Thrift Tips

I get a lot of questions about my thrift store experiences. So I thought I would give some tips on what helps me most when I am shopping secondhand. It's really easy for me to get overwhelmed when thrifting. There can be too much to take in at once and frustrating that I can't get to everything. So here is how I keep that from happening. Here we go!

1. Go with a purpose. It's good to have an idea of what your closet needs when you go to the thrift store. I am usually looking for tops and skirts. When you know what you need, it's easier to focus on just those sections.

2. Quickly skim! This allows me to cover more areas of the store in a smaller amount of time. I walk down the aisle just looking at the tops of the hangers, like in the above picture. If a color or pattern catches my eye, I will look at that piece specifically. With this method I risk missing some good pieces, but I'm also saving time by avoiding a bunch of clothes I'll never wear. Looking at the picture above, there are a lot of colors and patterns that I know I would never wear. (The only section that I look through piece by piece is the t-shirts. But even then I only look at certain colors.)

3. Try things on. At secondhand stores, it's best not to look at sizes. Base size on what looks like it would fit your body. If you like something, it never hurts to try it on! Trying on will always help you: either you'll love a piece more or realize it's not for you.

4. Come back to it. When you are serious about buying something, take a break from it and go look at other things. Preferably things that aren't clothes: kitchenware, books, movies, etc. Once you are done browsing, look back at the pieces you have and make sure you're still interested in them. This step sounds silly, but quite often I'll look back at what I have and realize I don't really want something. Saves money and space in your closet.

5. Review your closet. If you are still interested in a piece, think about what you already own that you could pair it with. You will need to be familiar with your closet for this step.

These tips won't work for everyone, but they have worked for me. Hopefully one of these will help you next time you're thrifting. Have a good weekend!