SPARK NOTES on Thrift Shopping:
I’m a die hard Value Village (VV), Goodwill and even Salvation Army fan. Mainly because most clothing being sold today is wildly over priced but also because I enjoy the exclusivity of finding a one of a kind peice, there are no duplicates.
Word of Warning: Thrift stores have a lot, and I mean a lot of extremely fugly clothing that should not be worn by anyone, ever. So you could be walking out with $50 worth of ugly isht or $50 worth of the most banging pieces Toronto has ever seen. If you are completely out of tune with fashion, I would suggest sticking to vintage stores rather than hitting up a thrift store. But, if you want to give it a shot, try these tips.
Tip 1: Location, location, location!!! Unfortunately not every second hand store has hidden gems. The VV’s in Downtown Toronto are heavily picked through, so most of the great pecies are gone within seconds of being on the floor. My best finds are at locations located outside of the city i.e. in Scarborough, Whitby. If you have transportation, I highly suggest taking a thrift store trip. Google a few VV, Goodwills and thrift store locations and take a look.
Tip 2: The purpose of shopping is to build a fantastic wardrobe that fits your lifestyle and exudes your personal style. To make sure you attain your goal, brainstorm for 10 minutes before you go shopping and ask yourself the following questions:
1. Take a look at your wardrobe, what’s missing? An oversized knit sweater? A black fur jacket? A gold chain necklace?
2. Think of celebrities, friends or even chicks you randomly saw on the street that have a style you would like to emulate/incorporate into yours. Look for things that they might wear
4 Steps to tackling VV:
1. Go with a friend, a second opinion is an invaluable resource. However you don’t need to shop in a convoy. The second opinion is only necessary at the fitting rooms.
2. Value village clothes are divided into sections i.e. Shirts, Sweaters etc. When you get to section look for your size and stay there. It’s a waist of time too look through the entire rack of clothing. Plus, a lot of people think belting an oversized shirt makes it look cute. Sometimes it works, but generally it does not, it just looks like it’s from value village
3. When I’m lazy I’ll skim through the aisle without touching the clothes, only looking at the clothes material/print. Look for materials that are good quality and in fashion. I’m a sucker for suede, silk and leather. STAY AWAY FROM POLYESTER! Look for prints/colours that match your skin tone and style. However, it’s best to actually separate the clothes and look at each garment individually. A lot of clothes that seem blah, have great detail on the front that you might miss.
4. Try on everything! I once had a cart full of clothes and walked out with a pair of sunglasses.
Ask yourself these questions when in front the mirror at the fitting room:
1. Does this make me you look old/cheap/ugly? If so put it down. Just because it $5 does not mean you should buy it. Resist the urge!!
2. Does it need to be altered? If you’re buying a $10 dress that’s too long, It’s not that big a deal to get it shortened for $15. Just make sure you actually get it done.
3. What can I wear with this? If you can’t think of at least 3 outfits to wear with it, I’d say leave it. It’s probably super cute, but doesn’t mesh with your style. It will probably just sit in your closet until your friend steals it.
4. Stay true to you sense of fashion. Just because leather pants are in fashion doesn’t mean you should buy the first pair that you see.
Rather than paying a fortune for a wardrobe that was perfectly packaged and handed to you from the racks of Aritzia or Club Monaco, why not try to create something different and unique. Thrift shopping forces you to think outside of the box and ultimately leaves you with a unique personal style. It isn’t rocket science guys, give it a try!
HAPPY SHOPPING Y’ALL!!
xo Wardrobeprofessor.tumblr.com