ReFashion

How to find gems at the thrift store

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by

Lydia
in

Finding gems at the thrift store is one of the best things when thrifting and it feels rewarding. When thrifting you need patience, a good eye, and thrifting strategies. Here is how to uncover hidden pieces at thrift stores with these tips! Learn to spot high quality and unique pieces and valuable items to add character to your wardrobe. 

  1. Planning out your thrift trip 

First it’s important to go thrifting when you have a plan and know what you’re looking for. You can make a list of all the items you’re looking for before going. This could be any specific clothing piece, accessory, or even a unique item for your home. Having a list with you might help you to stay focused on what you’re looking for and not get too overwhelmed. When planning to go thrifting do your research on the best thrift stores near you, look at reviews so you can find the best and unique pieces. 

  1. At the thrift store 

Once you find a good thrift store don’t be in a hurry, take your time. Look through every section. Sometimes thrifting can get chaotic and most treasures are hidden under other items so you need to really look hard. When browsing through sections make sure you’re scanning the racks so you can know what’s available, then you can go back and look again to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Make sure you’re paying attention to any certain fabrics you see or patterns or even colors that you might see. Search through bins and look behind other items so you don’t miss anything. Most of the time the best items are hidden. Something that really help me is to go to more than one thrift store. When visiting different thrift stores, you’ll find a lot more pieces. If you aren’t busy you could just have a thrift day. You never know what you might find and every thrift store has different things. 

  1. Looking for treasures 

When looking for unique pieces, quality is what you should be looking for. Look out for any high quality pieces that have good stitching, good fabric, and have labels. Check the clothing and look for any tears, stains, holes, or any buttons that aren’t intact. Pay attention to labels from certain designers as they can be vulnerable. Even if you do find an item with any little stains or holes don’t be so quick to put it back, if it has any little flaw it still gives the item character or you can fix it up yourself.

 If it’s a unique item and you think you could fix it up then you should try upcycling it. It’s fun to upcycle clothes and have a different unique piece to add to your closet. Keep your mind open to any ideas for upcycling pieces. 

  1. Thrift often 

Another good tip is to go thrifting often. There’s always going to be new stuff so you should be going regularly to make your chances of finding something higher. You won’t always get good luck and find a treasure but going regularly definitely will increase your chances of finding something awesome. I would recommend going thrifting on weekdays, in the mornings since it’s less busy so you have more time finding something and not feeling like you’re in a competition. I know sometimes it’s busy and you lose hope on finding something good because it feels like someone else found all the treasure. Keep in mind everyone has different styles though and different ideas on pieces and how to style them so don’t give up! Thrift stores also have tags on clothing that are on sale or even sale days so make sure you keep an eye open to get the best discounts. Ask workers if they have any sales coming up so you can be aware and early to get the best pieces for cheap. 

Thrifting isn’t always about clothing. They have unique vintage home decorations that add more spice to your house or room. This is why it’s important to take a day to thrift and look through everything. My room has so much more potential since I started going to the thrift store and looking through racks and shelves for pieces instead of just looking through the clothes. Shoes are another thing to look at. I know sometimes you might think it’s gross to wear used shoes but if you really think about it, it’s not that gross and sometimes you find high quality brands. Vintage shoes are another thing you can find. Vintage shoes are a good piece to add to your wardrobe. They add more to your outfits, more character and potential. 

  1. Have fun and try different styles

Trust your instincts and have fun when thrifting. Thrifting is fun and thrilling. It’s fun to look around and so exciting when you find something unique. Thrifting is so worth the time and effort so have fun with it and dont be scared to step outside of your comfort zone and try on clothing pieces that aren’t your type because you never know if you end up liking it or getting an idea on how to style it. I know for a fact I judge certain clothing pieces but try them on for fun and some of them I end up really liking them and get new ideas on how to style them. Thrift stores are such a good place to experiment with new ideas and styles without having to spend too much money. 

Finding gems at the thrift store isn’t always easy and it requires a lot of patience and effort. Trust me I know it can get overwhelming and feel challenging. Keep an eye out and keep using your strategies. If you plan ahead, have a list beforehand, and browse around maybe twice in the same spot in case you miss something, spotting out high quality materials, you will find such amazing pieces and adding more character to your wardrobe. Remember to have patience, try different styles on, keep an open mind, and just have fun. Have a good time thrifting!