How to Optimize Your Thrifting Experience
I’ve been going on trips to The Salvation Army with my mother since before I can remember, and to this day, most of my clothes are still from various thrift stores. At first, it was an economic choice, and it still somewhat is, but the reason I love thrifting the most is the satisfaction you get when you find that perfect piece of clothing- for a fraction of what the donator must have paid. Over the years, I have learned some tips and tricks on how to make the shopping experience more effective, quick, and rewarding, so today I’d like to share them with you!
Go for Thrift Shops in the City
When thrifting, the pieces you pick up are always based on the community that is donating to that specific store. Going from living in a small town in Maine to a large city in Nova Scotia, I was pleasantly surprised at not only the difference in quantity at the thrift stores there, but the difference in style. To put it quite bluntly, people who live in the city are often younger, more fashionable and more wealthy than those who live in small towns, therefore, the pieces they donate will match that pattern. The other great thing about cities is that the population density allows for smaller, niche thrift stores to exist that cater to specific aesthetics, like vintage shops and boutiques. While those are often more expensive to buy from, the styles are curated, and your money supports a small business.
Pick Sections to Focus On
If you want dig deep into the thrift store’s entire selection for hours, by all means, do it, but most of us simply do not have the energy to dedicate that much time to shopping. On the flip side, skimming over racks is often useless unless you’re looking for something specific; you’ve got a much better chance of finding something you want to wear by taking the time to sift through each individual item. The answer to this conundrum is a happy medium; pick specific sections that you want to dig through, and skim the others casually. It can either depend on what you’re looking for more of in your closet at the moment, or on which sections are worth the time and effort. I find that I can usually tell from a glance whether I’m going to like a shirt, but with jeans and jackets, it’s more effective to feel the material and be able to read the labels to know whether the item you’re picking up is worth it.
Look in the Opposite Gender’s Section
Some of my best sweaters have come from the men’s section. I love the oversized feel and the thicker material that men’s clothes often have, and some of my boyfriend’s cutest tops have come from the women’s section because they have more color options and style variance. Gendered sections really don’t make much of a difference unless you’re looking for a very fitted item such as tight jeans or shoes, so why not look somewhere you typically wouldn’t? You may get some new style inspiration!
Play Through Outfit Ideas in Your Head
A problem I have quite often is finding a good item, but proceeding to never wear it once I take it home- and because it’s such a good find, I refuse to donate it back, forever convincing myself that some day I will wear it. The strategy I use to combat this problem is picturing outfits in my head before I buy the piece. If there aren’t two or more outfits you can see yourself making with it out of what’s already in your closet, put it back. Although it seems like a great find, you’re probably never going to touch it, and maybe it can be a great find for someone else’s wardrobe.
Visit Your Store’s Underrated Sections
While I usually go to the thrift store in search for cute clothing, I often forget that there are so many cute finds in other sections. There’s an abundance of cheap and gorgeous wall art (once you weed out the live, laugh, love signs) as well as the cutest little trinkets and figurines in the wooden objects section. One of my favorite pieces is a four dollar grandma-ish jewelry box that I took apart and painted to fit my aesthetic. On the topic of crafting supplies, you can get full balls of yarn, fake flowers, and all kinds of other items for way cheaper than you’d buy them at any Michael’s or Jo-ann Fabrics!
Celebrate Your Finds!
Like I said at the beginning, the best part of thrifting is the bragging rights. When somebody compliments my mint condition Patagonia Fleece- I instantly say; “I got it for 12 dollars at Salvation Army!”- and I’m not going to stop anytime soon. Through thrifting, you find the most unique items that give you both inspiration and satisfaction, and you help the planet by choosing not to purchase from fast fashion brands and protecting clothes from ending up in a landfill. The old saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is proven time and time again every time I enter the thrift store- and I hope it rings true for you too!
