Because ‘thrifting’ often sends a negative, often ewe-like, message to those who haven’t, let’s just add some synonyms:
‘Thrifting’ has simply become the IN word, particularly since COVID.
Often I see complete surprise when responding “it’s thrifted” and hear: “I never find anything when I go”. I am the reverse. I have been shopping secondhand my entire life, accompanying my mom before I was 5, choosing curtains that would become my next dress. It just stuck with me.
I now have too many clothes, and I’m working to correct that, but you, you aren’t going to find anything if you go with a negative mindset.
Shopping online, versus local buying, here’s what you’ll find. Online stores (and there’s a million of them) from every price point, you buy products based on photos and the information the vendor provides. Even if the product is exactly what you’ve been hunting down, unless you’ve tried on that brand and know how it fits, it’s a definite IF.
Personally, I’ve never used an online thrift store because I’m an odd fit. I purchased one pair of pants online. They really weren’t my size, but because I liked them, and love playing with style, they proved perfect, and are worn often. However, they were inexpensive, but far more than I typically pay for clothes. I have purchased from Facebook Marketplace, but only if agreed I can try before I buy.
When Covid allowed secondhand stores to reopen, they did, without change rooms. There are no changing rooms when online shopping, and many of the local thrift stores allow two weeks to a month to exchange for something else as long as you leave the tags on. With online stores, there is typically a complex, or a no-return policy, and if one, it can take weeks, and that isn’t satisfying.
Online thrift stores to try:
Because I want to see what I’ve bought, styled with what I think it will go with, without obligation, I don’t mind just ‘sort of’ trying on, in front of a mirror.
I suggest you wear something that makes you feel pretty and can accommodate a pants and/or a dress try-on. Eg., a tank and tights, which gives a reasonable sense of fit.
Don’t go secondhand store shopping if you don’t look good. Make an effort to look the best you can, and you’re far more likely to find something.
Value Village, a for-profit thrift store, for example, is big. It can be, initially, overwhelming. Where do you start?
Begin with a wish list, then go through your closet, and make some decisions about what it’s missing. Are there several items you really like but don’t wear because you’ve nothing they go with? These go on a wish list. Take pics on your phone so you can see the items in need of a missing piece.
Then go to that section, let’s say, pants and skirts to fill those blanks.
Try them on, and give them a thorough look over before you purchase. Go to a well-lit spot, near a window, and have a look for tears, pilling, and wear in general. You can wash stains away, but wear is another matter entirely, as it makes your clothes look like you need new ones.
Occasionally, you find something new, at a ridiculous price, but honestly, typically, you get what you pay for. But at a far less than retail price point.
It’s not unusual to find like-new clothes for so much less than retail, particularly if you are buying what is called ‘Fast Fashion’, which is a topic for another time. Zara, H&M are just a few, but they are going to be priced higher than many other labels you may be less familiar with.
Designers of clothes are in the many hundreds of thousands, again, with price points from Temu and Shein all the way up to the high fashion houses in Europe. The higher-priced clothes are often found in shops that cater to the customer wishing to buy quality over quickly made, quickly out-of-fashion clothes.
Less can be more. Again, another topic for another day.
Thrift is everywhere, and it makes so much sense in this economy. It’s been making sense to me since I received my first pay cheque, many years ago.
It really can be both fun and eye-opening. You should go.
Kenneth Costa says:
Been thrifting for 50 years. Got much of my business clothes at the Salvation Army, like $400 designer suits for $20, $30 shirts for $5, ties for $1, etc. Was a VP in advertising so had to look the part. And no tax on clothing in NYC! Also found various antiques for 90% off show prices.
Like going to 100 estate sales under one roof. Now retired so going less often. Great hobby anyway.