Do you wanna pop some tags? Only have $20 in your pocket? Use these 10 thrift shopping tips to help you look incredible in your grandad’s clothes without making your wallet cry.
Patience is a virtue
Don’t let the endless racks and hangers scare you. Take your time searching because you might find your next favorite piece — even things from your favorite name-brands — hidden between shoulderpads and rhinestone jeans.
Don’t knock it ‘til you try it
With all shopping experiences, the clothes will look different on the hanger than they will on you. This is your chance to try something totally unique and new, so lean into it! Whether it’s stirrup pants or a mohair sweater, something new might become your fashion trademark.
Don’t confine yourself to gender/age sections
If you’re looking for something specific and can’t find it in your usual shopping section, don’t be afraid to switch it up! Some of my favorite pairs of mom jeans have come off the men’s rack, while ironically fun and nostalgic tees are abundant in the kids’ section.
Knick knacks are your best friend
Most people think thrift shopping and only think of clothes, but don’t let that narrow your scope. Almost any generic thrift store is full of fun — and most importantly, cheap — decorations for a dorm or apartment. Sets of plates, utensils, cups and more are all hiding back among the home goods section.
Treasure trove of accessories!
Just like home goods, accessories of all kinds are abundant in almost any thrift shop. Whether it’s a just-for-fun piece of costume jewelry or a much needed belt for those pants that are just a little too big, hidden accessory treasures are often hiding in plain sight. Look at step one again and don’t stop looking!
Shop out of season
Thrift stores are big hotspots for shoppers to buy everything from tacky holiday sweaters to costumes for Greek Life events. However, going last-minute doesn’t often get the desired result. When it comes to specific finds, always shop out-of-season. A lot of people re-donate their tacky holiday gear, making January the prime occasion for sweater hunting.
(Almost) always bring a buddy
If there’s one thing that makes the task of sifting through countless patterned pant suits less daunting, it’s doing it with a friend. Having a clothing color commentator creates a break in the search monotony while adding another set of eyes to the search for something new!
At-home alterations
Picture this: you find the perfect shirt. It’s got a great pattern, fits like a dream and costs only $5. The only thing that could make it better is if it were a crop top. That’s one of the best things about thrift store finds: they’re inexpensive enough that you won’t feel bad chopping a few inches off the bottom of a t-shirt, cutting select holes through a pair of old jeans or freeing a funky blazer from its shoulder pad prison. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with your look!
Give yourself time
To get the most out of any thrift store excursion, you need to give yourself enough time to explore. Stressing yourself out with a strict time limit will turn your clothing treasure hunt into a careless (and often fruitless) search.
Have fun!
No list would be complete without this golden rule. There are frustrations that exist in every shopping experience, but finding a long-time staple piece that fits within a college student’s budget? That’s something to be celebrated.
