Thrifting for Beginners

Goodwill is big, but your desire for an oversized sweater is bigger.

by GIANNA LANFRANK ★ FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Thrifting is a strange word for those who aren’t too familiar with it. You know the general places to go, like Goodwill or Salvation Army, but you are either too scared or never know what to actually look for. Since thrifting has exploded in the past five years, it’s hard to not feel like you’re missing out on something great—and I’m going to be honest with you, you are. I know it’s scary, but we all have to start somewhere. I began doing it during my freshman year of college, and I had no idea where to start. Luckily, my roommate had been thrifting since she could basically talk, so I picked it up quickly and now go like every two weeks. I fully believe we are in an era of breaking out of our comfort zones. So I have compiled a list of things I learned about thrifting in the past year that you can follow like a bible. You can thank me and my roommate later.

DO:

Look for name brands. I know it can be hard to find clothes from brands you actually recognize, but this is a truly safe route to go down. If you know the company, you’ll know the quality to expect, and you can then tell how good of a find that item actually is. Also, when someone asks you where you got your item of clothing, you can say something like, “It’s vintage Ralph Lauren,” and that sounds so much cooler, anyways.

DON’T:

Buy something without looking for the retail price somewhere else/online. Goodwill, especially, is notorious for up-charging items that seem vintage but aren’t at all. Even if you go somewhere more local, like a vintage boutique, you can easily be a victim of this. A quick google search of the item/brand, or just having a general knowledge of the brand before buying it, will help save you time and money. 

DO:

Plan before you shop. Look through your closet the day before or the morning of going to a thrift store. Think of things you want that you don’t have or that you want in a different style/color. You don’t want to buy a shirt that looks exactly like a shirt you already have, so save yourself the hassle and just plan ahead.

DON’T:

Buy random cheap items just because they’re cheap. I can’t tell you how many times I bought a shirt because I was like, “it’s only $4.” Like, girl, put that back and save your money; you know you’re never going to wear it anyways.

DO:

Go through each section extensively and maybe multiple times! I stress this so often to people I thrift with. There have been many times when I’ve looked through the jeans section and found nothing, but then on my third skim through, I find the exact pair I’ve been searching for in my size that I somehow missed. Your friend finding something you wanted in a section you already went through is the worst thing ever, so just look again before you walk away.

DON’T

Buy cheap items and upsell them on Depop. So many people do this, and it is such a pet peeve of mine. If you buy a thrifted item for cheap and later find out it’s worth more than what you paid for it, that’s totally fine to sell it for that higher price. But if I find you buying something worth $2.99 at a vintage shop and reselling it for $45, hands will be thrown.

Thrifting can be a lot of work, especially for those who get overwhelmed easily, like me. But grab an iced coffee before to get your energy up, go with friends to have company and get opinions, and I promise you will have a great time. Nothing is better than a successful Saturday thrifting trip, so get outside of your comfort zone and start joining in on all the fun! You won’t regret it :)