5 Tips for Thrifting Your Clothes
There’s no right or wrong way to thrift for clothing. Your satisfaction with your purchase is all that matters. Here we’ll discuss a few best practices to get the most out of your thrift hunt.
Thrifting your looks is sustainable, promotes individuality, and is cheaper than buying new items.
In 2018, the US produced 17 million tons of textiles. That same year we threw away 11 million tons. That means we throw away nearly as much as we produce in clothing. Thrifting your looks not only ensures you maintain a more unique thoughtful look, but it allows you to stop perpetuating a vicious cycle of waste.
Though there’s tons of ways to go about your bargain hunting adventures, a few pointers on some general practices wouldn’t hurt. Keep reading for a few tips on how I get the most out of my thrifting experiences.
5 Tips to Consider when Thrifting for Clothing
1. Decide your mission
Do I have items in mind or am I open to treasures? Deciding whether you want to find specific items or find whatever you can will save you time and money. Keep in mind that you’re at the mercy of whatever was donated recently, so you may be more limited or not have any luck if you want something too specific. If you’re looking for a long-sleeve black collar button down, you might have to try a few different thrift stores. However, if you’re open to whatever you find, you might happen to find a long-sleeve black collar button up that could come in handy later—catch my drift? Be mindful though not to get repeat items when having an open mind though, sure you love that green cami but if you have three already, put it down.
2. Set your timer
If you’re on a mission for something specific, skip this. This is for the explorers who will venture through every nook and cranny of the thrift store. Thrifting can be therapeutic for some but you don’t need to spend 2+ hours in a store—boundaries. If you know you want to deep dive into every aisle, set your timer. Set a decent amount of time for looking, but also trying on clothes.
3. Check the quality
If you’re thrifting you probably don’t mind things not being in tip-top shape. The fun part about it is that you can actually find things that are in great shape! Scan your items for blemishes, stains, holes and tears. If the imperfections don’t take away from the swag, go for it.
4. If you second guess it, don’t get it
Always double check your items to see if you really want or need them. If you try something on and do a little “ehhh”—put it back. Even if you don’t try on items, do a scan through everything you plan to buy and make sure everything is an “absolutely, I’m getting it”.
5. Wash your items!
Your swag is real and germs are too. Wash everything. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, everything. Also consider the dry cleaners for anything that looks worth it. Dry cleaners are great for suits and jackets. Consider disinfectant wipes for non-clothing items.
Ultimately, you want to have fun and find great deals when thrifting. It wouldn’t hurt to be more conscious and intentional about our clothing and our consumption,would it? So, what are some of your best-practices for thrifting?
