the joy of thrifting

and some tips if you find it overwhelming

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Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money. When we bought new clothes (which wasn’t often), they were usually from the sale rack at Sears. As I got older and started buying my own clothes, I still didn’t have a lot of money, but I wanted cool stuff.

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I really fell in love with thrifting during college. On a small (tiny) budget, it was a way to get approximations of the items I was looking for for much less. There was also the bonus of having something completely unique and different. Throughout my twenties, thrifting was the way I experimented with personal style. I was able to try on different personas without spending much money. As I became more concerned about consumerism and environmentalism, not only was thrifting easier on my budget, but it was a way to get new (to me) clothing without any new clothing actually being produced. I love thrifting so much that a friend and I planned a trip this summer based on which city had the best thrift stores (Salt Lake City, and it did not disappoint).

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While thrifting has many benefits, it’s definitely not the easiest way to buy clothing. Thrift stores can be overwhelming to someone with sensory issues with their abundance of choices, disorganization, and potential smells. If your size deviates in any way from the standard straight sizes, there may not be many options in your size. Searching through the racks of stuff that’s not great to find that one treasure takes time, something in short supply for many of us.

If you find thrifting overwhelming, here are a few tips that might help:

1. Know what you’re looking for. As in any shopping trip, it’s hard to go into a store without a clear idea of what you’re looking for. The more specific you can be, the better. If you’re looking for a red crew neck cardigan, you can quickly scan through items to see if that jumps out at you.

   mindfulcloset

   

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2. Speaking of scanning, that helps. Get good at scanning the shoulders of garments to see what pops out at you. You can look for specific colors, prints, and fabrics that way. 

3. If you’re a novice thrift shopper, start with an easy store. Find one that is at least somewhat organized and sorted by item type and size.

   

4. But also, don’t rely on the size on the tag. As we know, the number on the tag is often meaningless and sizes have changed drastically over the last fifty+ years. Take your measurements and carry a measuring tape and scan the racks for sizes above and below your usual for what you’re looking for. 

5. Go often and have realistic expectations. Just like any type of shopping trip, it’s normal to leave without something 90% of the time. Don’t give up. It’s ok if you don’t find something every time. 

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6. Keep your standards high. During the height of my thrifting years, I was bringing home bags and bags of clothes, wearing them once, and then donating them right back. Just because something is high quality, a name brand, or a bargain doesn’t mean it has to come home with you. It still needs to be something you like, that fits well, and is useful for your lifestyle. Leave the rest behind for someone else to find.

Are you someone who enjoys the thrill of the hunt? Or is it just all a bit too much for you?

P.S. We are getting close to the end of the fall session of my group program, Making Space. It’s where we work through the ideas I talk about here with a small group of really smart, supportive women, along with practical stuff like defining your style, editing your closet, and shopping mindfully. This is the only way to work with me other than my higher priced one-on-one work. There will be a new group starting in January. Go here to check out the program and put your name on the waitlist for early access and a discount.

P.P.S. If shopping in any capacity stresses you out, go here to purchase my Stress Free Shopping Workshop with 90 minutes of my tips for navigating the process. Use code SUBSTACK for 50% off.

(I’ll be on vacation the week of 11/20/23. See you back here on 11/28)