Shopping has always brought my spirit joy, much to the detriment of my wallet. I’ve never reached Confessions of a Shopaholic level with my spending. But regular Uniqlo hauls and Nordstrom Rack runs have added up over the years. That’s why, for the past six months, I dug deeper into the world of secondhand fashion.
There’s something innately rewarding when I go thrifting and find the diamonds in the rough. I revert back to my primal hunter-gatherer mindset, always searching for the cute, affordable, quality pieces buried in the yard sale piles or Goodwill racks. I get it from my grandma, who has been thrifting for decades and never fails to share her treasures with me. While my main motivation for secondhand shopping has been financial, the feeling I get when I discover unexpected treasures I can now give a second (or third, or fourth) life is second to none.
My dedication to secondhand shopping was not an explicit goal. Thrifting has been a great sustainability choice, but I have to admit it was a happy accident. One winter sweater haul led to a search for business casual, which led to (successful) hunts for birthday presents and housewarming gifts. Now, my local Goodwill is my first stop before buying anything new. After a full six months of exclusively shopping secondhand, I’ve picked up a few pro tips that improve both my in-store thrifting experience and the fruits of my labor. Next time you wander into a thrift shop, keep these things in mind.
What I learned from only shopping secondhand for six months
I was able to hone in on my personal style
Thrifting allows me to affordably refine my actual tastes and preferences. With so much fashion inspiration available online, it can be hard to silence the noise. I can’t seem to open TikTok without adding a new fashion tool or framework: Kibbe body types, color analysis, outfit formulas, you name it. Combining these tools with six months of analog thrift shopping, I now have a better sense of what works and what doesn’t. Instead of sifting through rack upon rack, I have a stronger sense of what I’m looking for and can strategically narrow things down. Color analysis results say I don’t look my best in black? That’s one less section to search. Pleated pants not the most flattering? No need to try those on. Love the way I look in red? Great, I’ll focus there today.
I got to test out trends before investing in them
Thrifting often makes trendy pieces more affordable and gives me the chance to see if the trend in question is really for me. Butter yellow is all the rage, but do I even look good in it? I’d much rather snag a $3 top from Goodwill and extend the life of an existing garment than spend money supporting the fast fashion lifecycle on brand new pieces I may not even like in another six months.
“I’d much rather snag a $3 top from Goodwill and extend the life of an existing garment than spend money supporting the fast fashion lifecycle on brand new pieces I may not even like in another six months.”
I’ve learned the importance of garment quality
One of the best things I’ve discovered while thrifting: affordable natural fibers. Nothing—and I mean nothing—compares to 100-percent-cotton T-shirts, linen pants, or cashmere sweaters. I’m getting better and better at recognizing fabrics and materials by touch. I’m also strengthening my skills assessing overall garment quality. Does this blazer have real pockets? Are there holes in the armpits? Are these pant legs fraying? Is it worth cutting them at the bottom? My recommendation is to determine which criteria are most important to you (and which imperfections you or a tailor can actually fix). Then, only bring things home when they check all your boxes.
I started ignoring the size on the tag
Women know size doesn’t matter. No industry sizing standard means our fashion has notoriously horrible mismatched measurements. No two brands size things the same, and vintage clothes use a different scale altogether. I never limit myself to a designated size section or even gender-based sections when it comes to thrifting. Some of my most-worn secondhand finds were sourced directly from the men’s department. Some are a size (or three) up from my usual measurements. Don’t be afraid to experiment with oversized items or try things outside of your typical sizing range. You never know what gems you might uncover.
“The more I learn about what works for me and what I’m drawn to, the more confident I am in my style choices and investing in larger, more expensive purchases.”
Thrifting tips I learned from experience
Always try it on
Since experimenting with different sizes can be either a huge hit or a massive miss, it prompts my golden rule: Always try things on before purchasing. You can’t usually return items at garage sales or thrift stores. So this step is essential to make sure whatever clothes you pick up not only fit your physical body, but also your personal style and the rest of your wardrobe.
I personally wear a plain black exercise dress or leggings with a plain, tight top when I thrift. This makes it so even if I don’t have access to a fitting room, I can pop an item on to see if I like it enough to add it to my cart. Even if I don’t end up making a purchase, trying things on teaches me something new about my style, my body, or the fashion industry at large. The more I learn about what works for me and what I’m drawn to, the more confident I am in my style choices and investing in larger, more expensive purchases.
Start analog
Online thrift shopping is harder than it looks. I recommend starting at the Goodwill racks to get a physical feel for secondhand shopping. Once you have a better understanding of your precise measurements and the styles that suit you best, then bring in the online Depop or eBay finds.
READ MORE: I Have Thrifting Down to a Science—Here’s How I Always Score the Best Finds
Jessica Ivetich, Contributing Writer
Jessica is a freelance writer and digital marketer with nearly a decade of brand and agency experience. Contributing to The Everygirl since 2022, she is also a proud Midwesterner, Formula 1 fan, and book lover who’s always looking to learn something new.
The post I Shopped Exclusively Secondhand for 6 Months—Here’s How It Changed My Personal Style appeared first on The Everygirl.
