Even if you’re a seasoned outlet shopper and you are always in the line waiting for the Black Friday sales, you can still get overwhelmed when you go into a thrift shop. Even if you ignore all of the antique furniture and shelves of books and interesting trinkets and just focus on the clothes, it can be difficult to know where to begin. There are racks upon racks of merchandise. It’s mostly arranged by size and style but where do you begin?
Follow these tips and to leave the store with some great purchases and your sanity still intact:
1. Write a list before you go shopping.
Unless you decide that you are suddenly in the mood for thrifting, try to make a shopping list before you go. When you’re inundated with jackets, wedding dresses, sweaters, costumes and everything else, you will probably forget that you were searching for a new pair of jeans.
2. Try everything on.
Do not trust size tags. We know how much sizes at regular shops can vary, and there can be even more variances in thrift stores because you’re dealing with older styles that have been sized differently, garments that could have come from anywhere and even homemade things. If you like something, don’t go by what it says on the tag, if it looks like it will fit you, bring it to the change room and find out.
3. Always thoroughly inspect the garment.
If you’ve been burned in a regular clothing store thanks to a wonky hem or a hole in the side seam, you probably already do this will all your purchases. If you don’t do it regularly, ensure you always do it at thrift stores. Make sure to check the armpits for discoloration and stains around the inside of the neckline. Check the entire thing for holes or flaws, not just the seams.
4. Take a look at the other sections.
Don’t just stick to the women’s section. I know that is probably enough to tackle but if you’re up to it, you should always do a quick sweep of the men’s and children’s sections. There could be misplaced items there and there are usually pieces that will fit. The kid’s section often has some juniors pieces or things from teenagers that could work for you. Keep an eye out for shirts in the men’s section and oversized jackets and old school blazers in the kid’s section.
5. Don’t discount something because it’s slightly off.
Do you love that dress but wish it was shorter? Are those sleeves just a bit too flared? Those are easy fixes that a seamstress can do. You can even do them yourself if you have basic sewing skills. Don’t like the buttons? Change them. If there are any holes in the seams those can easily be fixed.
6. …But know when to draw the line.
If you’re not a sewer, it may be difficult to judge what is an easy fix versus what is complicated. Adjusting the length of sleeves or hems or tapering something are generally very simple. If you want to start changing the entire design of the item, put it back on the rack. You don’t want to be paying more for alternations than you did for the garment.
7. Take a look at the washing instructions.
If you don’t ever dry clean your clothes, take a look at the tag to see if that blouse you’re holding can actually be thrown in the machine. Watch out for items that are hand wash only too, if you can’t be bothered for that.
8. Remember the shoes, accessories and jewelry.
If you’re a thrift shop newbie, the accessories section is one of the best places to start. You don’t have to worry about precise fit. Make sure you check the buckles or straps on shoes to ensure they still work. If the store has a special glass case with accessories, be sure to check it out. That is normally where they keep the higher end items, but they’re affordable.Read more at:plus size prom dresses
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