Thrifting Tips for Beginners
Thrifting has easily become one of my favorite hobbies over the years. It really started when I was in college and needing to stick to a budget when it came to finding new things to wear. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was more than just a way to save some money, but it was another way to express my creativity. I loved going through the racks and thinking about the people who wore these things before me, or thinking about how I could take a piece and make it fit to more of my style. And now, this is something I do for fun during most of my free time. If you are thinking about going thrifting (which I highly encourage you do!) and maybe don’t know where to start or how to get the most out of your experience, here are some tips that I go by:
Make sure you have enough time- I like to go to the thrift store when I have nothing or little else to do that day. Thrifting takes some time and patience, so it’s easier to take your time, relax, and enjoy perusing when you have a clear schedule. I know this seems obvious, but I do notice a difference during my trips when I am just there to enjoy myself versus when I feel crunched for time and need to find something. Light a candle, play some smooth jazz, meditate, really be sure to get in the right headspace for this.
Focus on pattern or texture- It can be pretty draining going through every item on the rack, so instead what I do is walk through the aisles and keep my eye out for patterns or textures that stick out to me. Really cute floral prints or chunky sweaters almost always stand out, for example. Think of it similarly to when you’re scanning the frozen pizza aisle. Eventually you come across the right one and you feel that “spark”, right? It’s pretty much the same thing. I keep my eye out for pieces that give me that “spark”. This also helps to determine whether or not to buy a piece if you’re on the fence about it. For me, if I feel so-so about something and not sure, if it doesn’t excite me then I will put it back, despite the low price point. You still want to fill your closet with things you want to wear!
Be sure to wear the proper attire- Just to be quick and efficient, I try to incorporate wearing more form-fitting pieces to the thrift store. This typically looks like a work-out tank and bike shorts for me, or leggings, work-out tank, and a sweatshirt during the colder months, for example. This helps the time in the fitting room go faster so you can try clothes on over top!
Don’t pay attention to tags-try things on!- I know this seems like another obvious tip, but keep in mind that thrifting is much different from shopping at mainstream stores. These pieces are years, even decades old, and styles and fits have certainly changed as time has gone on. Just because the tag is a different size from what you typically wear, doesn’t mean it won’t fit you! This is an occurrence I have found myself in more than a few times.
Be open to some alterations- Now, I am by no means a seamstress, but I do know how to work a pair of scissors. If you like a dress or skirt that fits too long, cut it! It is a lot easier to see somethings potential if you are open to tweaking it a bit. Change a t-shirt to a crop-top, or a pair of denim into some shorts. Even a small tweak like taking the shoulder pads out of a dress/shirt can make a thrifted piece more modern and fit your style a little easier. This is where I think a lot of the fun of thrifting comes in. I love being able to take a piece and make it into my own, something that no one else can get.
Stop by the home decor section- I can write a whole other post on this, so I will keep this brief. I will almost always stop by and look at the home section. They are usually filled with wicker baskets (which you can never get enough of), cute vases/jars, and other unique finds. And the best part about it is, you guessed it, they’re super inexpensive. It’s a great place to look if you’re looking for little knick-knacks to fill a space with, or score big and find a great vintage mirror, chair, or other unique piece to put in your home.I will always stop by a thrift store to find a home decor item before looking to buy it elsewhere.
That is all I’ve got for now! I really hope that some of these tips were helpful. I am by no means an expert thrifter, but this is just something that brings me joy and am happy to talk about when I can. Please feel free to share any tips that you might have as well and happy thrifting!
