Soon, as the proverb goes your mum always has a solution. "Wanna go check this thrift shop? It says all 6.99." Faltering at first I walked in and what I saw was beyond imagination. Thousand of knitwears. Everywhere. My dream came true and after 2 hours and a lot of digging I went home with 3 knit sweaters ( 2 of them from H&M ) and I only spent 21 euros.
7. Check the rack by the dressing rooms.
Thrift shopping tho, is not so simple and easy for beginners. There are big temptations and a lot of things that you should check before making a purchase. That's because I'm not talking about big well known second hand businesses I am talking about the dusty, unorganised aisles that are hosting Levis jeans and Gucci jackets from the 90's. Thrifting is the definition of one person's trash being another person's treasure so here are all the tips and tricks that will help you achieve this.
1. What NOT to buy:
I would not prefer to buy underwear for personal reasons only. Υou have no risk of inheriting any form of bacteria like an STD or other illness-inducing disease if you wash them. Also don't buy stuffed animals because they are made with materials to resemble human and animal hair which are susceptible to carrying lice from the thrift store and into your home.
2. Don't make any specific plans.
Search for basic things like denim jeans or black or white tshirts and start from there. Between them you will find more and more things that you may like with unique prints and patterns. If you know exactly what you are looking for you are doomed.
3. Try on clothes.
If you don't want to do this you will leave the store with things that don't fit you well. You'll rarely find your perfect size because companies use different sizing in between time. Learn to think over-sized in sweaters and tshirts but stick to tight jeans and well fitted jackets.
4. Price and material.
In thrift shops you can find leather vintage jackets for 20 euros but be aware of the condition the jacket is. If it is too old the leather may be frayed so don't buy it. Also if you are looking for knit sweaters search for ones that are rich in wool and not synthetic ones. As I said I bought my wool sweaters for 7 euros each while at stores they would have cost me over 40 each. When it comes to jeans it's up to you. You want it denim, you'll get it denim. You want it elastic, you'll get it elastic. Search for cotton tshirts and not polyester because it's not worth it to spend more than 5 euros in second hand bad quality shirts. If the quality feels good and luxurious pick up the item and analyze it further. This will lead you to #5 tip.
5. Price and brand.
You will find hidden gems in every thrift shop but you need hours to find it. Adidas sweaters, Yves Saint Laurent bottom up shirts, Christian Dior 100% cotton shirts and Comme des Garcon all under 10 euros. While I was thrift shopping a year ago I bought a Burberry no sleeves pullover for 5 euros all by accident. Look every tag inside the clothes and you will have yours. You can also find very famous brands in shoes too but they may be too vintage for your personal style or very classic.
6. Never walk away from something you like.
If you are not so sure about it keep it with you while you are shopping because if you put it back, ten minutes later someone may scoope it up. It is better to have 10 shirts with you while strolling than none at the end.
7. Check the rack by the dressing rooms.
People usually put back very beautiful items that are waiting for you to take them home. You may find better clothes in there than the hangers. Most people don't check the rack. Their loss not yours.
8. Keep an open mind.
People say that they don't want to wear second hand clothes because they are dirty. You know you have this thing called washing machine, you put clothes in there and your problem is solved. Thrift shops also help the enviroment because they reduce waste and pollution. Producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires lots of energy, toxic gases and chemicals and second hand clothes are less likely to end up in landfills. Along with this many thrift shops directly support charity. In Ireland this term does not exist and they are called "charity shops". By shopping at these kinds of establishments, your clothing purchase can go from supporting Third World child labor to supporting Third World childrens’ education.
9. Try new styles.
Since you can find anything in there why not try something else that your casual stree style. Pick up a dress you would never try on, at big chain stores. It may look even better than you imagined on you. You can try new styles and only spend a few euros at the thrift shop and level up your wardrobe with colourful and nowhere to be found items that your friends will be jealous of.
10. Flea markets.
There are everywhere and everyday and you can find rare treasures. Choose a basic vintage item that you have found at the flea market and mix it up with a fashionable item at your closet to create beautiful personal looks inspired by Vogue and Pinterest posts. Let your imagination run free and have no regrets after.
The world is full of vintage clothes that are waiting for you. Give thrift shopping a try and if you have any other tips and tricks let me know.
I hope you are all proud of me for not bringing up Maclemore's hit song till the very end because I was struggling all this time not to.
xoxo