Thrift store shopping means different things to different people. To some, it's a way to score designer clothes or unique finds for a fraction of the price. To others, it's all about recycling and supporting local businesses. Whatever your reason for thrift store shopping, there are plenty of benefits to be had. Keep reading to learn more!
Thrift Stores Offer Inexpensive Inspiration
Ralph Lauren, Levi's, and Tommy Hilfiger mens jeans. Don't forget to check the men's jeans while you're shopping!
Thrift stores offer the most diverse collection of clothing in a single place. From one-of-a-kind, handmade clothing you won’t find elsewhere, to vintage, out-of-production jeans, to affordable designer pieces, thrift stores have it all, and for very little cash.
If you look at a thrift store just right, you’ll find gems hidden in strange areas like the nightgown, the children’s or even the men’s sections. Because not everything goes back where it should and clothing racks are bursting with t-shirts and blazers, the discerning shopper can always suss out a diamond in the rough.
Beyond being fiscally responsible because thrift stores offer clothing at an affordable price point, thrifting is environmentally responsible because it gives clothing one last life before the landfill.
For a few bucks, you can walk out with new pieces to spice up your looks for the coming week.
Read: How to Create A Capsule Wardrobe For Less Than $100 By Thrifting
My Golden Thrifting Tips
Learn these, and you’ll be a thrifting pro
Much of our anxieties come from the unknown, so take the tips below with you when you go thrifting and become a thrifting expert in no time.
How to Thrift Tip #1 — Wear Form-Fitting Clothing
Wear form-fitting, thin clothing so that you can try on the clothing you find over the clothing you’re wearing in the store.
this is particularly important as many thrift stores have closed their dressing rooms — a COVID holdover (speaking of which, bring some hand sanitizer, too).
Also note, a lot of thrift stores have gone away with returns entirely, so be sure that you know the piece is going to fit before committing to it!
How to Thrift Tip #2 — Check for Stains, Holes, and Other Imperfections
Even though many thrift stores ask for “gently used” clothing, sometimes people accidentally (I hope) donate items that might have been better suited for a trash can.
Make sure you don’t buy a gorgeous wool jacket with tons of moth balls by carefully examining the garment before purchasing.
This includes flipping it in and out!
How to Thrift Tip #3 — Get a Car / Bring Your Own Bag
Always get a cart, or bring your own bag, to carry the items you find. Your arms, back, and shoulders will thank you.
Also, getting a cart incentives you to load up and try on more items, increasing your likelihood of liking something!
How to Thrift Tip #4 — Only buy (you can try anything!) the pieces that work for your ideal Cut, Color, Cloth, and Comfort levels.
CUT: Does this cut flatter my figure and show off my silhouette?
COLOR: Does this color make my skin pop and look healthy?
CLOTH: Do I love the fabric? Does it feel good on my skin?
COMFORT: Can I walk comfortably? Sit comfortably? Does it work within my modesty comfort levels? Can I bend over without any surprises?
How to Thrift Tip #5 — Try Something Different!
Try something different. Pick up one thing you don’t think is necessarily your style, but is something you could just try on. You may just surprise yourself.
Look through the sections you may otherwise ignore. Check out the nightgown (kimonos, silky tops), men’s (loafers, oversized clothing), or the jewelry sections.
How to Thrift Tip #6 — Practice Patience
Some thrift stores are just downright messy. If you’re looking for all of the sizes, colors, or clothing types to be in the same place, thrifting might not be for you. Thrifting is for those that are patience for the find.
Great finds come to those that are patience.
Go through all of the options on a rack. Not all thrift stores separate by size and oftentimes things are placed in the wrong sections.
How to Thrift Tip #7 — Go to At Least 2 - 3 Thrift Stores
Go to a few thrift stores, particularly the local ones. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other national thrift stores are fantastic, but so are the local ones with locally-focused initiatives.
How to Thrift Tip #8 — Remember That A Tailor is Your Best Friend
Remember that a tailor is your best friend. If you like a dress, but it’s too long or a little too big, take it to the tailor right after you buy it!
How to Thrift Tip #9 — Only Buy What You’re Excited About
Only buy what you love. If you don’t love it, leave it. Don’t buy it just because it’s inexpensive.
How to Thrift Tip #10 — Bring Your Own Donation Bin!
Pet two cats in one lap (a preferred saying over “kill two birds”) by both donating, and restocking your wardrobe! If you’re heading to the thrift store, you might as well bring that jacket you never wear, too! No donation bin is too small.
More Tips, If You Please
Check to See If the Thrift Store Runs Deal Days
Sometimes thrift stores will run specific deals on certain days. For example, my Salvation Army will run 50% off Wednesdays for every item. Check your local spot for deals.
Similarly, pretty much every thrift store will have a big sign when you walk in that tells you what “tag” is half off that day (white, green, red, etc.). If you find pieces you love that are that color, then you’re in luck!
Note Security Tags
Always be sure to look for the security tag - they can sneak onto thrift store pieces.
Bring Cash When You Thrift
Sometimes thrift stores will have credit card minimums, so if you end up loving one piece, and it’s only $2, but the credit card minimum is $5, you end up having to go back and find more pieces you love. This is definitely not the end of the world, but when this happened to me I was slightly annoyed with myself because it meant that while I really liked the other pieces I got, I didn’t love them. Remember, practicing the “love it or leave it” mentality is best with all shopping trips.
Check The Tag
This may not be a concern of yours, but I know that when I thrift, I’m looking for pieces I can machine wash. If the piece has a certain structure to it that seems vulnerable (and like a machine washer will ruin it) or it’s made from a fabric that’s beautiful, but will react to water, I have to really, really love it to buy it. Usually, a piece will tell you what the material is on the tag. If it’s made from silk, wool, or cashmere you may need to dry clean the pieces.
Seek the Natural Light
The middle of a thrift store isn’t going to have the best lighting. That’s why I suggest collecting the pieces you love (in your cart), taking them to a mirror near some natural light, trying them on over your clothing, and then taking each piece closer to the light to examine for stains/holes/rips/you name it.
Thrifting Inspiration from Thrifting Queens
Sheilagh, of the Naked Lady Society in Charleston, South Carolina, has great tips!
Sadie encourages us to experiment with outfit combinations and play mix-and-match by decade to learn our personal style.
Get Out There!
What are you waiting for? Pull on a pair of yoga pants and your most comfortable shoes and head to your local thrift store. Tag @Dailyinspirato with your bargain buys, and remember that Clothing Confidence does not have to come at a premium.
Thrifting Frequently Asked Questions
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This is where trusty ole Google comes into play. I recommend searching “Thrift Stores Near Me” and seeing what comes up. Read the top reviews (and make sure to sort by “recent”). I definitely recommend local thrift stores that support local initiatives as opposed to the big box stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army, though they’re great options, too!
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Thrifting is the verb for thrift store shopping — which is simply shopping at a second-hand store with low prices. The term thrifting comes from the word “thrifty” which means using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
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The biggest difference between a thrift store and a consignment store is price.
Typically thrift stores are trying to move lots of products, while consignment stores are splitting some of the cost with the person who is selling the clothing with them, and hoping to make more money per item.
Consignment stores are much more heavily curated, often having buyers responsible for maintaining inventory while thrift stores (mostly) sell what is donated to them (hence the lower cost! Free inventory!).
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Beyond being fiscally responsible because thrift stores offer clothing at an affordable price point, thrifting is environmentally responsible because it gives clothing one last life before the landfill.
“Today, in fact, fashion accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output—more than international flights and shipping combined, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. It also accounts for a fifth of the 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year.”
- SOURCE: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-fashion-industry-environmental-impact/
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This is a tough one to answer because thrift stores are highly localized.
What might be the best thrift store in Pensacola could be the only one of its kind.
It’s also worth noting that I’ve had great experiences at some Goodwills, and horrible ones at others.
Due to the nature of how thrift stores operate, you could have hit-or-miss days depending on the inventory.
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The thing to never buy at a thrift store is the thing you cannot clean.
^ That’s a poem by yours truly.
But it’s the darn truth. Only buy what you can sanitize, or have a cleaner do.
For this reason, I don’t often buy shoes second hand because I feel that most of them are too difficult to clean.
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This totally depends on the thrift store you’re going to. Read the recent Google reviews on the quality of the thrift store, and go for yourself to judge. If you’re really squirmish about cleanliness, then I recommend bringing your own gloves and hand sanitizer.
100% thrifted outfit!
I’ve been long immersed in the thrifting world. When I was a kid, my mom would cart me around to second-hand and salvage shops on the weekends, searching for antiques and funky clothing.
I’ve spent more time in a thrift store than I have a department store, a boutique, or even a convenience store. Thrift shops are second homes to me imbued with nostalgia and purpose.
So, I am not easily scared by thrift stores. Smells? I can handle them. Disorganization? No problem. Clothes worn by someone else? Preferred.
But why subject myself to a thrift store? What’s the point?