Emily's Guide to Thrift Store Shopping

     I had a particularly adventurous day at the local Thrift Store and wanted to share some tips on getting a great wardrobe without spending much money. A lot of people have started thrift store shopping to save money during recession, but I've been shopping at thrift stores for about 7 years now. It all began when I first started spending my own money to buy clothes (Sorry Mom!). I realized how I could get more clothes for less money and that made enough sense to me.
     I would not say that I am very fashionable but I like to pick items that are classy and versitile. Every now and again someone will tell me my outfit is cute, so I guess I'm successful at fashion every once in a while. My goal for clothing purchases is to find something that I feel good in and is comfortable. Some people think that you cannot get nice clothes at the thrift store. Boy are they wrong.
     Today I purchased:
1 dress
3 sweaters
4 blouses
2 dress pants
1 jacket
3 dress skirts
3 casual skirts

17 items for $50.47 cents for an average of $2.96 per item

Brand names include (for the fashionable)
GAP, Old Navy, Jones NY, Isac Mizrahi & Merona (Target brands), Banana Republic, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and Mossimo.

Not bad. Every piece of clothing was in great condition, no stains or irregularities. I actually went a little overboard on the skirts but I was feeling like adding some femininity to my spring collection.

So, my basic thriftstore pointers are as follows:
1. Make time to browse. You are going to have to sift through a lot of clothing to find good picks but it is worth it. I spend about 2 hours in the store today. Sometimes I do speed thrifting when I have a coupon I will look in a certain section quickly. Other times, like today, when everything in the store was 50% off I looked in just about everything.
2. Make a list. Before a new season, I usually make a list of items that I need to replace or items that I am especially looking for. Then I go in with a goal. Todays goal was business casual. Specifically brown toned skirts and pants. The other things I got were not on the list. :)
3. Look for quality fabrics. I have been shopping thrift stores long enough that I can stand away from the clothes (without racking through each item) and spot quality fabric. Lets be honest, these clothes are previously worn, so you want to get the fabrics with the most longevity. Also, the better clothing you find, the more your "savings" are and the better you feel about thrifting. You will be able to tell at a glance if the fabric is worn or if it is Brand Name. I can spot Ann Taylor a mile away.
4. Try everything on. Again, these clothes are previously worn, there is some reason why the person gave it away. Try to spot stains from the rack (before you put it in the buggie) and check for uneven hems and sewing mistakes. Fortunately, some people get rid of clothes before wearing them or outgrow them and there is nothing wrong with them.
5. Go when there are coupons. What is better than thrift store prices? Thrift store prices reduced.

Other detailed pointers:

• Not all thrift stores are actually thrifty. There is one store in town that is expensive and rarely has discounts. I know what I can get there at a good price.
• I hear that if you are plus-sized you might have a harder time finding good clothing. I'm not sure of the reason for this.
• Some items are hard to find. Good comfortable shoes are usually bought new. Items that are of significant cost are usually kept longer and when they are finally donated to thrift stores they are usually old and outdated. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and pay $. Right now I'm dreaming about a coat for next winter: A black and white houndstooth knee length A-line coat. Sigh**

Lastly, Justin the Engineer husband gently reminded me that there was only so much closet space and that I would probably need to get rid of a few things. So I'm taking my give-aways to the thrift store and eventually they will find a good home. Reduce, reuse, recycle...right??

Good luck thrifting!!!!