Fashion is an art form. Some of us spend hours curating our closet to be the perfect reflection of who we are. However it’s also a big industry that is often inaccessible to a majority of the world. Thrifting serves as a nice alternative that levels the playing field a bit as most of the items found at these stores are sold at discounted pricing. Thrift stores can seem intimidating at first with their piles of clothes tossed about everywhere but many of them are full of gems. In order to separate the best finds from the worst we put together some tips on how to thrift like a pro to successfully curate your closet.
Donate First:
It might seem oxymoronic at first but before thrifting its recommended to clear out your closet and donate what you no longer need. 1. Some stores offers coupons and discounts to people that donate to them. Some stores offer cash back for the amount and quality of clothes you donate as well. 2. it creates space in your wardrobe to take in more gently used items. You’ll be able to see what’s missing from your wardrobe and get a better sense of what you’re interested inn buying.
Make a List:
It seems unnecessary but a shopping list will save you so much time while you’re out thrifting. It’s easy to get lost inn the piles of clothes at these stores and lose track of what it is you’re looking for. The list will keep you organized and prevent you from spending excess money. After all that pink fur jacket might look good, but is it really something you need right now?
Research the Stores:
There are hundreds of thrift stores that pop up everyday. While they all offer discounted clothing, not all thrift stores will offer the clothes and prices that you’re interested in. Some stores only offer select styles only curating clothes from certain sources and brands, while others only offer clothes that are inn season or in style to help stay relevant to their core customers. Researching the thrift stores you want to visit will help you save time in the shopping process and will also put you in range for the best deals. Location of the stores are something to take into account as well. Thrift stores in high end areas area likely to carry more name brand items at affordable rates than stores in other areas.
Consider the Fabric:
The easy access to fast fashion has warped our sense of what quality clothing looks like. Thrift stores are being flooded with Shein dupes but don't fall for the low prices. These clothes aren’t made of good fabric and will likely breakdown after a few washes. If you want items that last always check the fabric quality. You’ll be saving yourself more money in the end.
Think Unisex:
Although many stores go through the trouble oof separating clothes by gender, your shopping experience will elevate once you leave behind the gender binary of clothes. Clothes are made for everyone and with the right pairing you’ll be able to turn any piece of clothing into a dope outfit.
Identify Easy Alterations:
The downside of thrifting is that it’s a tossup for what kind of items you’ll find. It’s very common to find clothes that you like but are too big, too small, or have some tears or stains on them often preventing you from buying them. Although you can’t save every item, if you’re able to be a little innovative you’ll be able to get more out of your thrifting experience than the average person. Clothing can easily be resized (to a certain extent), and you can use various cleaners and dyes to restores clothes back to their original glory.
Read more: T-shirt to Tote Workshop
Make Sure It’s Something You’d Wear:
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with clothing as you’re browsing through the aisles of gently used clothing. And often times you’ll come across something that you know you can’t pass up. However the point of thrifting is being able to find clothes at an affordable price, and if you’re just buying trendy pieces you’re kind of missing the point. While shopping make sure it’s something you’d wear. Try to imagine it in your closet with other pieces you have before purchasing.
These are just a few of the tips we use to really maximize our time thrifting for the best items. Do you have any additional tips? Be sure to leave a comment below.