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Years ago, I found thrift shops to be rather grotesque — just the thought of someone else’s clothes [or shudder to think, theirshoes!] made me itchy. Still, I’ve friends who love to frequent them, so I paid attention. Forget some of the vintage stuff — that’s not for me. But look, here’s a Kenneth Cole shirt in great condition, for $4! And over there, a Chanel bag that needed a little stitching on its interior for $7!
Move over, Michigan Ave.!
Over time I’ve come to appreciate the racks of goods that just might contain a gem. By finding the better shops to suit my tastes, I’ve come to appreciate finding amazing designer clothes with small price tags. After all, it’s just another form of recycling! And just like that, a better wardrobe is created.
But like any true Thriftista knows, it’s not just like that. It’s anything but!
Photo by ChicagoGeek, used via Creative Commons license.
Now, there are dirty, out-of-date thrift shops. Overpriced and just overwhelmed with racks and racks of stuff. The crowds sometimes don’t have the best shopping manners. Stores can be messy and no, no one will ask if you need help anytime soon.
However, I’ve found [as I mentioned in my bio] Chanel, Prada, Coach, BCBG, bebe, Banana Republic, you name it — all at thrift shops many overlook. And that is a shame!
As part of this series, I’m going to discuss:
- thrift shopping dos and don’ts [that's this one]
- selling pointers
- my favorite places [and yours]
- all culminating in our new directory of thrift & vintage shops and their details and reviews.
^^^
Thrift shopping is an art, just like sales shopping. You’re often confronted with those ubiquitous racks crammed with goods. Most stores are getting better about separating by color and/or size, and as ever, it’s important to have your sizes in mind when you visit [this includes your men's pants sizing, ladies!]. Contrary to popular belief, there are good deals to be found outside of size 2s, including plus sizes. Viva La Femme is a great plus-size boutique, and I’ve found that Salvation Army often has larger sizes — you just have to look.
Many shops [like SA and Goodwill] will have “new item” racks — hit these first. They haven’t been sorted into the various categories, so they’re not goods that have been around forever. And, if you find something you like [especially in those hard-to-find sizes] you’ve a great chance of hitting the motherlode with more from the same person.
Look for labels. No one wants to come off as a brand whore, but generally, big brand and designer names hold up better and are better taken care of than Old Navy and H&M wares. It may be a deal at $2, but the cheapies don’t last too long in the wash.
Plan to look for a while.
