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So, You Want to Start Thrifting: Tips & Tricks for Thrifting the Wardrobe of Your Dreams

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at LUM chapter.

Thrifting has taken the world by storm, allowing people to score unique finds at a reasonable price, whilst giving a second life to a piece of clothing that might have ended up in a landfill. Do you want a super cool retro windbreaker from the 80s? You can thrift it. Are you desperately searching for that perfect pair of jeans? You can thrift that too. Thrift stores are truly full of hidden gems, although at times it may be difficult to spot these awesome pieces. If you are interested in exploring the world of thrifting, here are 5 tips that will help you craft the thrifted wardrobe that you have always wanted! 

Have patience!  

Oftentimes, a thrift store is stocked with old t-shirts from a random high school’s homecoming, or full of Justice sneakers that are ripping at the seams. Although it is easy to get discouraged by this, I can promise you that there are pieces that are worth sorting through the racks for.  

Look through everything. And I mean everything. 

 People often sort through their carts in random locations throughout the store, dropping their unwanted items on the nearest rack. Sizes are often placed in the incorrect location. Going through every item will ensure that you haven’t missed out on any must-need pieces. Although it takes a lot of time, the items that you find are worth it.  

Keep an Open-Mind 

Don’t go into the store expecting to find a particular item. When venturing into the thrift store, it may be helpful to have an idea of what you are looking for, however, if you are going in with the intention of finding a specific item, you are likely to be disappointed. Keep an open mind while you shop; you will find some super cool items this way. 

Check out when the best day/time to thrift in your area is. 

Ask when the store restocks its inventory? What days and times are the busiest? My local thrift store saves their best pieces for Saturdays, as this is their busiest day, so I make sure to hit up the thrift store on Friday nights.  

Get inspiration! 

There are so many super awesome influencers who have devoted their platforms to thrifting and showing off the amazing pieces that they find. Seeing what others find is super motivating. Plus, it can give you some ideas as to what you want to thrift for yourself! 

Hi I'm Becca! I am a junior attending Loyola University Maryland and I am writing for HerCampus this semester! I am passionate about social justice and advocacy, as well as fashion and lifestyle content (: