So many influencers and online personalities flaunt their thrift finds, but nobody explains the techniques it took to find them. It builds up expectations and overwhelms shoppers stepping into their local thrift store for the first time, and then leads to disappointment for those who don’t find anything.
While sometimes content can help encourage one to get out of bed and go to the thrift store, it can also demotivate people and steer them away from thrifting, which is unfortunate considering its benefits. It’s cheap, it reduces clothing pollution, and you can find items that you would never find in department stores.
There are a few tips to keep in mind during your next trip to the thrift store to help keep from overwhelming and underappreciating the experience. Thrifting is enjoyable as long as it’s done right. It’s a skill to develop, and the do’s and dont’s of thrifting will help you build that talent.
Store loyalty. Though it is great to explore, a big mistake that many new thrifters make is going to many stores. Being comfortable in a store makes the experience much more relaxing, effective, and enjoyable. Different stores also restock at different times, and knowing what time the store is freshly stocked is a game changer.
Be picky. Something that many thrifters don’t know is how to find items meant for them. It’s easy to find a nice shirt or a unique pair of pants, but there are more steps than that before it can be a useful addition to their wardrobe. The item has to fit right, match the style that the thrifter is aiming for, and inspire an outfit with already owned pieces. Sometimes it is helpful to make a vision board to help collect items of that criteria and organize ideas. It’s important to keep in mind that vision boards are strictly for collecting ideas, styles and aesthetics. It’s unlikely to find the exact piece.
Upcycling. Thrift shopping goes beyond the thrift store. Learning how to upcycle clothing is a huge way for thrifters to expand their closet. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities by allowing them to transform any piece into something that would fit better, match their style, or look right with other clothes. Doing this, there are ways to make exact items a thrifter would dream about on their vision board. There are many designs and tutorials online to help build ideas. It can be as simple as cutting a neckline off of a shirt or putting colorful patches on jeans or as difficult as building a whole new outfit.
Where to be. Finally, keep in mind what section to shop in. Many thrift stores organize their store by size, making it much easier for shoppers. Not staying in the right section only takes up time. Unless a thrifter is specifically looking for clothing that will fit in a different way, the wrong size will serve little to no use. This being said, there are many ways to utilize other sections. It’s important to only look in other sections if there is a specific reason to.
Thrifting is an art that takes time to master, but with these tips in mind, there are so many treasures to be found.
