You may be wondering: why should I shift my shopping towards second-hand stores? The answer is simple: shopping at second-hand/thrift stores is a really good way to reduce your carbon footprint while simultaneously finding cute, unique, and on-trend clothes. Below are some tips I’ve compiled over my years of thrifting to help you get in the game:
- Location, Location, Location
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Go to the Goodwill in Lafayette; more people in the surrounding area donate there, and less students from Purdue go there since there is a closer one in West Lafayette. By going across the river, you significantly increase the quantity and quality of clothes you get to go through.
- Timing is Everything
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Goodwill is 50% off the whole store the first Saturday of the month. Make sure you go early because they often restock the night before. Alternatively, if you can’t make it on the first Saturday, go early in the week on Mondays or Tuesdays after they begin sorting and distributing everything new that was dropped off on the weekends!
- Be prepared to be there all day!
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While the store is organized, the best pieces often take a little time to find. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to sift through a lot to find those hidden gems! I promise it’s worth it.
- Men’s section is a must
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Ladies: don’t count out the men’s section! There are a lot of cute oversized coats and layers to be found, and many shirts can be turned into cute crop tops with a simple cut. It sounds odd, but the best Levi’s I’ve found have been from the Boy’s section so don’t count it out either!
- Think ahead
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Prioritize what items you really want: choose a combination of shoes and pants or layers and tops and go through all those items first. By doing this you will set yourself up to find those great items before other people do, and ensure you don’t spread yourself too thin across all the categories
- Upcycle records and tapes
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Finally, for cute dorm or room décor, scan the art/music/media sections! Old records and tapes can be turned into cute accent pieces, and old paintings can be upcycled into great new wall art pieces.
Happy thrifting!