At least once a week, I get asked something along the lines of, “Where did you get that skirt?” I wish I could help, but the answer everyone hates is forced out of my mouth. “It’s thrifted,” I say in defeat, feeling like a gatekeeping final boss. Although I sadly can’t tell everyone where to go and buy my favorite wardrobe pieces, I can give the next best thing: my tips on how to make your next thrifting session the best one yet!
You may be asking, “Who are you? What are your credentials?” Don’t you worry, I counted my entire wardrobe just for you and calculated that approximately 70% of my closet is thrifted. If that doesn’t make you trust me, I don’t know what else will.
Choose Your Target
To me, thrifting isn’t a cute date. It’s not a sweet, fun, and chill activity — it’s a competitive sport. I’m running around, sweating, eyes darting back and forth, arm muscles burning from holding up shirt after shirt, and indescribable neck pain after looking down at the racks for who knows how long. This is the sacrifice you must make if you want to have the thrifted wardrobe of your dreams.
The first step will be picking your thrift spot. I’m sure many of us are familiar with Goodwill, a popular thrift store chain in the U.S. — it can be a solid choice! However, don’t be afraid to venture out and find more local, community-based thrift stores here in Tallahassee.
City Walk Urban Mission has amazing prices with discounts on selected items throughout the week. The staff is so kind, and every time without fail, I walk out feeling blessed by the thrift gods.
Now that you’ve picked your spot, you may want to grab a coffee and put on some headphones. If you’re anything like me, you’ll need plenty of energy and focus to get through this session.
Set an Intention
It’s a good idea to know what kind of thrifting session you want to have. Ask yourself some questions: Are you looking for something in particular? Are you perhaps relaxing and just letting the items come to you? Looking for shoes? Maybe skirts? If you’re short on time, figuring this out is very important.
We don’t have the energy to shop all day, so it’s important to use your time wisely on the areas that have what you’re looking for.
Scanning and Consistency
We’re finally in the thrift store! First thing I like to do when I enter is figure out where everything is. If I’m looking for a specific clothing item, I’ll gravitate towards that area first. Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for patent heels, so every time I enter a thrift store, I start at the shoe section.
Walk through the different clothing sections, noticing the colors, textures, and patterns. If something even slightly catches your eye, grab it!
Whether you’re looking for items that are a true fit to you, something baggier, or even a little tighter, sticking around areas that have the sizes you’re looking for will save you so much time and make the experience more enjoyable.
You may not always find what you want during a thrift run, and that’s okay! Don’t give up and look for it next time. Sometimes you’ll try on 30 different items, and only one or two actually look good. This is completely normal, so don’t let it discourage you. You don’t go to the thrift store and find a whole wardrobe in a day — it takes time to build your collection.
Choose Wisely And Experiment!
If you’ve had a really solid thrift run, but don’t have an unlimited budget, pick the things you know you will use the most. I always ask myself, “How will I style this piece?” Usually, I’ll only get things I know I can style; however, sometimes I find something that I really want, but have no idea how to wear it. Then, I just decided that that’s a problem for future me to deal with!
Don’t be scared to venture out of your comfort zone with an item a little more bold or eccentric. You know yourself best, and if something really calls to you, listen to your intuition. Experimenting with your style will help you have a better eye for future thrifting sessions.
Staying open-minded with the pieces you find will help a lot. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen something look mediocre on the hanger, but once I tried it on, it exceeded my expectations.
I also found that my wardrobe started spicing up the moment I prioritized accessories as much as clothing items. The jewelry, bags, and belts sections have become my favorite spots at the thrift!
Clothes Falling Apart?
Many second-hand items are a little older, which means they may tear after a certain amount of wear. This is especially true with shoes and bags that have materials that can peel. Sadly, it’s a reality we must come to terms with as professional thrifters.
Sometimes, there’s no saving them, but other times we can help them hold on a little longer! Superglue has been my rock with thrifted shoes, helping me repair them after a long day out.
Small tears in your clothes may happen: don’t be afraid to try to fix them! If you have no experience with sewing, small sewing kits are very affordable, and there are many simple YouTube tutorials on sewing out there. Being able to give some stitches here and there will save lots of your clothes. If you’re a little more advanced, you can also alter your thrifted pieces to make them fit you better or create something totally new.
Ultimately, these clothes are second-hand, meaning they’ll have more wear than something brand new. However, to me, the benefits of practicing sustainable fashion outweigh the cons.
Bonus Tips
A very accessible way for us FSU students to find second-hand, thrifted pieces is our beautiful Market Wednesday. Every time I pass through on my way to class on Wednesday mornings, I endure the hardest test of self-control, getting to class without stopping to browse.
Some of the shops at Market Wednesday consist of girls who literally do the thrifting for you! Oftentimes, you can find really cute pieces for great prices. My favorite shops I’ve stopped by recently have been Wolfe Gang Bucks, A-List Vintage, and Pieces by Paperboy.
The girls who run these shops are always so sweet, and I always leave feeling uplifted and happy with my purchases. The best part about these is that they usually have $5 bins, which is so helpful when you’re trying to level up your wardrobe on a budget.
Now that I’ve given my tips, I expect everyone to outdress me at every function, and if I ask you where you got your top, tell me the words everyone hates to hear: “It’s thrifted!”
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