Thrifting has taken Pinterest, TikTok and every cool girl’s wardrobe by storm. You ask “hey cute top! Where’s it from?” and they reply with possibly the worst answer you could hear in the moment, “I thrifted it!” So now you’ve decided to try your hand at some thrift stores. but you’re coming up empty every time. Instead of feeling out of luck or blaming your town, try these tips to get the most out of your trips to the thrift stores and leave with the cutest, more unique pieces that will have all your friends asking where it’s from.   Â
- Go to Multiple Stores: Try shopping at multiple different locations and companies! Places like Goodwill accept any donations and their inventory has a wide range of items from household to clothing items where you’re likely to find maybe more unique but also more used items. And other stores like Plato’s Closet or Uptown Cheapskate have a certain criteria for the clothing they accept, and you might find more in-style and lightly used items.
- Go With a Friend: Whether you’re with your best friend, your mom, boyfriend or just yourself, make a whole day out of it! Start with brainstorming vibes and aesthetics you both want to achieve, and get lunch or coffee in between stores. Have fun trying things on and maybe pick out an outfit each for the other to try on. Give advice on what you think looks good with what and maybe even help steer them away from any big no-no’s. A second eye is always helpful and can give you a different perspective.Â
- Think Outside the Box: When rifling through clothing racks, try not to have a specific idea of a top or a kind of shoe you’re looking for. Stick more to overall aesthetics or a wide color scheme. Thinking you know exactly what you want can sometimes block any surprises from jumping out at you, and you can end up stopping yourself from branching out. See what naturally catches your eye. Try picking out items out of your comfort zones or colors and necklines you wouldn’t immediately gravitate to.Â
- Take your time: Good things come to those who wait. Rushing a thrift trip isn’t going to make the best pieces jump out faster. Take your time, look at pieces with careful consideration and make sure to not write anything off too fast. Look in all the sections, tank tops, blouses, pants, skirts and shoes. And even try looking at different sizing sections. Mistakes happen, things can get mixed up, and certain brands can run big or small and maybe the perfect skirt is waiting for you in the next size up.
- Have Fun!: Thrifting is meant to be a fun pastime or hobby, not something to frustrate you when you don’t find anything worth purchasing. Thrift stores are constantly receiving new donations, so even if one trip is a bust, don’t give up entirely. Try the next weekend or drive a little farther, but make thrifting more about the experience than the actual outcome.
Although thrifting is a fun pastime and a great way to spice up your closet, there are more benefits than just the one-of-a-kind pieces. Arguably the biggest upside is the positive impact it has on our environment. Fast fashion is a dangerous and rapidly expanding industry but thrifting and second hand shopping is combating that. By buying second hand you are reducing waste going into landfills and increasing money in your wallet.