How to Get Clothes at a Thrift Store

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

Rate: (11 Ratings)

Sifting through the musty racks of a thrift store can be frustrating at times, but there's nothing quite like the thrill of being complimented on a fabulous outfit that cost under $10. Thrifting can turn up just about anything you might need for your wardrobe, from famous name brand classics to quirky retro flare. Here are some tips for finding clothes at a thrift store.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Thrift early, thrift often. Unpredictability is the blessing and curse of any store that sells second hand clothing. Keep a running list of items you would like to add to your wardrobe and make a point of visiting your local thrift store several times a month.

Step2

Give yourself plenty of time. Head out to the thrift store when you are feeling particularly patient and have plenty of time. Most likely, you will need to search through hundreds of old pants, shirts and sweaters to find a few things that fit well and look great on you.

Step3

Bring along a measuring tape to verify things will fit. Since you are searching through clothes from many different eras and manufacturers, sizes are not uniform. Measure waists and inseams against your own dimensions.

Step4

Dress as lightly as possible when shopping for thrift store clothing. Though some of the more fashionable vintage stores have dressing rooms, many thrift stores do not. Try on clothing over the top of what you are already wearing right out in the open.

Step5

Inspect thrift store clothing thoroughly before making a purchase. Look over the item for any stains, discoloration or tears. Remember, most thrift store sales are final.

Step6

Use your imagination. The element of creativity makes shopping for thrift store clothing exciting. Keep an open mind and remember: everything old is new again.

Tips & Warnings

Be aware of a resale shop's inventory patterns so you can have first pickings of the new merchandise. For instance, many second hand stores add clothing to their racks on Monday, after people drop off their weekend garage sale leftovers.

Comments

PurpleAnkh said

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on 10/7/2008 Thanks! I love shopping at thrift stores and these tips are great!

shannonny said

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on 10/7/2008 Thanks for the great article! I'm also a thrift shop devotee and offer some glamor-driven tips in my eHow article "How To Be a Thrift Shop Diva." Check it out!

KASSY said

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on 10/6/2008 DON'T GO TO THE THRIFT STORE YET?
Look at salesplanet.ws before you buy used clothing because all of salesplanet.ws items are brand new.

DiscountTickets said

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on 10/6/2008 Great idea in measuring your clothes on a measuring tape first, I never thought of that before, this way you don't need to try it on there. Thanks!