Thrift Shopping 101

So today, I wanted to talk about thrifting. I was so excited to do this topic because over the years, I’ve come to really enjoy thrifting. I’m by no means a thrifting expert yet but I wanted to give you some beginner tips that have been really helpful for me. In 2022, I’m going to do a couple videos with more in depth tips on all things thrift shopping so stay tuned for this!

Tip one is to dress accordingly. Not all thrift shops have fitting rooms but if they do, it’s super important to dress in something that’s easy to change in and out of. A go-to look for me is a button down top and slightly loose fitting jeans. Super skinny pants are irritating to change in and of and a button down makes it so you don’t have to mess up your hair or makeup by pulling it over your head over and over again. I like choosing separates to wear when shopping so that if I’m trying on separates, I have pants on to see how the tops will look and vice versa.

Tip two is to go in with the right mindset. I tend to get in trouble if I go thrifting with no goal in mind and just meander around. This leads to impulse buying, settling on pieces I didn’t really need. So it’s best to in with a goal, look in your closet beforehand and make a little list of some essentials you’re looking for, keep the list in your phone and handy while you’re shopping so that you have direction and focus.

Tip three is to avoid impulse purchases. Seeing so many low prices, it’s easy to get caught up and say ‘ah it’s only 5 bucks, I’ll get it’. But if you’re doing that for 10 pieces, this can add up and you’re not taking the time to analyze the piece and see if you truly love it and if you’ll wear it when you’re just impulsively shopping.

Tip four is to ask when they restock. Not every customer thinks to ask the store but if you do, knowing when they restock is golden information. It’ll save you from shopping on their busiest days which is normally the weekends, when their inventory is low. And if you know when they restock, you’ll get first pickings on new product before the majority of customers.

This next step is specifically shopping vintage. True vintage, I’m talking pieces from the 70s and earlier, are typically 4-6 times smaller than modern sizing so it’s not uncommon to size up if you’re thrifting vintage and it’s a great idea to try on vintage to see how it lays and wears on your shape.

Tip six is to use thrifting to shop for off season pieces. Just like retail stores, thrifting is great to having amazing deals on clothes that aren’t currently in high demand for that season. So if you’re heading into spring but you really wanted a cute bomber for this past winter, stop by a few local thrift stores and browse their outerwear. If you find the perfect piece you’re looking for, 99% of the time it’ll be a low price since it’s off season.

Tip seven is to give yourself a time limit. Thrifting can be very overwhelming at times because you go in and you see all these selections and the thought of having to search through every rack can feel exhausting. While it’s always a good idea to take your time and not rush, try to also shop for an hour so you don’t get burned out. And again, if you go in with a goal in mind of what you’re looking for and find the balance of not rushing but having a time limit, it’ll make thrifting feel more enjoyable.

Work with me! As a personal stylist and style coach, I believe you deserve to feel amazing in your clothes and have a wardrobe that you love to wear. With my guidance and expertise, you’ll have a closet that works and a style that makes you feel confident and fabulous!