Hi!
Welcome to (or back to) my blog! I am really excited to share with you today some important things to know when it comes to charity shopping, so you can learn how to thrift like a pro!
Location:
One important thing to consider before thrifting is the location. If you’re looking for Y2K clothes, maybe consider thrifting in an area where a younger population live or if it’s vintage pieces you’re looking for, then a place where older people reside may be more ideal. Ultimately, however, thrifting in affluent areas provide the best results. This is simply because wealthy people tend to donate good quality expensive clothes that most people would not dream of giving away. I have previously thrifted in Notting Hill and Marylebone, London, and had better success thrifting there than in my own postcode area.
Timing:
Did you know that the best day of the week to go thrifting is a Tuesday? This is because Tuesday is often the day the shops are restocked with donations that arrived at the weekend. A big mistake is to go thrifting on the weekend, because most charity shops are either out of stock, awaiting new donations, or their best items have already been sold!
Look through everything:
Although this can be tiresome, usually the best finds are hidden away within a rack of clothes and so, looking through everything is essential! Equally, always check the price tags, brand and sizing details when thrifting to check that an item ticks all your boxes, before trying it on or purchasing it and being disappointed. Even if an item is not your size, you could still try it on as I have sometimes come across size 12s and 14s (even though I am size 8/10) that still fit me, so it’s definitely worthwhile if you like the item! I also often find that the non-fast fashion items are better quality and prove a smarter purchase in the long term, so be wary of items with a fast fashion tag.
Try the clothes on:
Most charity shops are great since they have changing rooms. However, some do not and this can be extremely frustrating! I always find it is best to try on clothes before deciding whether to purchase them or not, as often you can be pleasantly surprised that an item you had previously dismissed fits rather well. On the other hand, you may find an item you initially really liked is not very flattering when worn and hence, trying clothes on can only brings benefits! Ultimately, if there are changing rooms available, I would always encourage you to use them, especially since most charity shops do not allow returns and so you want to be 100% sure of something before you purchase it.
Distinguish between what you want and what you need:
It is always important to consider whether you need anything before going thrifting. If you are in need of certain things, be sure to make a list and bring it with you. The worst thing possible is to get carried away while thrifting (believe me, it is easy to do) and then forget about the original reason you were there, leaving with lots of items that were impulse purchases and without the clothes you actually needed. I have made the mistake before of buying a lot of clothes I didn’t necessarily need or 100% love and then find I would rarely wear them as a result. Equally, basics are better than one wear pieces, as they can be styled in different ways to create different outfits. This way, you are able to effectively create your own capsule wardrobe of versatile pieces. So, be sure to make a list before going thrifting as this will mean you know what you need to look out for! Ultimately, the most sustainable thing is to not buy new or preloved clothes and use what you have, so if you only pick out things you need then you are doing a good job!
This concludes this blog, I hope you found these tips helpful for when you next go thrifting! Let me know in the comments if you would like to see more blogs like this in the future.
Beth
Beth Lucy Blogs 