100% Thrifted: My Tried-and-True Methods to The Thrift
In high school, my ex-boyfriend told me thrifting was for “dirty people”. Two years later, I’m writing an article about all my favorite methods of thrifting for people to read. I guess I love being a dirty person.
For so many people, thrifting is seen as a stressful activity, and they never know where to start. Also, the conversation about the ethics of thrifting has been discussed time and time again. If you’re more of a numbers person, I am going to put this into perspective for you.
If you bought a similar brand-new outfit from Forever 21:
Cropped Tee - $22.99
Denim Skirt – $29.99
Kitten Heels - $24.99
Total: $77.67 without taxes
If you thrifted a similar outfit based on prices at Goodwill:
T-shirts – $4.79
Skirts – $4.79
Heels – $6.99
Total - $16.57 without taxes
Image Courtesy: Instagram
As shown above, thrifting is not as expensive as some think it is. Thrifting also has other perks. It’s one of those hobbies that feels like self-care to me and is one of my favorite stress relievers. It’s an activity that I can make a whole day out of! Here are some tips and tricks to help brighten up your own thrifting experience.
Put on Your Best Outfit
Getting myself ready for the day allows me to feel confident and ready to take on the thrift store. It’s also a plus knowing that when people come to the thrift and see you in your amazing outfit, they’re just a little intimidated about all the great finds you’re going to snatch.
Get a Little Treat
Before I walk into any thrift store, I always stop at my favorite coffee shop and get myself a coffee and a sandwich. It’s almost like a pregame to thrifting. Being caffeinated and fed lessens the chance of you getting annoyed or frustrated while thrifting. It’s like being a sim! Taking care of your needs puts you in a good mood.
Game Plan
I always map out which stores I want to go to that day. This is an all-day event, and pre-planning your route will take a lot of the stress away. I usually go to the furthest location first, and work my way back home.
Get Your Music Ready
I always make sure my headphones are charged and I have some music downloaded onto my phone, as some thrift stores have bad reception. I usually listen to an entire album while I’m sorting through the racks.
My current favorite thrifting albums:
Sunburn - Dominic Fike
Reputation - Taylor Swift
The Queen is Dead - The Smiths
Wish - The Cure
Decide What You’re Looking For
I personally am always looking for unique pieces to add to my closet. Deciding before you go into the store if you’re looking for basics or unique pieces will help you curate what you grab from the racks or not.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
Don’t Look at Every Rack
Contrary to popular belief, this wastes so much time. Look at the sections that you know hold clothes you would usually wear. I always look at skirts, dresses, lingerie, and tank tops. I never look at jeans because I already have a few different washes and don’t need any more. It would be a waste of time and I could miss out on a cool piece.
Look at Different Sizes
Sizing is always inconsistent and has changed throughout the years. I have found items that have fit me from a size small all the way to an extra-large. Don’t be afraid to take a peak over at sizes that you wouldn’t usually buy from the store.
Fill up That Cart
Grab every single item that even remotely catches your attention and fill your cart. If you are unsure about an item and decide to go back for it, there’s a high chance that someone else could have grabbed it. So grab as you go just to be safe.
Go Through Everything
Find an empty rack in a quiet corner of the store and hang up everything from your cart. Start sorting between buy, maybe, and hard no. This is my favorite part, especially looking back at a piece that you have zero clue why you picked it up.
Put Away Your Put Back
Please put anything you don’t want away on the put-back rack. The employees are real people who sort hundreds of items of clothing a day. It makes their job easier, plus you get good karma points!
When you decide to thrift, ensure you are supporting small thrift stores as well as big corporations like Goodwill. With the society we live in, it is hard to avoid these major thrift chains. Google search for small locally owned shops in your area. In Saint Augustine, one of my favorite shops is Betty Griffin’s Thrift Shop, which helps support domestic abuse victims. Thrifting has so many benefits, ranging from cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and giving back to the community. So, take yourself on a little thrift trip. You deserve it!
Strike Out,
Jessica Giraldo
Saint Augustine
