Christmas is in less than two months, we can imagine the excitement of new clothes, bags, shoes, hair, and all other fashion accessories to dress up for shows, family gatherings, and other functions. While others will head to luxury fashion stores to pick their best options, others will head to thrift stores and open markets to purchase fashion items. So if you are one of the few girlies who head to the thrift stores, this is your masterclass on how to shop for clothes at a thrift store and still get quality at affordable prices.

Shopping in thrift stores is a good idea if you are trying to save money, are not interested in trends, and are generally not a fan of luxury fashion items. While some consider shopping for clothes at a thrift store a sign of being broke, we think it is a good financial decision for the girlie who is all about wearing timeless pieces, classy wear, and sustainable fashion.

Curious about the cheat code for shopping for the best quality thrift clothes? We’ve got you! In this article, we will share practical tips on how to shop for clothes at a thrift store elegantly and with confidence.

Also Read: How To Reduce Monthly Expenses

How To Shop For Clothes At A Thrift Store

Before you go on the next shopping spree, follow these tips to shop for quality clothes at a thrift store to get the best quality at unbeatable prices:

Research Thrift Stores Around

One of the things to do to guarantee a good shopping experience is to conduct thorough research on thrift stores around you. The reason for this is not just to compare the prices but also to compare the kind of items they deal with.

Some stores deal with strictly niche wear while others sell general fashion items like shoes, clothes, caps, belts, wristwatches, etc.

Also, good research will help to plan your budget and know what to expect from the different stores in the area.

Define Your Budget

After you have carried out research and decided on what and where to buy, the next line of action is to define your budget according to the price rate of the stores.

Having your budget will help you streamline your spending to the fashion items that matter the most instead of buying fashion items you may never get to use.

Wear Clothes You Can Change Easily

You do not want to get home from the store and realize that an item you bought does not fit in or is probably undersized. This is why it is important that when going to the store, you wear clothes that you can easily change or try new clothes on.

This is a great cheat code if you shop in places like the open market or thrift stores with no changing room, clothes like trousers, tank tops, and shorts. These are clothes that you can easily change or try new clothes on.

Start With The Basic

Another secret cheat code for shopping for clothes at a thrift store is to start with the basic to the trendy items. When you get to the store, it is pertinent that you do not just jump on every piece of material, rather, carefully select the basic to form the most important aspect of your wardrobe. 

This is also going to help you focus on what matters the most and get the best of your shopping experience without digging a hole in your pockets.

Inspect The Materials

No matter how beautiful an item looks, do not be in a hurry to pay for it when you have not taken the time to inspect the material to find any loophole. Yes, some patches can be amended by local tailors but what if the patches are beyond repair? This is not only disappointing but also an unrewarding financial exercise.

On this note, it is advisable to thoroughly inspect the material to ensure that it is in good condition before making payments for it.

Find Out The Return Policy

Some thrift stores have strict policies while others are flexible to accommodate unforeseen circumstances, to have the most thrifting experience, it is pertinent to find out about the policies of the stores.

Policies like try-ons, return policies, deliveries, and any other policies. These will help you to decide if the store is worth your money or if it is a plague that should be avoided.

For instance, imagine getting home and realizing that there is a patch on the dress you purchased and the store insists on no return policy, right? These are some of the havoc you will avoid when you are familiar with the policies of the thrift stores around you.

Be Patient

Unlike high-end fashion stores that are more like pick and pay, thrift requires effort, time, and a lot of patience. Hence, another cheat code on how to shop for clothes at a thrift store is to exercise a lot of patience.

Sometimes, you may need to find your sizes yourself, while other times, stores arrange them in different sections for you. If you visit a store where items are not organized by size, you must search for them on your own, requiring patience to succeed.

Search Online

Sometimes you may not need to visit thrift stores to shop for thrift wear, thanks to the internet you can access as many thrift stores as possible from the comfort of your house. Some of them have a website you can order from without interacting with anyone, while some of them leverage storefronts like Shopify and Instagram shops to sell their goods.

Shopping thrift online offers the advantage of convenience, allowing you to enjoy doorstep delivery, easily read size charts, and access reviews from previous customers.

If you are looking for comfort while shopping for thrift clothes, then you may want to consider shopping online. You can use keywords to discover thrift clothes around you or popular thrift clothes in your area.

Sign Up For Emails

We cannot share tips on how to shop for clothes at a thrift store and not include signing up for emails. In this digital age that businesses have gone online including your favorite thrift stores, what better way to be in the know about a new bell, new collections, sales, etc, than having the announcement delivered to your inbox?

For small thrift stores with no email newsletter yet, you can ask to get their WhatsApp number to receive broadcast messages directly in your inbox. 

Don’t Shop During Season

We are all familiar with shopping in seasons, however, this is not the best time to shop if you are looking to get the best quality at unbeatable prices. The reason is that a lot of people are also shopping at the same time, hence, not only will the items be expensive but also scarce.

To have the best of the thrift shopping, do not shop when others are shopping. If you have plans to change your wardrobe by Christmas, this is the best time to go thrift shopping not during the Christmas season when shopping of any kind is at its peak.

Be Attentive To Details

Thrift shopping is all about who has the most candy eye for details. You have to be keen on details to pick an item that may not look fashionable to others. Apart from having an eye for fashionable items, it is important to look out for torn parts and patches to avoid regrets.

Conclusion

Shopping for thrift clothes can be super easy and enjoyable if you follow these insightful tips on how to shop for clothes at a thrift store. We hope that your next shopping is eventful and rewarding as we wish you happy thrift shopping. Do you shop for thrift clothes? Share with us your hacks in the comment below.