For many people, beginning thrift shopping can be intimidating. It's true - thrift stores aren't always for the faint of heart! But if you don't mind weeding through a bit of a mess to find a real gem, they are 100% the most rewarding way to shop. If you think finding your favorite pants for 50% off is exciting, just try finding them for $3! Then imagine finding
Prada pants for $3. You can easily see the appeal of putting in a little work up front!
If you want to start thrifting but really don't know how, here are some very basic steps to get you started in the least intimidating way possible:
1. Plan out your day
Know ahead of time what you would most like to purchase. Thrift stores can be overwhelming to a new shopper, and every individual location has a different system to organize clothing. Some thrift stores organize by type of clothing, and some take it a bit farther and go by color or - if you're lucky - size. Because you may just be looking at a rack of 500 sweaters with no organization, pick an item you love most and focus on that for the day. It's always best to start small if you think you will be intimidated looking at the full store. Purses and shoes are easy to look through, and they are the place most people start. Don't fear starting with dresses or pants, though, if that's where your closet is lacking and your passion is telling you to go!!!!
2. Be open-minded
Just because you set out to find 5 pairs of designer jeans
doesn't mean you should ignore that Gucci purse in the case up front! In fact, always look in the cases. Yes, the items are priced more. But unless you're at a way overpriced thrift store, the items are fairly more than $30-40. This is especially true in larger cities - I've found brand new Gucci messenger bags and Fendi suitcases for under $40 - in the glass show-case! It's like someone has done all the work for you.
That said, you need to make sure what you find is actually something you
need – otherwise, you’re just adding clutter to your home, and you’re not saving any money by thrifting. Be practical - but don't be afraid of the glass cases!
3. Look for quality, not just "brand"
You know what? I'm a self-proclaimed designer whore, and I still google brands in thrift stores. I didn't know Pamela Roland when I started thrifting, but I found a beautiful, well-made suit. I googled the brand, and it turns out, it was a $2000 suit!! Bring your iphone when thrifting, and trust your judgement. The more you thrift, the more you'll learn real quality. No one out there - not even Kim Kardashian - knows every high end designer piece. Google and learn, my friends. Sometimes the brands you don’t know can be extremely high-end brands, well worth their $3-5 price tag.
4. But inspect each piece!
Even Fendi isn't worth it if you will never wear it! Check each garment, purse, or shoe for holes, stains, missing buttons, loose seams, tears, etc - and pass on something if it looks pretty worn or stretched out. Trust me. I've bought 3-4 Gucci purses that I will never and have never used due to damage. I bought a Burberry purse because I'd never owned one, despite a tear in the side. Well, now I own 10, and I've
still never used the little torn one.
5. Try everything on
Always try things on. Thrift stores only put clothing under the correct size section about 25% of the time, either due to employee mistakes or people moving items. You may not know your size in European designers. French sizes are different from Italian sizes, which are different from German sizes and so on! And different brands size things differently, so you can’t assume anything by the number on the tag. Comparing a size 2 in Chanel to a size 2 in the Gap is almost a joke.
6. Go as often as you can
If you can't find anything on your first visit, try again in a few days. Thrift stores change constantly! And sometimes, your state of mind will really change what you find, if anything. I find that when I go into a thrift store thinking, "Today, I am going to find a gem that I will want to brag about for weeks," I always do. I'm not just lucky - a positive attitude means less burn-out and more fun searching. You miss things if you don't want to be there.
And don't forget - the good stuff sometimes sells fast! Checking back frequently will mean you're more likely to be the one in a million girl that finds an Hermes birkin under the 30 Liz Claiborne purses.
