Thrifty Fashion

If you want to be eco-friendly and save loads of money, then thrift shopping is the way to go. With fast fashion being so ubiquitous, thrift stores often have clothes that have only been worn for one or two seasons, so finding gently used, fashionable items generally isn’t too hard.

But what do you do when you have an especially unique sense of style, or your local thrift shop just doesn’t seem to have anything current? We’ve got you covered with these thrift shop tips for maximizing the fashion potential of your thrift store finds.

Basics Do’s and Don’ts

• Take your time. There's a lot you can find if you slowly go through each item on the racks.
• It's worth scanning sections that aren't your size because sometimes things get mislocated.
• If you can, try on clothes before you buy.
• Don’t buy just because it’s a good deal. Make sure you love the item, or you’ll never end up using it.
• Check thrift store websites and social media pages for when special sales, markdowns and discount days will be scheduled.

Styling Thrift Store Finds

Don’t discount apparel on the rack just because it’s not exactly what you’re looking for. Experienced thrift shoppers will tell you their number one rule when thrift shopping is to not have anything specific in mind. If you’re going to the thrift store looking for last season’s “it” shirt, you will be seriously disappointed.

Instead, think more broadly—“I need some pants, a blouse, a party outfit.” You’ll make much more headway and begin to see the potential in individual pieces that you can style with what you have at home or other thrift shop finds. A few things to consider on how to style your thrifted finds:

• Inventory what you already have at home. Knowing what you have will make it easier to find thrift store pieces to pair with your existing wardrobe. Consider if you already own any pieces that don’t get much wear—maybe it will pair nicely with a thrifted piece, and the set becomes your new go-to outfit. Or vice-versa, a thrifted piece that catches your eye might go nicely with something from home.
• Never underestimate the power of accessories. Belts, bags, shoes, jewelry, scarves, hats, and other accessories can make a basic piece pop and a loud piece more subdued. With the right accessories, you can also change the shape of a piece. A belt can cinch in the waist of a baggy dress, a tank top or scarf can raise a neckline, and a jacket, cardigan or other layer can broaden the shoulders and raise or lower the hipline.
• Tailoring can make a world of difference. There’s nothing quite like finding a piece that perfectly fits, but sometimes you’ll have to use accessories to help things along. However, if you have sewing skills and time, you can make basic adjustments to a garment so it fits better. If you see the garment as a long-term investment piece, it might be worth investing in tailoring services so the garment fits like it was made for you.

Faux Couture

Although you shouldn’t go to the thrift store with anything too specific in mind, high-end fashion without the price tag is one of the many benefits of thrift shopping. If you have the time and patience to sift through everything, and you’ve got a bit of a creative and crafty side, you can certainly mimic high-end fashion looks.

• Once again, don’t look for anything too specific. Have a catalog of looks you want to mimic on hand so you have more options and there’s a higher chance of putting together a couture look.
• Don’t expect to get a picture-perfect copy of the looks you’re trying to imitate. At the end of the day, how much does it really matter if the colors don’t match exactly or the shoes aren’t the same? Close enough is good enough and can often be better because it makes the style more unique to you.
• Never underestimate the power of Mod Podge, fabric paint and a sewing needle. With sufficient vision, motivation and patience, you can turn a pair of plain, black high heels into custom color Jimmy Choo ombre shoes, a pair of leather gloves into the Karl Lagerfeld glove hip belt or a large, patterned dress into an Yves Saint Laurent top.

Redesigning and Upcycling for the Crafty

If you have an abundance of creative energy, then you might be the type to turn any thrift store find into a custom treasure.

If the vest you like is too bedazzled, you may turn it into a fancy purse. If those pants don’t quite feel right, maybe you can transform them into a skirt. Maybe you found the perfect dress, but it’s not the perfect color, so you dye it the perfect shade of blue. You have endless possibilities, but there are still a couple of things you should keep in mind:

• Shop with intention. Figure out what you want to accomplish before you shop. Are you looking for a particular piece of apparel to add to your wardrobe, or are you looking for something to alter and transform? If you’re looking for pants, don’t buy something else just because you “can do something with it.” You’ll likely spend way more money on things you don’t need and may not even use.
• Schedule time for the work. Make sure to schedule time to do any alterations or transformations that may be needed. This goes hand in hand with shopping with intention. If you know you’re likely to be customizing a garment, plan ahead and block it off in your calendar before you even go shopping so you don’t end up regretting or feeling guilty about an impulse purchase that never gets to experience your creative genius.

Need some more guidance and inspiration?

Here are some resources to help. 

Creativebug — One of the many digital resources you can access with your Canton Public Library card, Creativebug has classes, daily practices and resources for arts and crafts. Learn how to sew, tailor and get patterns to make those thrift store finds uniquely yours.

Second Chances: The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting, Sustainable Style, and Expressing Your Most Authentic Self — Macy Eleni has compiled every tip and trick in the second-hand shopping world, from sizing and repairing to tailoring and cleaning. This book will teach you how to organize your existing wardrobe, evaluate pieces you find, and manifest your dream closet.

How to Get Dressed: A Costume Designer's Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing — How to Get Dressed teaches you to rethink your wardrobe like a fashion expert and proves once and for all that you don't need to spend a ton of money to always look your best. You just need to use the tricks the pros do.

Resew: Turn Thrift-store Finds into Fabulous Designs — With a snip here and a tuck there, you can turn common thrift-store items—such as sweaters, curtains and jeans—into sassy, stylish originals. Turn secondhand basics into first-rate fashions with over 20 beginner-friendly projects.

Simple Tailoring & Alterations — In-depth information on equipment, fabric choices, measuring, stitching and making pro-level alterations to men's and women's garments. Save by updating outfits that no longer fit properly and spend less on new clothes. Don't pay expensive tailoring fees to have clothing mended and altered. Follow these simple techniques to improve your wardrobe and line your pockets with the money you save.