The Gentleman's Guide To Thrift Shopping
What was previously frowned upon by fashion aficionados is now warmly embraced as the best way to carve out your individual style — the savings you'll pocket are just an added bonus. All preconceived notions of thrift shops as grungy should be checked at the door. These days, the amount of relevant designer labels found in most thrift shops rival a mid-sized Saks Fifth Avenue — that is, if you know how to hunt.
In honor of National Thrift Shop Day, we're making it easy for you to get out there and dig in. Whether you're looking for a worn-to-perfection vintage T-shirt, a pair of Hugo Boss oxfords, or even a full on Armani suit, with a little patience and know-how, you'll be a Macklemore-level thrift-shop pro in no time.
Know The Vintage Labels
Surprisingly enough, even the most suburban thrift shops are crawling with designer pieces just waiting to be discovered — while the masses search for H&M and Zara, beat them to vintage Versace and Armani by studying their lesser-known, old-school logos.Follow Street Style Blogs
In
order to nab cutting edge trends that will sell out next season when
they become mainstream, school yourself on upcoming trends and styles.
Whether that means bookmarking style blogs or hitting up Instagram, thanks to the blogosphere, being on the verge of upcoming trends has never been easier.
Spend What You Save On A Quality Tailor
One
of the downsides to thrifting is that, unlike mass market retail
stores, most items are only available in one size. If you've managed to
score a vintage Burberry trench coat for the same price as your morning
coffee, but it's a size or two too big, don't leave it behind. Instead,
get it fitted. Buying used frees up cash to invest in a quality tailor, so your new garment is not only unique to you, it also fits perfectly.
Find Out When Restock Day Is
Most
thrift shops have no problem sharing the date of their restock day. For
some, it's a certain time of day, but for others it's a specific day of
the week. Knowing when your favorite thrift shop restocks their
inventory ensures you'll have first pick at the new selection, rather
than showing up only to find a picked over, sad assortment of old
promotional T-shirts and gym shorts.
Bring A Donation Every Time You Go
Discovering
how easy it is to build a fresh wardrobe via thrift shopping is equal
parts exciting and dangerous. To avoid an overstuffed closet, make it a
rule to bring at least one clothing donation each time you visit. Not
only will it clear space in your closet for new treasures, your unworn
clothes may be exactly what another thrift-shopper is hunting for.
Don't Be Afraid To Dig In
Of
course, some thrifting trips will be less fruitful than others, that
much is inevitable. But to guarantee you get the most out of each trip,
don't be afraid to dig in and really scavenge the racks and bins. The
best treasures may well be buried under an assortment of '90s Gap
sweaters and printed Hawaiian T-shirts, but you'll never know unless you
get your hands — figuratively — dirty.
Try Online
Like
everything else these days, many thrift shops have extended their reach
to the digital crowd. While original online vintage shops like eBay and
Etsy still own the market, secondhand stores like Goodwill have slowly
begun to cross over, basing their website on eBay's digital auction
format. While eBay auctions are saturated with brand-savvy users,
Goodwill is still relatively untapped, leaving room for you to score
anything from authentic vintage Prada boots to New York Yankee snapbacks
for under $50. Plus, all proceeds from Goodwill go towards training and
job hunting assistance for those with disabilities or other barriers,
so you can kiss buyer's remorse goodbye.
Be Realistic
That
being said, the last thing you want is a closet full of quirky clothes
you bought on impulse and will never actually wear out of the house.
Despite what Macklemore may say, you won't get much use out of a flannel zebra onesie — and just because it's 99 cents, does not justify such a purchase.
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