How to Thrift Like a Champ – Tips and Tricks from a Former Stylist
How to Thrift Like a Champ
Tips and Tricks from a Former Stylist
Let’s face it, thrifting can be overwhelming. There are so many options, and not all of them are good. Most thrift stores are HUGE, and finding what you want drowning in a sea of options can seem like too much to handle.
Some people love the thrill of the hunt, others not so much, but wherever you land on the spectrum, I’m here to help you become a thrifting champion!
I was raised on the floor of an antique store, summers and weekends were spent at flea markets and garage sales… and I hated it! Sure, it was fun spending time with my mom, and every now and then, I found something I loved (enter my gumball machine collection), but most of the time, I just felt bored and tired! When I grew up, I became a costume designer and professional stylist, and guess what? I was back to thrifting again!
I love vintage clothes, the thrill of finding something no one else has is fantastic. But I had to develop some tricks if I was going to be thrifting full time, and I did!
Step One: It’s All About the Fabric
Like I said, thrifting can be overwhelming. The best way I’ve found to narrow it all down is to first look for fabric. You’re not going to wear it if you don’t like the color or the feel of it, so look for that first.
When I step into a thrift store, I go aisle by aisle, I like to walk my fingers through every garment in a given section. Too time-consuming? Not really. I’m literally just going down the row, checking only the shoulders of everything on the rack to see if I like the color.
If you find a color that grabs your eye, then pull it out. Narrowing it down first by color, then by fabric, means you don’t have to look at every garment, just the ones you already like something about. Get a feel for the material, is this something you feel like you could actually wear? Is it comfortable? Is it breathable? Yes? Then you are ready for step two!
Step Two: Rips and Stains
Check it out: If it’s stained, that means it’s been stained for who knows how long! People have tried to get it out, and they have failed. Do you think you can get it out? If we’re honest with ourselves, I think we know the answer is no.
I am a professional stain-getter-outer, and I can’t get these stains out! I’ve gotten fake blood out of shirts between zombie fight takes, and I’ve lost the battle to stained vintage more times than I can count. If you find something you absolutely love, and it has a stain, ask yourself if you can really live with that stain… being on your clothing… forever.
The same goes for rips. If something has a tear, take a look at the placement. If it’s somewhere accessible, like a side seam, and you feel like you can fix it and still have it look good, then great. But if it’s somewhere more prominent than it’s probably not going anywhere.
The most important thing to consider when buying something with a rip or a stain is this; are you actually going to try to fix it? Chances are you’re not. Even when we have the best intentions, we don’t tend to go home with a new piece of clothing and fix it. Let’s be real, it ends up in the fix-it pile. That’s not where exciting new clothes go!
Step Three: The Fit
Ok, so you’ve looked at the fabric, you’ve checked for rips and stains, and you’ve made it all the way to the fitting room, you’re killing it! Now one last step before you walk out the door, you’ve got to try it on!
Vintage clothes fit differently from modern garments. Sometimes they have tiny waists. Sometimes they have massive shoulders, so find what works for you! Once you get familiar with what decades work for you, it will help you narrow down the thrifting experience even more.
When you are trying things on asking yourself if it’s comfortable. Is it too tight in the waist? Can you move your arms freely? These are two of the key elements to look for.
If something doesn’t fit right, ask yourself a few questions. Can you belt it? I do this all the time with dresses that are technically way too big for me, and they look great. Grab a belt and try it. Can you roll it? If sleeves don’t fit right a lot of the time, you can just cuff them, and they will look amazing. I don’t even need to ask ourselves if we can remove the shoulder pads, because yes, we absolutely can and will.
If it does not fit right and you’re saying to yourself, “I’ll totally fix this, I just need to do XYZ” will you tho? Much like rips and stains, these projects often end up in piles, so think twice before you buy yourself something that needs fixing.
If it helps, I like to tell myself, “this belongs to someone else, and it’s going to make them so happy when they find it.” I can’t tell you how many garments I’ve left behind, thinking I would dream about them for the rest of my life. I can’t tell you how many times, because I’ve totally forgotten about them, and you will!
Congratulations, You are Now a Thrifting Champ!
Thrifting doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it can (and should) feel like an exciting treasure hunt! Just remember, we’re shopping for clothes, not projects. So get out there, and get in there, enjoy the thrill of the dig!
Your vintage gold is out there waiting for you, so go find it!
I’d love to hear how this has helped you find your new wardrobe gem, please keep me posted in the comments!
