There is absolutely nothing worse than going shopping with a friend with a similar style as you, and they find a few items that you liked, but now itâs too late because they picked it up before you.
From your friendly neighbourhood thrift shopper
By Emi Namoro, Contributor
When it comes to fashion, it seems that anyone and everyone is an expert. There is always a brand-new trend to follow or thatâs viral on the latest social media platforms. I donât know about you, but I am completely exhausted trying to keep up with it. Not to mention, items that are high in popularity are usually overpriced, too!
My solution? Thrift shopping. Yes, I am one of those people. The ones that like to spend their time visiting old and strange thrift stores just to find their next fit. I started thrifting a few years ago, and Iâll be honest with you, it was so intimidating at first. But once I found my groove and understood my style a little more, it became one of my favourite hobbies. So, let me share a few of my tips with you, and anyone looking to start their own thrifting adventure.
- Go alone.
This is the number one tip that youâll hear from people who like to go thrift shopping. There is absolutely nothing worse than going shopping with a friend with a similar style as you, and they find a few items that you liked, but now itâs too late because they picked it up before you.
Take it from my personal experience. Ever since that happened to me, Iâve always gone to thrift stores alone. Besides, thereâs nothing more comforting than being able to take your time and find styles that you like without worrying that someone else might get the good stuff first.
- Give it a chance.
So, if youâve never been thrift shopping before, chances are, youâre a little skeptical of the clothing there. I totally donât blame you. I wasnât the biggest fan of thrift shopping at first because itâs second-hand and who wants to wear clothing that someone else wore before?
So, what changed my mind? First, my budget as a broke college student, and second, the fact that Iâve found the cutest items at such a low price. Honestly, itâs such a miracle that others literally give their clothes away in such gentle conditions and that Iâm able to buy them at a fraction of the original price.
Not to mention, some places have sale days too. Take advantage of those!
- Go at your own pace
Thrift shopping is just like the lottery. You wonât always find your best items at every store you visit, and thatâs normal. Iâve visited several different stores before Iâve found my favourite ones, and it may take you a while too.
My advice? Go to your nearest local thrift store and look around. Start walking around the different aisles and see which ones catch your eye. From there, youâll start to put a few things in your shopping cart. Try on a few items and go from there. Next thing you know, youâll be visiting more stores soon. Trust your gut and know that this is a process that takes time.
Now, I hope you take these tips with a grain of salt. The beauty of thrift shopping is that it is different for everyone, and your experience will be uniquely yours. Thereâs something comforting about that, you know?
Knowing that in a few short hours, youâll be immersed in a world where youâre giving old items a brand-new life, all while saving money and helping out the environment, too. Not only that, but youâre able to make a small difference while also learning a bit more about yourself along the way.
Of course, I canât promise that you will be an expert thrift shopper overnight, I certainly am not. What I can guarantee you is that youâre in for a wonderful journey ahead. One that involves digging through different racks of clothing that may or not fit your new style, finding random knick-knacks that youâre not sure why people bought in the first place and learning that some people donate designer clothing just because they can. Itâs such a weird place, trust me.
Thrift shopping is such an underrated hobby, and itâs one that I hope more people would consider. I wish you luck on your new adventure ahead, friend!
