Thrifting 101

Lets set the record straight about thrifting: It is not gross! Thrifting gets a bad rap because often the stores that offer second-hand clothing are cramped, not well merchandised and lets face it…there’s a certain odor to them. But if we let go of this snooty attitude and look beyond the appearances, we might see that there are treasures to be found.

Fabulous red shoes I found at a local consignment store -I've worn them to death

I have to be the first to come forth and admit it: I was once a thrift store snob. When we first moved to Canada and were introduced to a second hand store, I did not like it at all. My mom was in seventh heaven filling up her cart with all kinds of goodies and I could barely look in the racks. I was a typical seventeen-year-old mind you and not much impressed me. Eventually mom did convince me and I ended up with a couple of large sweaters to wear over my stirrup pants…(any clue as to what decade I’m referring to?)

It’s taken a long time and some necessity for me to embrace the gift of thrift. I started going to thrift shops to find used furniture and gadgets. I also shopped for my kids, because baby clothes usually don’t get used as long and they were in great shape. In fact, at one of my baby showers one of my friends gave me a huge box of clothing which she decided to buy used, so that instead of buying me one outfit, she was able to buy a dozen! This changed my mind about second hand clothing.

Another great find from the consignment store.

So changing your perspective about the smell and the fact that it has been used is the first step. The second step is getting past the merchandising. Usually these stores are not organized like the box stores where there are outfits put together or many sizes to choose from and everything is in beautiful colour stories. Most second hand stores are simply divided by sizes and category and if you are lucky sometimes by colour.  I know a few people who have told me that they get overwhelmed by the amount of pieces and lack of direction. There’s no clear trend here. You are on your own. You must rely on your own style and flare. And I believe this is what fast fashion has stripped from us, it has taken our ability to decide what looks good on us and dictated what is in style this season or even this week; making it difficult for many to stray from a style that is not flattering or does not fit our personality at all.

In a thrift store, however, once you start really looking it’s amazing what you can find if you have a good eye. And I think that’s the trick. You need to figure out what is worth it and what’s not. You need to look for quality, style and fit. So here are a few tips to happy thrifting:

This one came from Value Village!

1.       Spend the time: First of all, when you are just starting make sure to give yourself plenty of time. Once you become a ‘seasoned’ thrifter you can go in and pick a garment without a second thought, but at the beginning you’ll need lots of time to look through, inspect and very importantly: try on! There’s no point in buying something that does not fit or even worse: does not fit right! 

2.       Look for quality: this is where learning the difference between a good or bad sewing finish or what a high quality fabric content is, comes in handy. Sometimes looking at the brand name will help because there’s no denying that something made by a designer brand is usually better made than a garment from a fast fashion source.

3.       Style: Insert personality here. This is where you get to decide what you shine in. What are you most comfortable wearing? And I do not mean comfortable sweat pants! We are talking fashion pieces here. Things like line and shape or colour and texture. It does not have to be limited to only pants or skirts or dresses, but if you do prefer one of this categories, that says something about your personal style too. So do you like long and lean or do you like flouncy and delicate? Or is it loud prints and bright colours? Dainty florals or basic pieces. You decide. And once you know what happy looks like for you, then make sure it is flattering.

4.       Fit and a flattering look go hand in hand. Proportion plays a huge part in the fit of something being right for you. Look for things that fit your shoulders, torso and waist. Remember that hems and sleeves could be altered and some side seams could be taken in, but unless you have a basic understanding of alterations, make sure that the garment fits before you buy it. Otherwise you’ll never wear it again and you’ll curse your experience.

5.       Bring a buddy: This only works if you like a second opinion. But if you are a ‘solo’ shopper this might backfire especially if your buddy is on a time limit.  So on this note, don’t bring someone who’s not interested in being there: i.e. your children or husband.

   Most of all, have fun with it. In the famous words of Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!"