally, I need approximately 2 to 3 hours to go around a thrift shop and try a dozen pieces. It all depends on the motivation I have that day. I do it more quickly when I know that I only need pants or a long-sleeved top, for example (several thrift stores are organized by categories of clothing, although others are just a mess of clothes in bins).
Try anything that interests you, no matter the size of the label
Since thrift stores sell used clothing from many different sources, sizes are not really indicative of the size of the garment. All retailers have their own standard sizes, so thrift stores contain a great disparity between several garments of the same size. In addition, the magnitudes seem to grow over time, so if you are a size 6 now, you may end up buying a vintage size 10. In addition, it is possible that the thrift store does not have any dressing rooms, in which case it is better to wear tighter clothes so you can put on garments over your outfit. When I go thrift shopping, I look at small and large sizes quickly, and medium in a more exhaustive way. I try everything that looks about my size, so I don’t miss a bargain for the sole reason that it is not the right number or the good letter written on the label!
Be flexible in relation to your expectations
Do not go to a thrift store with a grocery list. First, they do not sell food (ok, this is my first and my last dad joke … maybe). Second, it’s a great plan to be disappointed. Thrift stores do not keep inventory like the regular stores, which control their assortment in order to have a bit of everything according to the trends. In a thrift store, it may well be that there is no simple white t-shirt of the right size, or high-waisted black pants with a straight leg. When I go thrift shopping, it is because I’m looking for new things to wear, but I have no precise idea in mind.
Read the content and maintenance label
Although the size itself is not indicative, looking at the label allows to appreciate the quality of the garment. I try not to buy fast fashion clothes or synthetic fiber (polyester, nylon, acetate, acrylic, etc.) unless it is in very good condition. This kind of clothing tends to pill (make small balls of fiber on the surface of the fabric), and does not last very long. Thus, if it is already used, chances are that after a few washes, it is good to throw away. On the other hand, natural fibers (cotton, linen, silk, etc.) tend to become deformed and shrink when washed, so if it is used clothing, it has already been washed several times and shrunk . It should not shrink anymore. In addition, some clothes can not be machine washed, so you have to get them dry cleaned. If you are not ready to make this commitment, then leave it for someone else who will take good care of it! For my part, if I really like a piece, I don’t mind its composition or origin, but if I hesitate and I see that it is polyester, I prefer not to buy it!
Anecdote : While I was shopping last week, I found a jacket labeled Armani Collezioni. I jumped on it. Looking at the care label, which was made of paper , I realized it was a copy! The jacket was made of a mixture of acrylic and wool, and lined with polyester. Considering that a new jacket of this brand can cost more than $ 1000, it was obviously a copy. It would not have really bothered me if it fit me, but it didn’t, so I decided it was not worth it. If it had been a real one, I would probably have bought it and sold it for profit … hihihi!
Look at the garment before buying
I once landed on a super beautiful garment, brought it into the fitting room and realized that there was a hole, or a stain. I also happened to not notice it right away and buy it. It’s really disappointing to come home and realize that you bought something that you will not dare to wear as is! Take time to look closely at the seams and overall appearance of the garment. If a seam is broken, there may be a hole and it will get bigger!
Wash before wearing
As Macklemore puts it, “Probably should be washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets”. Thrifty clothes can sometimes have a special smell. It took me two to three washes to remove the smell of the thrift store from a garment. It’s not necessarily because it’s dirty, but just because some clothes spend a lot of time in the store before being bought.
Learn how to sew or find a tailor
It happened to me to come across quality clothes, looking almost new and I loved, but they were much too big or small! Having basic sewing skills, and understanding of the different ways you can adjust a garment (by the side, by the pleats, adding a rubber band, etc.) allows to buy this kind of piece without problems. It’s also a good way to practice sewing without risking too much money! For people who really do not have manual fiber in them, many tailors offer their services of adjustment, and it is very affordable (especially when one has paid only $ 5 for a virgin wool blazer… ).
Keep your head cool, even if it’s really cheap!
I often got caught buying a lot of pieces just because it was not expensive. After all why not? The problem is that most of the time I end up giving these pieces back to charity after a few months, because I do not wear them. So I lost space and money unnecessarily. Better to buy only what you like and what you are sure to wear, even if it is not expensive! (note: This advice, although very wise, is not exclusive to thrift stores!)
Here! You know all my secrets of “thrift shopper”! I hope this will encourage you to go shopping for clothes and trust. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to write to me!
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