how to start thrifting: a beginner’s guide
Written by Daphne Bryant
Thrifting: the act of shopping for secondhand goods, often at thrift stores. It’s not a new thing by any means, but in the last decade thrifting has definitely surged in popularity. Traditionally, wearing secondhand clothes has been deemed an“ uncool” thing, something you only do if you’re insanely frugal or can’t afford to buy fresh off the rack at your local department or designer store. However, these days, even the uber rich have taken up thrifting, and they’re doing so as a hobby. For some people, thrifting and reselling funds their entire lifestyle. But what about the people that have never thrifted before, who don’t know the first thing about navigating a market or Goodwill? That’s where I come in. Today, I’ll be your thrifting fairy godmother, and below you’ll find my ten step guide for embarking on a thrifting journey: good luck!
1. don’t be nervous.
For some people thrifting can be super intimidating, especially if you’ve only ever shopped in places like Forever 21 and Zara. Making the switch from fast or brand fashion into sustainable fashion is a really awesome, deliberate choice, and once you’ve decided to make it, don’t overthink it. Don’t put expectations on yourself to find a bunch of perfect items. You hear me good? Don’t expect to look like a Pinterest baddie after your first thrift run; it’s not going to happen overnight, even if you do have godly amounts of luck. Thrifting is something you get better at with time, so when you are first starting out, let yourself relax and just have fun.
2. start small and start local.
Almost every town and city has a local thrift store or Goodwill. If I were you, that’s where I’d start! Especially if there’s a Goodwill, because that’s pretty much the standard chain throughout the U.S. A lot of Goodwills are big, with lots of variety/options, and they’re typically less expensive than specialty thrift stores. The first time you walk into a thrift, don’t plan to come out with a huge haul. Start small. Promise to yourself that you’ll buy one thing you like/are open to trying, and if that’s all you do, then that’s a great accomplishment!
3. go slowly and comb through the entire thrift store.
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started thrifting has everything to do with patience. I am naturally impatient, but I also just wanted to acquire thrift finds so bad that I would always go way too fast and only shop in areas that I thought would have the things I wanted. I’d be done in five minutes, and that’s not how you’re supposed to thrift. 9 times out of 10, you simply cannot properly thrift in five minutes. There’s just too many bases to cover! Remind yourself to go slowly. Look at every rack, glance at every piece, feel every fabric and material, check everything that’s in your size (and even the things that are not).
Of course, if you know yourself and know what you will and won’t like (ex: maybe you hate skirts), then there’s not really any need to look at the skirts section. But you know what I mean: take your MF time! Additionally, don’t skip out on things like accessories: I’ve found some of the cutest belts, hats, and jewelry at thrift stores. And, if you typically shop in one gendered/age section of a store, try shopping in the other. I’ve found some of the sickest graphic tees in the men’s section, and some of the cutest baby tees in the kids’ section. The fun thing about thrift stores is that they often surprise you, so allow yourself to be surprised.
4. don’t compare your progress to others.
This is another thing I struggled with starting out. My younger sister is a thrift goddess. Back when we lived in Georgia she would always find the cutest things so quickly, and had so much in her closet, and whilst shopping, always seemed so...calm and confident? I wanted to be like that so bad, but I wasn’t following the steps I’ve outlined here, and so it made thrifting stressful and frustrating. I was comparing my progress to someone who had been thrifting for way longer than me. You can’t do that! As I said earlier, thrifting is a skill and it takes time to nurture. Stay focused on you, not your friends who have thrifted their entire Juicy collection, and not the super cool, mysterious fashion dudes that walk in with their shades on and noses high. If that’s where you want to be, you’ll eventually get there!
5. try different areas.
Even if you’re finding a lot of cute things in your neighborhood, other neighborhoods will have different thrift stores that boast different charms and price points.In my early college years there was this one store I’d go to if I knew I wanted quirky, Neo-soul inspired fashion, and a different one I’d go to if I wanted Y2K, and another one I’d go to if I just wanted some silly sayings on a T-shirt. Depending on where you are, the donations and curations of the store will vary, as will the people and the general vibes. When you’re starting out, it’s good to try different areas and find your favorites or go-to’s.
6. be considerate with your shopping.
When you’re thrifting, make sure to be considerate about what you buy and when. This is usually something to think about in the dead of winter: for example, if thrifting is just a hobby for you, maybe don’t thrift a leather jacket or long coat when it’s freezing outside. In my opinion, someone less fortunate than you, who might genuinely need the warmth at a lower price, deserves it more. It doesn’t really matter if it’s“ super aesthetic”; for you it might be a want, but for someone else it could be a need. It’s always rubbed me the wrong way when people romanticize thrifting to the point where they forget who thrift stores are really for. And hint, it’s not influencers. Basically, don’t be tone deaf.
7. beware of (some) markets.
I love thrift markets and vendor pop-ups, but sometimes there is some serious price gouging on. Most of the time I find the most ridiculous prices at super popular, social-media famous markets that everyone knows about and everyone goes to. Sometimes the shit isn’t even that great, but simply saying you got it from“ so and so” market makes it cool in the eyes of others. It’s fine if you can afford to splurge like that, but for those of us who aren’t drowning in retail cash, consider starting at markets that are a little more lowkey. While you’re at markets, you should also implement Step 3. Don’t just buy the first thing you see that looks nice; you should check out most of, if not the entire, market, just in case you find a better deal or something you like more. If you’re worried someone else will snatch your dream item up, you can politely ask the vendor to hold it for you until you make a final decision.
That being said, sometimes it is fun to be impulsive (I’ve made many impulsive buys at markets and festivals), but don’t over-do it. You’d be surprised how much thrifting adds up if you do it all the time and impetuously.
8. start to develop/elevate your personal style.
The first few times I went thrifting, I didn’t really have a look in mind. Or I guess what I mean to say is that I didn’t really have a fleshed out personal style (which is ironic because I got the Best Dressed superlative in high school). I didn’t know what kinds of clothes I actually liked or thought looked good on me. All of my inspiration came solely from Pinterest or my boyfriend at the time, who wanted me to dress a certain way, and so I did it. Once I moved to Boston and met all of the fashionable people at Emerson College, my personal style really improved! I was finally wearing things that actually made sense and felt great.How do you develop a personal style? By analyzing your own clothes and the things that you gravitate towards. For example, are you obsessed with mismatched patterns and colorful hues? Then go hard with that and pick items that fit your own interests. And, don’t not buy something just because it’s different than your usual stuff. Sometimes it’s the unexpected things that become our favorite pieces.If your eyes are drawn to something completely out of left field, trust that instinct and try something new! Experimentation + time = success!
9. remember that pieces are malleable.
Once you buy something at the thrift or a market, it doesn’t have to stay in the condition you bought it in. I mean, if you like it as is, why change it, but I always have to remind myself that things can be modified and DIY’d to best fit the vision I have for my style. For example, you can do alterations on things that don’t fit just right. You can add patches onto plain jeans to make them more interesting, or cut the neck of a T-shirt so that it hangs off the shoulder, or turn a scarf into a top or belt. Clothes have minds of their own, and I find that if you think about them as a malleable, you’ll get more creative with your style and it will become more unique!
10. document your journey.
It doesn’t really matter how you do this. You can keep a thrifting journal, start a YouTube channel, or just take photos of your thrift finds, but I think documenting your journey will help you realize later on just how far you’ve come in your journey with sustainability, which is really cool. You got this! Thrift away <3
