Scoring great items at the thrift store just got a lot easier. You’re welcome.
Hello loves! Today I’m sharing seven thrifting tips that I use and live by when I thrift so that I can find great pieces at great price points! I wrote a quick post on Infuse Humber’s Facebook page on thrifting tips but I decided to write a more in-depth blog post because ever since I shared my first thrift haul on my Instagram story (and whenever I mention that I thrifted a certain item in my closet), I get a lot of questions asking how I come across so many awesome pieces at the thrift store. A part of me does believe that it is partly luck as there are days when I go into the thrift store and can’t seem to find anything I love and then there are days where I find a ton of great items. I can’t promise that you’ll always find something great at the thrift store, but by using these tips the next time you do go thrifting, you will definitely have a better chance at finding great pieces.
Scroll down to read the seven tips that will help you thrift like a pro!
1. Shop with an open mind
Now this is something I have definitely gotten better at. However, I’m not perfect and am still working on getting rid of the tiny voice in my head that automatically decides that I don’t like a certain item because it’s not fashionable and just plain “ugly” simply because it is something I normally wouldn’t gravitate towards. I’ve mentioned this already but I am continuously trying to step outside of my fashion comfort zone and shopping with an open mind is the first step in doing so. Not only do you want to give the items you normally wouldn’t purchase a chance (hello, it’s the thrift store, it’s the perfect time to experiment because the clothing is affordable), but you also want to think about ways that you can repurpose or repair the clothing you’ve found. Chances are you’ll come across an item that you love or something you normally wouldn’t like (but once you try it on you fall in love #loveatfirstfit – we’ve all been there) and you are unsure of how to style it think of the items you own in your wardrobe and try to envision an outfit. Likewise, if something is ripped or broken and you know a way to fix it, then just buy the item. You can even ask for a discount on defect items as most thrift stores will give you a small discount.
2. Shop at thrift stores located in affluent neighbourhoods
I can’t promise you on this tip because as I mentioned earlier, I think thrifting great pieces is also partially luck but, I will say that generally the more affluent or in other words “rich” neighbourhoods have nicer items which also usually means higher prices. If you don’t live near an affluent neighbourhood that doesn’t mean you won’t find great pieces because, to be honest, I don’t either and I just so happen to come across some awesome thrift store finds.
3. Don’t let sizing stop you from purchasing what you love
Dare I say it but believe it or not, sizing doesn’t always matter! Obviously, you want clothing to fit you because you don’t want to look like you’re suffocating in super tight clothing or to look like you’re drowning in clothing that is way too oversized. When I say this, I mean don’t let the size tag stop you from purchasing something you love because you feel like it’s too small or too big for you. If you can figure out a way to make the item fit (for example, if you know how to sew or you plan on bringing it to a tailor) or you can envision how you will style it to make it fit your body (e.g. belting an oversized shirt) then go ahead and buy the item. This also means don’t only shop in the size section that you are. If you’re normally a size small, venture out to size medium or large and vice versa because a lot of the time clothing is unorganized and misplaced in the wrong section. Also, some brands’ sizing doesn’t always match the label in terms of how the item fits on the body.
4. Shop in the men’s section
Just because you don’t have a man doesn’t mean you can’t shop in the men’s section. Recently, I have been finding great pieces and guess which section they were in. The men’s section! You’d be surprised as to how many gems you can find in the men’s section so don’t be afraid to go in there and shop for yourself. Tip number three also goes along with shopping in the men’s section. There is so much you can do with menswear, it’s amazing! You can find the perfect items to wear oversized or crop them for a better fit.
5. Keep an eye out for branded items (but don’t let that stop you from purchasing items from brands that you’re not familiar with)
Finding name-brand items at the thrift store is great because you can purchase them for a far cheaper price than their original retail prices. However, just because something isn’t from an expensive brand doesn’t mean it isn’t a great piece. Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love finding branded items at the thrift store just as much as the next person and I have found a ton of branded clothing in the past few months ranging from brands like Adidas, Fila, Coach, Zara, Citizens of Humanity, and so much more. Everybody knows that just because an item isn’t from a well-known brand that doesn’t make it not worth buying, yet so many of us ignore that and care solely about brands. I can tell you that there are pieces in my closet that I love that are from random brands that I’ve never heard of or ever thought I would wear. So go ahead and purchase branded items but don’t neglect those that aren’t branded or you’re unfamiliar with.
6. Shop on sale days
Ahhh sale days… you either love them or dread them. Shopping on sale days can be a little frustrating because there are always a ton of people trying to score a great deal but it can also be a lot of fun because you can save even more money than if you were to buy the items at regular price.
7. Shop early during the week
This tip is tried and true! Most of the time, thrift stores put out items during the weekdays as opposed to weekends so if you shop during the week and earlier during the day, you’re sure to find some great pieces. People also normally shop on the weekends so finding good pieces on the weekend is a little trickier as opposed to finding them during the week.
That’s it for today’s blog post! Did you find these tips helpful? Are you going to be shopping at the thrift store more often? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! If you like what you’ve read and are interested in fashion and beauty-related content, then don’t forget to follow my blog and my other social networks!
Until next time,
