Everything I Know About Thrifting II: Finding Treasure

Okay, we're at the thrift store and about to start the actual shopping. As you can see, I'm wearing a simple, low-maintenance outfit in an attempt to follow my own advice about thrifting uniforms (as I mentioned yesterday, I'm prone to making impromptu trips dressed in something completely weather-inappropriate that takes fifteen minutes to get out of). So now that we're here, it's time to hunt for the good stuff.

You can usually tell if a thrifting expedition is going to be a good one as soon as you step into the store. I don't know how this works. I think it is the same sixth sense that tells a hunter there's good eating in them thar woods. Or something. There's a sort of tingle in the air. The rails look inviting. You catch glimpses of tantalising prints and fabrics. Sometimes, of course, you can tell straight away that there's nothing at all for you there, but you press on anyway with dogged determination and maybe leave with a scarf. That's just how thrifting works. And that's what makes it fun!

You can improve your chances, however! (Just a quick note - these are all tips for thrift-shopping for yourself, not thrift-shopping to re-sell, as I really wouldn't know anything about that. I thrift for me).

Take your time

I think this is the most important point, and the one that will yield the most rewards. You usually won't spot the treasures straight away - you have to dig. A lot. For lengthy periods of time. Sometimes you will have to dig literally, if your thrift store has bins of hats and bags and scarves. You can't expect to find something wonderful as soon as you walk in the door (although sometimes you will), and you can't expect to find something wonderful every time you visit a store (although you might have a magic store and if so I envy you). But if you spend enough time rummaging around, I guarantee you will find completely amazing things.

Remember your wish-list, and remember to keep an open mind!

Rummage through the whole store, definitely, but keep your wish-list in mind. It will add focus to your search. On the other hand, though, don't limit yourself - try anything that appeals to you, and be prepared to fall in love with some pretty unexpected things! I know this sounds contradictory, but thrifting is a bit of a contradictory beast.

Be a bit picky

There's a difference between being a thrifter and being a hoarder. You don't need piles of clothing just for the sake of it. The fun bit is actually wearing the clothes! By all means, buy lots of things, but keep your actual, day-to-day wardrobe in mind to make sure you're adding to it rather than drowning it.

Try everything on

It's heartbreaking when something you love doesn't fit, but it would be even more heartbreaking if you had spent money on it and brought it all the way home. Try it on. You can always get it altered (or alter it yourself) if you're desperate - if it is too small, however, check to see how much seam allowance it has. I bought a gorgeous too-small evening dress in December without checking to see if I could actually let it out. And I couldn't. And that thing was TINY. I was very sad.

Look carefully for stains and rips

Someone may have thrown this out for a reason! Yes, you can mend some rips and remove some stains ... but not all. If you find a yellow Monster Stain of Doom on the front of a pair of pants, you should probably leave them behind. (Although I did buy a dress with a purple Monster Stain of Doom on the front once, and dyed the whole dress purple when I got it home to disguise the stain. It worked! But sometimes it won't. So, check).

Become fussy about fabric, quality and cut!

If you have the same high standards whether you're buying new or used, you'll have a closet full of great items. Of course, you can clean, mend and alter secondhand garments, but the garment should have good 'bones' - that is, it should be of good quality to start with. The great thing about thrifting is that it allows you to have expensive tastes on a slim budget. Look for well-made clothes in good fabrics - you'll get to know which ones really speak to you.

Become semi-fussy about fit

I say semi-fussy because you can always get things altered. You do need to know, however, whether the garment actually suits your body shape. That way, you are more likely to wear it on a regular basis and really love it. Be aware of the potential for re-sizing, but be strict with yourself, too: it's easy to end up with Clothes Mountain in your spare room, a ceiling-high stack of garments waiting to be altered or taken to the dressmaker, representing time and money that needs to be invested in them.

I also have a superstitious belief that a garment is really MEANT for me if it fits perfectly. I will occasionally buy one that doesn't fit and take it to the dressmaker, but usually I leave it behind, thinking that it is waiting for its perfect owner. Like a puppy.

Hang on to the things you like!

Don't leave garments on the rail while you think about them - carry them around. That way no one else has a chance to grab them before you've made up your mind. Also, if you think someone else is undecided about the garment they're examining, and you want it, hover unobtrusively and then grab it as soon as they move six inches away. I know it's a bit aggressive, but all's fair in love and thrift! And it will teach them an important lesson: if you like it then you've got to put a ring on it. Whoops, I mean, hold on to it.

Ask: is it really worth the price?

Some thrift stores have ridiculously high prices. I saw a horrible Glassons top in a thrift store the other day for $15, and it would probably have cost about $25 when new. So why buy it? Wait till it's on sale at the actual store and buy it then. On the other hand, I'm willing to pay a bit more on the rare occasion that I find a perfect 50s dress, as it is almost certainly unique. Weigh up the cost and the worth before you hand over your valuable thrifting money.

Don't buy it just because it's old

If it is just plain ugly, it is still going to be ugly sixty years later. Uglier, in fact. Don't buy it just for the sake of owning something from that decade.

Don't buy it just because it's cheap

Enough said, really. If you don't like it, don't buy it - even if it's just a dollar. But - if you can't decide whether to buy it or not (and are agonising over the decision) and it's under $5, you should usually go for it!

Look in unexpected places

The men's section, the children's section and the wedding dress section can all yield treasures. I find some great boys' clothes, particularly - blazers and little coats - and they can fit us girls in really unexpected (and cute) ways. Wedding dresses can look amazing shortened - and even dyed.

Make friends

One of my favourite things about thrifting is chatting to the ladies running the store (it always seems to be women here in Christchurch). If you smile, greet them politely and chat, it makes both of your experiences more pleasant. And, as a selfish side-note, it makes them more likely to give you a better price or save garments for you (if you start going in regularly, which you should!). I have a few favourite op-shops I visit weekly, and I've got to know the ladies really well. In one shop, they saved a gorgeous full-skirted fifties dress for me in the back room, and then refused to charge me any more than $5 for it! So lovely. I bought them chocolate muffins to say thank you. It was all very heart-warming.

Of course, not all thrift-store workers will be friendly. Some are downright terrifying. But be polite and friendly anyway, because, well, you're a nice person.

Tell them what you're interested in, as well! They may remember a garment tucked away in the back room, or point you in the direction of something you'll love. It's worth asking.

Go often

Find out what the store's delivery days are, and visit on those days. Visit on other days, as well. In fact, visit as often as you can. That's really how you find the treasures; you never know what magical item will have arrived! You'll soon learn which stores in your area merit a bi-weekly visit, and which you can pop into once a month, or even less frequently.

Indulge in quick-fix thrifting

Sometimes you just want to buy something to get that happy glow that comes from thrifting. I think we all buy things to cheer ourselves up now and then - I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of, as long as you don't go crazy. In my experience, there are a few things that are always relatively easy to pick up for a few dollars at pretty much all thrift stores. Scarves and belts are usually super-cheap, and it's a quick and easy way to add something new to an outfit. And you can wear them in so many different ways!

Tomorrow I'll talk about recognising vintage clothing, cleaning and caring for your thrifted items, and incorporating them into your wardrobe. Goodness, that sounds business-like. What I mean is that I'll try to do these things. I hope you're having fun!