Thrifting is such a fun adventure. You never know what you will find! Some days, you might hit the jackpot and find tons of awesome stuff. Other days, you might not get so lucky and leave with little to nothing! If you are new to the thrifting game, you will probably feel overwhelmed if you don’t have a strategy. If you want to start thrifting as your main way of shopping (not just as a hobby), I’m here to help! When building a capsule wardrobe, thrifting is an affordable and sustainable way to do so. Here is how you can thrift awesome clothing pieces for your capsule wardrobe!
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1. Look For Quality Materials
The first tip I want to share with you is to know your materials! Look for quality materials such as wool, linen, cashmere, silk, rayon, etc. Sure, you might find cute things from fast fashion brands, but there are so many better options that will last you for a lot longer. Personally, I like to look for higher quality and things with higher value. If you are buying something from a thrift store by Target or Forever 21, the price isn’t going to be much of a difference than what it retailed for.
When you go the the thrift store, feel the different materials so you get familiar with how each one feels. When I am looking through racks, I feel the different materials and textures of clothing. I have gotten to the point where I can determine if something is high quality just by feeling it! Of course, I still always check the tags to make sure, but this saves me a lot of time when I an thrift shopping. The more often you thrift, the better you will become at this!
2. Don’t Limit Yourself to One Size
Whenever I go thrift shopping, I look through ALLLL the sizes. I look from end to end, size XS to XXL. You don’t have to limit yourself to just your own size. Get creative with things! I find tons of great stuff in larger sizes that look so good as an oversized fit. Similarly, I find smaller sized items that are oversized and fit me just right! Also, somethings get misplaced so you might find something in your size in a different area.
If you know you can get things altered or alter them yourself, then your options are even bigger! Just keep an open mind when it comes to sizes. Not all sizes are created equal and it might differ from brand to brand or style to style!
3. Look Through the Men’s
Similarly to not limiting yourself to only your size, don’t limit yourself to only the women’s section! I am currently loving finding funky sweaters and corduroy shirts and I find these a lot more often in the men’s section. The men’s section can offer you a lot more than if you just stuck to the women’s section.
Somethings can also be misplaced here so you might even find women’s items here and vice versa!
4. Go Through Everything
My fourth thrifting tip is to go through EVERYTHING. Go through tank tops, short sleeves, long sleeves, button ups, sweaters, dresses and everything else! What I like to do is give myself a starting point at the store. I will start at the first aisle and zig zag my way to the very end. I go through every single isle and every single rack. This may sound very tedious, but after awhile you will get faster and more efficient! Plus, it’s worth it if you want to look for high quality pieces.
Just like everything, the more often you thrift, the better you will get and the better the chances of you finding amazing things!
5. Make a List of What You Are on the Hunt For!
Before you start your hunt for amazing thrift pieces, make a list of things you are looking for. It’s good to always keep an ongoing list of certain things you are specifically looking for. This way, you are being a little more intentional and actively searching for these things. If you have no idea what you want to look for, Pinterest is great for some style inspiration! You can create a Pinterest board for things you would like to thrift, then make a list of those things.
For example, I am always on the hunt for corduroy shirts, henley sweaters, and Dr. Martens boots that are in good condition. You don’t have to limit yourself to just what is on your list, but it’s a good start and great for guidance!
6. Shop in High Income Areas
I’ve noticed that when I shop in more affluent, high income areas, I have better luck finding good brands and high quality items. People who are living in these areas obviously make more money. Therefore, they probably buy nicer things, buy things more often, and donate items that are still in really good condition!
Overall, just try different thrift stores and get a feel for each one. You will soon find your favorites one’s to go to and one’s that you never have any luck with!
7. Have Enough Energy
I don’t know if anyone else is like this, but thrifting takes A LOT out of me! While I do really love and enjoy it, I get tired and hungry real quick! If you feel the same way, make sure you eat enough and are well rested before heading to the thrift stores, especially when you want to hit more than one. There have been times when I am finding so many good things at a thrift store but I run out of energy to look through the whole store! I hate that feeling and I experience major FOMO when I have to leave. Thrifting is much more fun when you have the energy to look through everything!
Final Thoughts
Becoming a pro at thrifting doesn’t happen overnight. Have fun with it, be patient, and be consistent. The items in a thrift store are obviously changing day by day, so you aren’t always going to hit the jackpot. There might be days when you do though, and that will be so exciting! The most important thing is to be consistent and thrift frequently, especially if you are trying to make thrifting you main way of shopping for your wardrobe. Also, it’s totally okay to have a wardrobe that is only partially thrifted. There are plenty of times that I just can’t find what I want!
If you are interested in online second hand shopping, here are some great places to start:
What items are you on the hunt for? Are you new to thrifting? If so, I hope some of these tips were helpful to you! Happy thrifting!
Sincerely,
Denise XOXO
