Thrift Smart: Finding a Needle in the Haystack
Thrifting is a labor of love. It takes commitment, dedication, and maybe even some research. If you’re new to the game, it can be extremely overwhelming. Despite being filled with one-of-a-kind treasures, the overflowing aisles can sometimes be paralyzing and leave you with a piece you don’t even like. As a seasoned thrifter, I am here to share the nuggets of thrift knowledge that I have garnered over the years of looking for the needle in the haystack.
First thing’s first…
It is important to know what kind of second-hand store you are shopping at. Though these stores all carry preloved items, each one requires a different mindset for a successful shop. Vintage stores carry a curated collection of pieces typically sourced from suppliers. This attention to detail and inventory will result in a much higher price point that may even surpass what you would be paying at a traditional retail store. Similarly, consignment stores also provide a curated experience with higher end pieces. These assets all result in a much higher price point than if you were to buy thrifted. Thrifting, on the other hand, often requires more time to sort through a larger selection of less curated, lower-priced pieces. However, with a little extra effort and preparation, you can strike gold and find many needles in the haystack.
★ Keep this in mind!
Know What You Are Looking For: A good rule of thumb for shopping in general is to go in with a plan. Identify key pieces, colors, and/or styles that you are looking for beforehand to quickly skim the racks. Pinterest is an amazing tool to gain inspiration from. Once you begin saving outfit and item inspiration, the algorithm will adjust and show you posts that align with your personal style. Seeing the posts laid out in one area will help you to recognize patterns and identify pieces that you may not even realize you wanted.
Mindset is Key: A trip to the thrift store should be treated as the experience that it is. Block out enough time to really do some digging. One-of-a-kind pieces are going to be hidden in plain sight, if they weren’t, someone would have snatched it long before you. If you're not going to go alone, it’s important to go with people who are on the same page as you. The company you choose to go with can really make the experience and even give you more sets of eyes. You would have never seen this piece and it’s also fun to see what people associate your style with. They may pull something that reminds them of you and can also bring you back down to earth when your cart starts overflowing.
Certain Items Are Better to Thrift Than Others: Though you can find practically anything in a thrift store, some things are better to thrift than others. Pieces that would normally have a hefty price tag are good to thrift. Not only will they be significantly cheaper second hand, but they will generally be better quality. Older clothing is generally higher quality than clothes produced today due to slower manufacturing processes and use of better material. The quality is evident if the clothes are in good shape despite being bought many years prior. Good pieces to look for while thrifting are:
Denim (jackets, jeans, etc.)
Blazers
Coats (winter jackets, trenches, flannels)
Trousers
Dress shirts
T-shirts
Pay Attention to Material and Feel: Lastly, utilize the tags to see material that pieces are made of. Material is key to knowing the longevity of clothing. Additionally, in mega thrift stores, pricing tends to be consistent throughout whole sections (i.e. “all tops $5”). This pricing does not take into account specifics of an item and can help you score the best deals. You will find pieces that would otherwise be marked up for a premium price. When shopping, try to avoid fast fashion as the savings margin will be much smaller. These pieces are not built for longevity and don’t always have a second life in them.
Don’t Restrict Yourself to One Department: At a thrift store, all departments are fair game. You can survey the men’s department for oversized tees, leather jackets, and blazers. Look through different parts of the women’s section for corset tops, slips, and dainty heels or even the kid’s section for baby tees. Depending on your style and preferences, you can find something in every corner of the store – utilize it wisely.
THRIFTING 101 (A Short and Sweet Guide):
Ask stores when they restock their inventory. This will allow you to be among the first to see the new pieces and avoid looking through a picked over selection.
Familiarize yourself with older brands known to have good quality. This is another way to combat the paradox of choice. Some brands to look out for are Bay Club, Ralph Lauren, Talbots, Giant, Beneton, Jerzee, Soffee, All Sport, Tultex, and Screen Stars. An easy way to do this is asking those who you consider your elders what their favorite brands are.
Know the signs of quality/time period. This knowledge will only increase with time but can help you to know an item that you absolutely cannot pass up. You can always do a quick search to find when your garment of interest was made. Below are some specific signs to look for:
A single stitch on the sleeve
Sewed on tags (vs printed right on the garment)
Lack of washing instructions (this was not required until 1971)
The different eras of Levi’s (learn about them here)
The different eras of Fruit of the Loom (American flag on the tag in early 90s)
The different eras of Wranglers (older Wranglers have a signature blue bell on the label)
Metal zipper
Zig-Zag fabric edges (means it was cut with shears)
check out this article to learn more about thrifting for vintage
4. If thrifting IRL overwhelms you, try it online. Depop, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and Grailed are just a few options. These platforms allow you to search exactly what you are looking for from the comfort of your own home.
Have A Nice Thrift! ☻
Shopping second-hand is an environmentally conscious, effective way to define your style while not contributing to over-consumption. There is really no rhyme or reason to thrifting and going in blind can still lead to great finds. These general principles will aid in thrifting more effectively, but at the end of the day, a large part of a successful thrift relies on luck. Keeping these tips at the back of your mind will help you to capitalize on that luck and leave the store giddy and accomplished.
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