How do you like my latest thrift store score?

A Ralph Lauren halter side tie dress in luxurious silk.

Sweeeeet!

I have a confession to make…I am a hobby thrift shopper.

The challenge of discovering gems hidden amongst the racks of discarded items excites me.

I could choose to buy clothing at a regular retailer but I find the thrill of thrift shopping exhilarating.

Thrift shopping allows me to experiment more with styles and clothing I would never consider otherwise.

Without a doubt, I love the fact that thrift shopping enables me to recycle and reuse items that would otherwise end up in landfills such as this amazing piece.

I was mindlessly going through rack upon rack of clothing thinking it was going to be a bad thrifting day when I finally stumbled upon this dress.

Let’s listen in on my inner dialogue,

“Nope, no, no, crap, ugh, no, {sigh}, ugly, what-the-?, nope, no, fugly, no, cheap, garbage, nope, no, no, no, ick!, no, no, no, no…oh hello! what have we here?”

Thrift shopping requires patience, determination and luck.

You need to work your way through stacks of awful clothing to find some quality treasures to call your own.  After all that searching it truly does feel like you’ve discovered an honest to goodness treasure.

My sense of touch lead me to this piece, thick high-quality silk, next my eyes followed admiring the dark Autumnal hues, my colours. It looked a little big and maybe it is, but overall I don’t mind. It falls away from the body, the neckline creates a gorgeous focal point near my face. I was delighted to see that my 1970’s vintage sunglasses look like they were meant to be with this dress.  This dress is a big win.

20 Thrift Shopping Secrets For Quality Treasures

1.  Get to know your local stores.

Some stores are better than others. Once you go to a store a couple of times you will know if they receive higher quality goods regularly or if it is all cheap, fast fashion.

2.  Thrift shop when you have time.

You cannot thrift shop when pressed for time. When you’re digging for diamonds it takes time.

3.  Go often.

Stores are often restocked daily.

4.  Shop secondhand when you are in the mood.

There is nothing worse than stepping in a smelly, cramped, poorly lit store when you are hungry, tired and just want to curl up into a fetal position and go to sleep. Shop when you are energetic and your creative senses are peaking.

5.  Start with your favourite section and work backwards.

Thrift shopping can be exhausting. Most thrift stores are divided into sections, men’s, women’s, children’s, and then divided again into subsections, dresses, skirts, pants, tops etc.  I always start with my favourite section, the item I wear most often, which is dresses and then work backwards, skirts, blazers, jackets, tops, shoes, handbags, bottoms.

If you are looking for something in particular, head straight to that section.

6.  Let your sense of touch guide you.

This is a time saver. I can go through racks at warp speed simply by touching the fabric. Polyester feels very different from cotton, silk or wool. Teach your fingers to identify quality fabrics.

7.  Keep an open mind.

Thrift shopping is all about possibilities and keeping your mind open to new options. Don’t disregard something because you’ve never worn that style before or you don’t know that particular brand. Judge an article based on colour, style, fit and quality before you toss it aside.

8.  Size doesn’t always matter.

Sizing is all over the place depending on brand and the year that the garment was made. Once you thrift enough your eyes will become trained to visually identify pieces that will fit you rather than relying on the size indicated in the garment. Having a small measuring tape handy saves you loads of time running to the change rooms.

9.  Visit the men’s section.

I’ve purchased both jeans and t-shirts for myself from the men’s section.

10.  Check the fabrication tags.

The very first thing I do when I’m considering trying on a garment is to check what it is made out of, and who made it.  You can discover if it is vintage often by looking at the label. Most items that are made in Canada, the US or Europe can be dated from 1980’s or earlier prior to fast fashion, mass production and outsourcing manufacturing overseas.

If you are unsure of the brand and pricing check online with your phone.

11.  Turn the garment inside out & check the pockets.

This is how you check the seams to ensure they are straight and finished properly without any fraying, separation, gaps or holes.

Often people will forget items in the pockets, mostly kleenex but other thrifters I’ve know have sometimes found cash. Checking the pockets enables you to discover if there are holes in the lining.

12.  Hold the garment up to the light and look at every inch of it.

Staining and holes cannot be seen in poorly lit stores.

13.  Bad smells are a fact of thrifting.

Items purchased should be washed as soon as you get them home, or placed in a plastic garbage bag sealed shut until they can be washed. All items should be placed in the dryer for 15 minutes to eliminate the possibility of bedbugs.

Smells in leather and suede are very difficult to remove. I kept one leather jacket outside for months and it still stank. I finally took it to be professionally cleaned which did remove the odour, however, it was very expensive. Take dry cleaning costs into consideration when buying leather or suede.

More porous fabrics can be set outside in the sun to breathe for a few days which often solves any residual odour issues.

Baking soda inside handbags will help remove stubborn smells. Pour about a cup of baking soda into the handbag, close it and forget about it for a week or two.  Vacuum it out and wipe out the inside with a damp rag.  I’ve also used a scented dryer sheet in place of the baking soda.

Wiping items with a damp cloth in a solution of vinegar and water will also help eliminate bad odours.

14.  Consider alterations.

Sewing on a button or taking up a hem are things I am able to do on my own. If I find a piece I really love and it requires professional alterations I take into account the cost of the alterations prior to purchasing. Items which need to be taken out require enough additional fabric in the seams to allow enlargement of the piece.

A quick trick for creating a smaller silhouette on a jacket or blazer is simply moving the button or buttons.

15.  Dress appropriately.

Wear something that is very easy to take off, such as a slip on skirt and t-shirt. Don’t waste precious time getting undressed and dressed.

Often when thrifting I will wear a dress that slips off over my head, but I am then required to bring a top into the fitting room if I am only trying on bottoms or vice versa.

I know other thrifters that wear leggings and tank tops so they can try on all their items without ever visiting a fitting room. Personally, I prefer the privacy that a fitting room affords.

16.  Know the styles and colours you like and what works with your body type, complexion and hair colour.

This is HUGE and will save you so much time. I know I don’t look good in white so I avoid it. I also know I don’t look good in boxy styles so I avoid them (most of the time).

17.  Reevaluate your purchases prior to heading to the cash.

I always do this. It is too easy to be swayed into buying something because it is inexpensive. Be realistic. Remember how much room you have in your own closet and really consider if it is a piece you love or something that is just “meh”. Toss the “mehs”.

18.  Ask about in-store specials and points cards.

My favourite thrift store, Talize, has a daily manager’s special which they announce regularly over the intercom and a points card that affords additional savings.

 19.  Ask about discounts.

I only do this in private thrift stores when I’m either paying in cash, buying more than one item, or there is a flaw in the item I’m purchasing. I’m never rude about it, but if you don’t ask you’ll never know if they are willing to negotiate.  I often use this tactic at vintage shows.

20.  Get to know the store owners.

If you frequent the same small independent thrift store often you may get a chance to know some of the employees or the store owner on a personal basis. This is a brilliant opportunity to leave your number and have them call you when a specific item or brand you’ve been looking for comes in.

 

Those are 20 of my best thrift shopping secrets.

You are now armed with the advice of a professional thrift shopper. Go out and conquer my friends, and may the thrifting Gods be with you!

 

Some of my favourite estate sale and thrift store treasures can be found at Vintage By Suzanne.

 

Do you have any thrift shopping tips or secrets of your own that you’d care to share?

 

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