Some consider thrifting dirty and weird, while others consider it cool and fun. Part of thrifting is that you never know where the clothes have been or who used to have them. Some of the clothes may have odd stains and rips, but there are also hidden gems that couldn’t be found at stores like Target or the mall.
But the main reason people don’t thrift often is that they never find anything when they go. Because there is such a mixture of clothes, you must know how to find items that suit your personal style.
Go often
Even if you know all of the rest of these tips, you still won’t find something you love every time you go to a thrift store. Some days will just be unlucky. To counteract this, visit stores often. Don’t go into thrifting always expecting to find something. You have to go as often as possible because if you go often, your chances of finding something increase dramatically. Go twice or to two places on the same day? Twice as likely to discover something you love. If you go to many places you will eventually find some favorites too!
Go at certain times
If you head into Goodwill during the prime back-to-school season on a Saturday, don’t be surprised if all that’s left are the ugliest pieces imaginable. It is still possible to get lucky and find something, but it only makes being successful harder for you to choose the same times as everyone else. Not only will most of the more trendy things already be gone, but it’s harder to look closely at everything if many people try to do the same thing. The best times to go are the most random ones. If you go on a Tuesday morning, you will beat the crowds. It is also helpful to look to find out which days each store does their restocking. If you go immediately after the new clothes are out, you can find the best items before anyone else gets to them.
Learn how to look efficiently
Many people will give the advice to look at every piece in the store to guarantee you don’t miss anything. While looking everywhere may be great for patient people, there are ways to speed up the process. Think of the colors, patterns, and materials you prefer/are looking for. When going through the aisles, be looking for those. If you know you hate neon orange, don’t bother looking at pieces in that color. Some stores also organize by color which makes this tip even easier. Same with prints/designs; if you are really into cheetah print, keep an eye out for that instead of going through every single piece trying to find it.
Go in with an open mind
Unlike online shopping or most retail stores, thrift stores are not consistent. If you go to Goodwill looking for a red cable knit sweater in a size xs, there is a 90% chance you will walk out disappointed. Instead, there are two more effective options. First, you can just wander around until something catches your eye. This can be a good option but only if you aren’t shopping for anything in particular and have 0 expectations. The other choice is to have a few general ideas of what you would like to find. If you want a sweatshirt or jeans, just go to that section and look around. You might find something even better than what you thought you would like.
Look everywhere
There may be something perfect somewhere you wouldn’t even think to look. Even if you tend to dress more feminine or masculine, look in both the women’s and men’s sections. If you want a cute top, check out the pajama and swim sections, not just the t-shirts. Many cute tank tops lurk in those sections especially because most people don’t think to check there. If you can fit into a smaller size, always look in the children’s section. And if you want to re-do or decorate a room, peek at the “stuff” area. There is art, candles, trinkets, and even kitchen gadgets. Just because you didn’t see anything in the first place you looked doesn’t mean you should stop looking.
Not only is thrifting a more affordable and environmentally friendly way to shop, but it can also be a great way to improve your style. While you may not find something great every time, knowing these strategies will improve your chances. So next time you need new clothes, go thrifting. Who knows what you may find.
