Howdy! Anyone else used to think thrift stores smelled really bad when they were a kid, but now recognizes that as the smell of good deals? No? Just me? Ok. Saying I love to go shopping at a thrift store or consignment store is an understatement. I mean, 90% of the clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, etc. that I get compliments on are from thrift stores. Also, who doesn’t love sustainable fashion? I’m always having people ask if they can go shopping with me next time I go (which of course yes!). However, since the internet can’t come to the store with me, I figured I’d share my 10 super thrift store tips so you can snag big deals!
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Location
To kick off these thrift store tips, know the demographic of your area! I have found that areas with a decent amount of college students is where I can find the best inventory of clothes I like. College students are notoriously poor, and always looking to make a few dollars. This is why they tend to donate some pretty nice items. Also, if you need cheap shirts for your university, you can usually find some! Areas that are wealthier also tend to have a good selection of styles.
Perfect example: I went to Plato’s Closet (Plato’s closet is technically a consignment store) in Frisco, which is a pretty affluent area, and got a BRAND NEW pair of steve madden shoes. They normally retail for $250, and I paid $18. (Hindsights, they are NOT comfortable at all…)
Size Labels are Suggestions
Don’t pay close attention to the size section of clothes. I would suggest looking both up and down 1 size from your actual size. Women’s clothes are crazy when it comes to sizes (ask me about my jean story one day), so chances are good that you might see something you like AND fits you in a different size.
I own this one shirt, which if you’ve read my Zurich post you’ve seen, that I always get a ton of compliments on. It’s 2 sizes too big, so it doesn’t actually fit the way it’s supposed to, but I love how flowy it looks! Plus, if I eat too many tacos, no one can tell…
Check Frequently
Go to your local stores frequently! They are always getting new donations. You don’t have to look through every rack every time, but chances are the more you go, the better deals you’ll find.
Know Your Brands
Knowing the brands of clothes that are good quality is important. First off, it helps you know if you’re getting a good deal, like those before mentioned Steve Madden shoes. Secondly, it helps you know if the item is good quality. You don’t want to buy a Forever 21 shirt for 5 dollars, and it only last 2 more washes. That’s 5 dollars you could put towards a better brand. One brand I always recommend is Alter’d State. Y’all those clothes are expensive AND good quality!
Shop Off- Season
Shop off-season items! They’ll be cheaper. Plus you’ll be all set when the season changes! On the other hand, if you work in a cold office building like me, you can still rock long sleeve shirts and jackets even though its 100 degrees outside.
Prioritize Sections
While I definitely say you should take your time to look through all the racks, sometimes thrift stores can be overwhelming. If this is the case for the store you’re going through, then prioritize a section that you know you’re looking for an item. The other week I really wanted to find a pair of white boots, so I checked out the shoe section when I first went to the store to see if they had the item. It was easier to look around after that.
Visit Thrift Stores when you Travel
In case you can’t tell from my whole page devoted to traveling (check it out!), I love to travel! One of my favorite things to do (as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’re an avid reader of my blog) is to visit thrift stores in the city I am in. The bag I’ve been using all year that I get at least one compliment a day on was from a thrift store in Savannah, Georgia. Talk about a fun souvenir!
Obviously, there are a ton more tips out there, like shopping by the tag or arriving at some stores at certain hours and days, but I hope this gives you a few super thrift store tips to use to live a more fashionably sustainable life.
What’s your favorite thrift store both in and out of town? Let me know in the comments!
Some of my recent finds:
