I've been thrifting since I was in college, before it became a social media trend (and when social media hadn't infiltrated our lives like it does now) and back when it was perhaps a little embarrassing to tell someone that you found that cute blouse at Goodwill. I feel like it's important to acknowledge the stigma that was associated with shopping at second-hand stores (or segundas, as my mom and grandma sometimes called them), because for many people shopping second-hand was and is their only option and it wasn't something to tout for fear of being judged.
I started thrifting because I started developing a real love of fashion, and I thought, "There has to be something cool hidden in all of these racks of clothes." Over time, I've created a wardrobe built of a mix of previously loved pieces and new pieces, but I've known a lot of people that have said they also want to start thrifting but don't know where to start. Here are my tips for diving into the art of thrifting.
Start at Your Local Shops
Living in Oakland, I'm surrounded by a number of great thrift and consignment shops: Crossroads, Knimble, Buffalo Exchange, Indigo Vintage, etc. We of course have plenty of bigger chain thrift stores, like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Savers, and more. As with other ventures, the best way to get started doing something is to jump right in and just start doing it. Pick a local thrift shop and check it out. Give yourself time to peruse — first-time thrifters have told me they often find themselves daunted by the sheer amount of choice in a given thrift store, which is understandable especially when nothing is organized by size or even color. So be ready to shop, but it also helps if you go in with an idea of something specific to look for, like sweaters or jeans. Then you can skip all of the sections that aren't relevant.
Once you figure out which shops you tend to find things at and which shops you walk away empty handed from, then you can curate a selection of shops to check out regularly.
Utilize Thrifting Apps
In recent years, as thrifting has grown in popularity, apps like Poshmark, depop, ThredUp, and others have made it easy to thrift from the comfort of your couch. Don't like dealing with people? Can't make it out of the house? Tired of sifting through racks of clothing, even when they're clearly organized? Download an app and take advantage of the search bar and search filters instead.
I've had great luck with Poshmark and depop, and have landed some hard-to-find pieces on those apps. I like that depop shows results from international sellers, as I've found some super friendly sellers that were willing to ship to the US. ThredUp tends to be a bust for me (though I've had just slightly more luck in their brick-and-mortar store in Oakland), and Relovv was just alright. Their biggest crutch is their lack of selection, which I'm chalking up to the fact that they're very new. But the best way to find the app that works for you is to download them all and spend some time shopping around on them, and delete the ones you don't like.
Don't Let Yourself Get Sucked Into Bad Purchases
It can be easy to get carried away while thrifting: you try to convince yourself that you'll be able to make that piece work, even if it's a little too oversized or has a conspicuous stain or hole. You feel like you should walk away with something given how much time you've spent shopping and searching.
As a method to both help me spend less and create a more curated closet, I've found ways to talk myself out of buying things that I don't love, but merely like:
- Is there a stain or hole? I'm more than likely not going to be able to get the stain out and I know I'm not going to sit down and repair that damage. So just say no.
- Does that piece look really similar to something you've given away or sold in the past, or like something (or many things) you already own? Don't keep buying the same thing — it's a waste of money and closet space.
- Is the asking price fair? If you're on the fence about something, try to determine whether you'd be getting overcharged if you bought it (i.e. you're paying almost full price for a used OAK + FORT or Topshop blouse, something from the last decade is being marked as "vintage," etc.). Bad deals are a fast way to get me to put something back on the rack.
- Would I be getting this if I found other pieces I liked a lot more, or am I guilt tripping myself into buying this because I've spent so long shopping and don't want to walk away empty handed? Sometimes thrift trips are a bust, and that's ok. But don't buy something because you feel like your trip will be a waste if you don't. Believe me, you'll be selling, donating, or returning that piece in a heartbeat.
Check Out-of-Town Thrift Stores
On vacation? Nice! Be sure to check out any thrift stores nearby. I've found that "location, location, location" doesn't just apply to real estate, but to the selection in thrift stores, as well. For example, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Crossroads in Santa Cruz was pretty big on boho style, which meant I found very few pieces I was interested in (and I ultimately didn't end up buying anything). But thrifting in LA is apparently a goldmine for women with a style similar to mine. Personal taste is ultimately going to dictate how much you like the selection in certain stores (which is often curated according to the taste of the buyers in places like Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange and what sells best at those locations).
Instagram is Becoming a Thrifter's Paradise
Increasingly, Instagram/online-only thrift shops are becoming a thing. Spend some time perusing thrift-related hashtags on Instagram and you're bound to stumble across one shop after another. Check who they're following, too, because they're usually following other thrift or vintage shops. And of course, stay vigilant: you don't want to buy from a shop that seems shady.
Look for Specialty Thrift Shops
Lots of thrift stores specialize in certain sizing (petite sizes, plus sizes ) or niches/styles (desert aesthetic, vintage from the 40s and 50s, etc.). If you have specific sizing needs or are really looking for a place with a clearly defined aesthetic, they're out there and can make shopping a lot easier. Again, Instagram is a good resource for these places, but I've also stumbled across a number of them on Etsy.
Sign Up for Mailing Lists at the Stores You Frequent
I know, no one wants yet another email cluttering their inbox (I've got over 130 to get through right now), but if you frequent certain thrift stores and they have a mailing list, sign up for it. If they have a free membership program, look into it and decide whether it's something you would derive value from. A lot of stores send discounts or members-only specials via email mailing lists, and saving more money on top of the money you're saving by thrifting is a good thing. You might not always take advantage of them, but having a discount sitting in your inbox for when you eventually need it is great.
[Separate but related side note: I've seen influencers who thrift complaining that prices at thrift stores have gone up — some of them, ironically, complaining in a vlog while thrifting. Thrift stores aren't naive; when we tag thrift stores in our posts and videos, their social media teams see that, and those stores get wise to the fact that thrifting is growing more popular. And they capitalize on that popularity by — you guessed it — raising prices. So influencers, if you're wondering why prices have gone up, well, just watch your latest thrifting vlog or look at your latest Instagram post to figure out why.]
But More Than Anything, Have Fun!
Shopping (for those of us that like it) should be fun, not a hassle or a chore. Find the stores you like, sign up for their discounts, discover the thrifting practices that work best for you, and have fun while doing it. There are so many one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find, unique, and/or vintage pieces in my wardrobe that I wouldn't have if I hadn't discovered the joys of thrifting. And they're pieces I won't be donating or selling — timeless, quality pieces I'll use until they've fallen apart or worn out. You never know what you'll find until you open your mind to looking in places other than the trendiest shops of the moment. Happy hunting!
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