thrifting 101 for beginners

Ah, thrifting. You hear your hippie dippie friend raving about their Value Village find, where she scored a Lululemon top for a whopping $15. The image of digging through bins of clothing gives you anxiety. You’ve been dragged into a secondhand store before and left empty-handed, totally confused about what the hype is all about.

Where do you start? After all, your shopping experience up to this point has been walking into a curated store with 10 of each shirt size on display. You typically would already know the brand you’re buying and what to expect in terms of said brand’s quality and price point. It’s been easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.

I felt this way too. Sometimes I still feel a bit overwhelmed when I step into a secondhand store and scan the room. Breathe. It just takes some practice. You’re conditioned to have everything at your fingertips, and actively searching for what you want in a shop can also be conditioned. There are endless possibilities of what you could find — designer pieces, high-quality vintage items, styles from generations ago that are cycling back into mainstream trends. So think of this as a fun challenge! Bring friends! Enjoy the process, and revel in the rewards.

Before you go in:

Grab your headphones!
Nothing beats sorting through racks to some good tunes. Some thrift stores play dull elevator music, so get into the zone with some of your own beats. Personally, I use this groovy playlist.
Dress for what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a dress, try wearing a pair of heels or shoes that would be flattering when trying on a dress. And wear layers. Especially in the age of COVID, fitting rooms aren’t always available, so wear something like a cardigan you can take off depending on what you’re trying on.
Set expectations.
If you have your heart set on finding a specific item, understand that you may need to come back a few times or check a few different stores to find what you’re looking for. It’s all a part of the hunt, and the payoff feels ohhhh sewwww gud when you do find it. It also helps to pray to the thrifting gods that they send you what you’re seeking, for good measure.

As you shop:

Have a goal in mind.
If you go to aimlessly peruse, you may find yourself in a time suck. Try to hone in on a specific style of item, or a specific season, that you can set as your loose goal for your shopping trip. Give yourself a time limit, say 45 minutes to find what you’re looking for before moving on.
Learn about quality markers.
Woven rather than printed tags are indicative of a higher-end brand. Same with union labels, which are typically red and blue, meaning the item is pre-80s era. Any clothing item with a lining is also higher quality.
Ask when the thrift store restocks.
Find a clerk and inquire about their restock day so you can plan your shopping accordingly. Nothing blows more than arriving the day before they restock to picked-over inventory.
Realize that vintage clothing runs smaller than modern clothing.
Shaming yourself while thrifting is not allowed, fam. Besides, the sizing you’re seeing in older clothing (especially in pants) is rarely accurate to today’s sizing — we’re talking 2-4 sizes larger. So try a plethora of sizes, and if all else fails, get those jeans taken in by a tailor if you love them!
Shop the men’s section.
’Nuff said. They have THE best oversized dress shirts and suit jackets. Men’s baggy clothes on women is in.

I hope some of these tips gear you up for a successful first thrifting experience. What are some predispositions you have about thrifting? What are the pain points that you find difficult to wrap your head around? I’d love to hear from you in the comments! As always…

Stay real,

— K. JO

Back to Lifestyle

Featured