Thrift Store Shopping!

Thrift Store Shopping!

Thrift store shopping is one of my favorite adventures. There is so much you can find, and for good prices! I just adore the idea of recycled clothing, don’t you? Of all the people I know, half of them are split on the idea of thrift stores. Half of them are like me and love the idea of Goodwill! The other half however, cringe at the idea of buying something another person wore.

So what is the right answer? Are thrift stores a vintage find? Or are they just filled with gross infested clothing? Let’s be honest, there are a lot of strange clothes at thrift stores. Stuff people would never wear! Or rather, clothes people shouldn’t wear. But what people need to realize, is that there is much more than that. You just have to work at it to find something wonderful!

It can take quite a while to find something you have to have. Actually, you might spend an hour in a thrift shop and leave the store with nothing in your hands!

But then there’s those occasions were you see that dress made in the 1940’s. Or that red blouse for 5 bucks!

The thing about thrift shops (like Goodwill or Value Village) is that they are mostly filled with the 90’s and the 80’s. Unless shoulder pads and leg warmers are your thing (which is pretty cool if so), thrift stores can be a nightmare.

Most people don’t shop at thrift stores because they can’t find anything. So I decided to write down my tips for shopping at thrift stores! Here are a couple of tips for you thrifty shoppers, so you can find what you are looking for!

 Everything and Anything

The number 1 problem with thrift store shopping is not being able to find anything. But you won’t find anything if you walk around glancing. Clothes are somewhat organized at stores, but most of the time they are crammed together on a rack. Your vintage treasure might be squished between a Hawaiian shirt and a sparkly Christmas sweater! You have to pull apart clothes and look at everything. Otherwise you might miss out on something wonderful!

You Bought That for How Much?

Yes, you might finally find those purple cowboy boots (side note, I need to find some now) but then you look at the price. 30 dollars! Ah! This may seem like a reasonable price for boots, but you have to always remember: someone else wore those. You can scrub those shoes until they turn lavender, but you will never get rid of the knowledge they were worn before. So before you empty your wallet, make sure the recycled clothing is cheaper than a brand new pair you can get somewhere else.

I NEED THIS

This may be pretty obvious, but don’t buy something unless you love it. Otherwise, you will regret your decision and it will sit in the back of your closet. And you can’t return it!

I Spy With My Little Eye…

This is the most important hint of all! If you find something you adore and it is in your size, scan it like nobody’s business! Look at every inch of that fabric, trust me! Make sure your precious clothing doesn’t have holes, or stains. I have found many clothes at thrift stores that have stains on them. So be careful!

Thrift store shopping may not be for you, or it may be your favorite thing! I think thrift store shopping can work for anyone, if you know how to thrift store shop the right way. It may be a little weird buying a jacket that has been worn by someone else. But you can always throw it in the washer and it’ll be good as new!

Taya Drake