This article has been syndicated from Bloom Sista as a part of Her Campus Style’s Black History Month celebration.
By now, most of us are aware of the harmful impact of the fast fashion industry not only on the environment but also on those who produce the clothing as well (I would highly recommend watching The True Cost on Netflix to learn more). Shopping sustainable brands like Reformation is ideal, but that can get very expensive, very quickly.
As a girl on a college budget, my way of supporting the slow fashion movement is through thrifting. I’ve been exploring the racks of Goodwill and other vintage stores for about 5 years now and have learned soooo much in that time. Here are a few of my top tips to get you started on building a more sustainable wardrobe!
1. Create a mood board
2. Choose your go-to thrifting outfit
Since I’ve already expended enough patience looking through clothes, by the time I’m ready to try them on, the last thing I want to do is wait in a line for a dressing room. Most thrift stores only have a few dressing rooms, so to avoid the lines I have come up with the perfect combo for trying on things in the aisles: black leggings + a tank top + comfy shoes (+ an easily removable sweater/sweatshirt when it’s cold). Wearing form-fitting clothes allows me to layer my try-on pieces on top of my clothes while still getting the gist of what they’ll look like when I actually wear them. I like black leggings specifically because they’re neutral, so they allow me to really look at whatever top I’m trying on without being swayed by whether or not it matches with a certain wash of jeans I might otherwise be wearing.
3. Inspect your items thoroughly
It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve found a great piece, only to notice there’s a stain you can’t get rid of after you washed it at home or a hole that you missed in the store. Some suggest bringing a Tide pen with you to see if you can get the stains out in the store, but I try to just avoid those pieces altogether. The usual problem areas are holes in the armpits of tee shirts or the pockets of jeans and jackets, stains in unusual places on sweatshirts, or issues with zippers on jackets and dresses. If you think you’ve found an item that’s too good to be true, be extra suspicious because there’s probably a reason someone else left it on the rack.
4. Don’t fool yourself into “fixing things”
5. Don’t get caught up in the cheap prices
The main reason I ended up buying pieces I never wore was because I wasn’t used to seeing such low price tags. Nowadays I’m a lot more discerning when it comes to thrifting. Sometimes I walk out of the store with nothing and it can be disappointing, but having a closet full of things I won’t actually wear is way worse. Try your items on in the store and really ask yourself if you would actually wear each item. Think about how well it might pair with what you already have in your closet. If you can’t see how it’ll fit into your wardrobe, it may not be something you want to bring home. Don’t feel pressured to buy things just because they’re cheap. Pay attention to material quality and style and let those things guide you to the register instead.
Thrifting has allowed me to express my “old soul” through my style and I love being able to experiment with different pieces without hurting my wallet. I hope I’ve encouraged you to start (or continue) your sustainable style journey!