THE SECRET TO THRIFTING
I tried to make this 10 tips but I have too many. So here's a HUGE list of ride or die tips / hacks / secrets I use while thrifting because I often get asked what thrift store I go to. I really don't think it's the thrift store, it's the mindset and all these tips I'm about to share. This is perfect for beginners who want to know how to get into thrifting decor and clothing and pros that want to level up their game even more.
Be In The Mood
You are about to treasure hunt if you're not in the mood, drink that coffee, eat that (beyond meat) burger, or just go another day. If you aren't ready for a treasure hunt it might be more difficult to keep an eye out for gems and to take your time going through everything.
Have A List
I always have either a physical, digital inspo list of clothing pieces I've been wanting or decor/ furniture items I know I might need for upcoming makeovers or projects.
know your sizes and bring a measuring tape
Whether it's furniture or a pair of pants, having a little keychain measuring tape has been so helpful for me (or just a regular measuring tape will do). Clothing sizes are all over the place but a measuring tape doesn't lie.
the day to go
I've tried to figure out the best day to go to my local thrift stores by asking the employees when they get their new stuff. That said, this can be either inconclusive or all over the place, so I haven't narrowed in on a day but I do know to NOT go on seniors day or any other discount colour day or sale day that doesn't apply to you (unless you're a senior). For me that means every Tuesday because I can never find a cart, the store is a mess and it’s too busy to enjoy yourself while you are shopping.
What Time To Go
On the previous note, I do like to go early and often. If I can, early in the day means the store is clean and usually less busy. It also often means I get to see new items as soon as they're put out. On average I'm there about 1-2 times a week. I have two different types of thrifting days. On weekends, I go for multiple stop adventures - sometimes out of town (more on that in the next tip). On an after work day, I go to a local shop for convenience.
where to go
OH boy I get asked this one a lot. Yes there are different qualities of thrift stores, how much they're curated, donated to, etc. but I do think that these tips will help you see thrift stores in a new light and hopefully makes every thrift day a successful one.
Check out thrift stores in and around high-earning neighbourhoods (typically in suburban areas). This is where you can find the brand names and usually I find the stores themselves less busy; that said, they can be more expensive.
I have found that stores in densely populated areas are usually super busy, messy, and picked over so I usually try to avoid downtown stores because I haven't had much luck.
Lastly, those rural thrift stores. I don't attend these often, mostly because I don't live near a rural area, but I find they are super affordable, not necessarily busy, and don't have high turnover. They might not have the best product selection BUT I think you're more likely to find that gem rare item there.
go through the whole store
This may sound obvious but can definitely be daunting. Even with a list on hand, you never know what you'll be inspired by. I always try to look through the whole store and all sections even though I may just be looking for a specific item. Make sure when you go to try and set out enough time to look everywhere!
remember your impact when it comes to thrifting
When thrifting, you're literally buying used / second hand, and that makes me so friggin stoked. Creating new products is such a drain on our planet's resources. It creates emissions and chemical waste - just to name a few issues. You've probably heard the fashion industry is pretty bad, but did you know it's responsible for being the second largest global contributor of carbon emissions (the top contributor being gas and oil). It's facts like these that really put things in to perspective for me.
So yeah thrifting is great, it means that you're not buying new materials BUT someone did donate those items, and it's important to remember that when you're donating, that not all of this gets purchased. Actually less than 25% of the clothing you see at the thrift store will actually be purchased. The rest will be either sold abroad (meaning more emissions), cut down for rags, ground up and used for new textiles or things like insulation or carpet padding, then the rest will be incinerated or end up at the landfill. That all said, donating is not a guilt-free way of getting rid of your goods
Everything I've learned in recent years has changed the way I approach fashion which brings me to my challenge (aka the next point)...
check out these resources for more info : CBC Article & Business Insider Article
challenge: only shop second hand
In the summer of 2019 I challenged myself to not buy any new clothing. I stared with 6 months and still allowed myself to buy ONE new piece a month. 3.5 years later, I'm still doing it and realized you don't even need to buy anything new, not even once a month.
By thrifting, or shopping on second hand marketplaces I'm benefiting from fast fashion whether it's the latest styles or just the large selection since theres a HUGE amount of textiles that are being donated everyday. Let me know if you're down to try this challenge. we can chat in the comments or over on our discord server.
keep an eye out for the unique
If I'm browsing in just the ‘general’ sense, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for that unique item. Maybe it's vintage or handmade, but whatever it is, it's special and will be a conversation starter in my space. Don’t keep it safe with neutrals, this is a great opportunity to try something new!
outside the intended use
Try imagining an item outside of its intended use. For example, you see a quilt and imagine it as an art-piece or wall hanging. A pot as a table base, but most definitely remember that curtains, bedsheets and table clothes can be used as regular fabric, and a lot of the time you can even used the hemmed edges as a shortcut to a project you are sewing!
quality
Be aware, lots of people donate items because they are not in good condition anymore. Make sure there are no stains (or at least no stains that would stop you from wearing it), fabric snags, broken parts, missing pieces, or rips. I just don't want you to get caught with extra work if you weren't expecting to take it on.
smell
Along with this rule of looking at the item’s quality, you also gotta smell it. You gotta do it, even if it feels awkward. If it smells, especially like smoke, you're going to wish you knew that before you brought it home and spent $2 a load trying to get the smell out.
temporary items from the thrift store
Whether moving, waiting to add something to your birthday wish list, or a paycheque to clear, use the thrift store for for all of the items you need NOW. When I moved into my house, I bought plates, cups, housewares, etc. Whatever I needed to function in my home so that I could take my time choosing, or waiting to thrift the final pieces I wanted for my home. I know most people just go do a massive IKEA haul, but the thrift store has IKEA too and it'll cost you less and is a better move on the planet!
how to remove stickers
If you’ve thrifted an decor items before, you KNOW that stickers are the arch nemisis. To easily remove stickers you can try one of the following hacks:
heat up with a blow dryer
soak in water
for stubborn stickers, you can try soaking a rag with alcohol and let it sit on the spot for a couple minutes to soften the residue
* Note : careful when using alcohol or other products, the chemicals might remove the sticker but also harm your piece
closet touch base
Before you go thrifting, have a closet touch base, make sure you know what's in your closet and what you really need (for example: no more black long sleeves for me). This is also a great opportunity to pull out some things at this time that you find you're no longer wearing or don't fit (bringing us to our next point).
donate before you go
You can donate almost every time you head to the thrift store (unless you have just moved or are in a special circumstance), but for the rest of us. One thing in, one thing out. Plus my thrift store gives me a coupon when I donate!
brand names
I don’t always focus on brand names when shopping, but some are a hard no for me because I know the quality won't be there, especially for typical fast fashion brands that have a reputation for falling apart quickly. On the other hand, there are some brands that are known for having great quality that I know will hold up for a really long time! A brand I always look out for is Patagonia!
imagine it's a brand
If you're someone that can't get your head around the fact this is second hand clothing, or not from the stores you usually shop at, try and imagine the piece you are looking at coming from a generic brand like Zara or H&M. Would you buy it if it was there?
dress appropriately
A lot of thrift stores I visit don't have fitting rooms anymore after COVID. Sometimes I like wearing tight fitted clothing to be able to try items on top. Or something like a dress, that way I am able to pull pants on underneath without flashing anyone! If you are clothing shopping, remember this tip while you’re getting ready to go.
inspo
If you have a Pinterest board or IG saves that you've recently reviewed or updated, it provides great inspo and will allow you to have new eyes for something you otherwise would have overlooked. Also, creating Pinterest boards is just fun as is!
fabrics
Similarly to the brand point, I keep an eye out for natural fabrics like wools, silks, linen, cotton. These materials can look luxe, be breatheable, last longer, and DON'T release micro-plastics when washed. Fabrics like polyester, nylon, polyamide, acrylic are not only harmful in the manufacturing process but even when washing.
More info on fabric sustainability here.
SOME OF MY FAV SECTIONS TO SHOP
Suits
I personally have had so much luck with suits recently. Be sure to check out both ‘men’ and ‘women’ sections as the workers often just guess what section they should be in.
Mens Jeans
One time becky and I were thrifting and a woman was putting a bunch of SICK vintage jeans on the return rack at the fitting room and we were like UM, where did you find these gems? she said, come here girls, listen closely, the mens section. I have since found so many amazing jeans in the mens section and the fit is just right.
Sweaters and T's
It seems that a lot of the times the plain crew necks, or non-graphic T's end up in the mens section. Check there if you're looking for something oversized, and maybe plain.
Purses
I have gotten my last like 5 purses from the thrift store, and I ALWAYS get complimented on them. Definitely an undervalued section.
Handmade Pottery
Good for so many things: flowers, dried stems, plants, fruit, collecting things.
Art
I always try to peep the art because sometimes you can find a hand-painted piece which is way more unique than your classic prints.
DIY Canvas
On that note, if you want to make your own art the thrift store is a great place to go to get a large canvas at an affordable price. Paint it white, or prime it whatever colour and then you have a blank slate and you didn't spend $80.
Coffee Table Books
It can be so expensive to buy new ‘aesthetic’ books and sometimes the addition of a beautiful thick book on a sideboard or coffee-table is all the space needs. Check out the nature, fashion and travel sections for these books!
Picture Frames
Something I can always count on finding is picture frames! You can also always paint them to make them match your theme and they are so much more unique!