In my new city, thrift shops run rampant. Thrifting is an art here and is not taken lightly. This is good news to me since my budget is precisely $3 and I have copious amounts of time to do things like rummaging through piles of used goods. I’ve always enjoyed shopping in vintage joints but have never taken the time to truly hone the craft until recently. Here are some great tips I have learned!
Explore – You know that vintage shop in the bad part of town that has spooky mannequins sporting Muumuus? Go there. Chances are it is not as picked over as the popular vintage shops, and you have a better chance of finding some gems. If you are serious about thrifting, you should go into every single shop you see. Every..single…one. Even if it is just to browse quickly. That way you can determine which shops are worth your time and which are not.
Discern – Some things are just unsalvageable. Check everything closely for rips, stains, burns or busted seams. If the garment you desire is ripped or burned in a place that cannot possibly be fixed, just let it go. If it smells funny, it can always be washed. Ripped seams can easily be fixed up. And, of course, make sure your selections are free of leather, silk, wool and other animal products.
Get crafty – If something is not your size – can it be altered to fit you? Almost everything can be made smaller (unfortunately not many things can be made bigger!) depending on your skill level. If you really like the fabric of a piece but not the style, consider turning it into something else. If you are creative enough, a thrift shop can be an upcycler’s dream.
Get schooled – Try to be familiar with all brands and where they come from. (I recently found a pair of used Forever 21 shoes for $60! You’re not fooling me trendy vintage shop!!) You might get duped into buying a $15 Target shirt for $40 but you could also get some designer gear for super cheap. Knowledge will get you far, my friends.
Try it on – Sizes have changed drastically through the decades. If your potential purchase is from another generation, make sure to try it on. Some clothes might look cute on the hanger but fit like a burlap sack. Wear leggings and tanks so you don’t get arrested if a dressing room is not available.
Bargain – You can totally haggle with shop owners, and if you are paying in cash you can usually get things for a bit cheaper. However, don’t bargain at charity stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army) that’s just bad manners.
Become a stalker – Find out when your favorite shops get new clothes in. Usually, if you ask the shop owner they will happily tell you the best days and times to come.
header image via L’excessive
Great list!
Another thing I add, as a vegan, is to check materials. I don’t buy used leather, wool or silk (or TRY not to anyway) so I always try to remember to check the labels. Sometimes stuff I think is acrylic is wool, or something I think is rayon is silk blend.
$60 F21 shoes are frightening!
Oh, and I’ve been burned by thinking *anything* that smells can be washed and it’s smell will dissipate. A 1940’s amazing dress proved me (and it’s original vintage-purchaser, my mother) INCORRECT! Most things can but sometimes you take the risk that you might have to cut your losses and get rid of the item down the road. I’ve heard OxyClean works wonders most times though.
Thanks Jesse! I added to check materials under “discern”. I thought that would be a give-in, but I think you are right – it should be listed. Sometimes in the throes of thrift shopping it is easy to forget to check.
Thanks again for your comment!
This may be a dumb question, so please forgive me; I'm a new vegan and still learning. If the item is used, why would it be wrong to but leather/wool/silk? You're not hurting the animal like purchasing a new item would be, and by buying used, you're helping conservation efforts for the environment and for animals. Can someone help me see the issue with this? Thank you!
Hey Molly! Honestly, I think wearing vintage animal products is entirely a personal decision. I, and many other vegans do not buy vintage animal products because wearing them sends a message to others that the use of those products is ok. You can't stop everyone on the street to let them know your leather bag is vintage.
I hope that makes sense. I know its a complicated topic, but as with everything else – just do what you feel is right.
Oh, that's a really good point! I hadn't thought of it that way. I was just thinking from the “reduce, reuse, recycle” standpoint. This will *definitely* make me think more about what message I'm displaying with my clothing (and all other) purchases. I've continued to wear my leather belts and shoes, thinking that I was doing something right by getting more use out of them. But now I see that I might be sending a mixed message. Perhaps best to donate them to someone needy, and purchase new vegan items for myself. Thank you so much for such an enlightening discussion!
I actually still have some leather products (2 pairs of sneakers) from before I went vegan. I personally just phased out my possessions as I normally would and made sure all the future purchases I made were vegan. So the example I set with clothing slowly came about instead of making it a stressful, abrupt and wasteful change. That was just the way I found my ethical balance while respecting animals, and the environment. Again, it is whatever works for you. Good luck with everything! 🙂