Some of us put off looking good till when we can afford to splurge on fashion. Looking fashionable is about how you dress not how expensive your outfit is. So, I decided to put together this basic guide to thrift shopping for my budget girlies out there.
You don’t need to break the bank to look good. Moreover, a lot of those we look up to like big-name bloggers also shop budget clothes. This is also known as thrift shopping or Okirika. Thrift fashion is an easy way to dress fashionably on a budget.
There are so many ways to shop for thrift in your local market or online. You can also read my post on the top 5 best places to shop for thrift in Lagos. There are so many gems you can shop from a thrift store. Like unique vintage pieces and fairly used name brands like Hermes, Zara, H & M, etc. In as much there are benefits to thrift shopping, it has it’s cons too. Here is a basic guide to thrift shopping for your wardrobe.
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How to thrift like a pro: A basic guide to thrift Shopping
If you’ve not been thrifting, what are you doing. There are some many gems you can get from thrifting. My first sets of designer handbags are from second hand designer online thrift stores.
I got my Michael Kors Saffiano leather handbag for a steal on therealreal. If you want to get great pieces while thrifting, you need this guide.
Have a shopping list
Have you ever been to a thrift store with so many lovely pieces? Then I guess you can relate to the fact you can shop a piece that you don’t need. So you need to look at your closet for things you need. This rule also applies to shop fast fashion brands who always in your face.
Make a list of what you need to shop for at thrift stores. This will help you cross off what you don’t need while shopping. We all know the struggle to get nice pieces from the thrift store. The fastest finger gets the best outfits. Also, it will make it easier for you to move on to the next store if you can’t find what you want.
Haggle prices
Another tip to note is to be ready to haggle prices. Sometimes the sellers inflate the prices to buyers. So, if it’s your first time the price may sound like a good deal to you. Be ready to beat down prices with sellers to get the best deal available for the product. So, you will save more to get more outfit through thrift shopping.
Check the items properly
Who doesn’t get excited after shopping for a bargain? Sometimes the prices may be so cheap that you will get excited to shop the items without checking it. I have once bought two pairs of shoes in which I almost had an embarrassing moment in them.
One of the shoes I bought for 1000naira was Balenciaga dupe. Imagine my excitement. The heel got ruined after one wear. So, check the items before paying for them. We know that thrift is fairly used so make sure the damages on the items are fixable. If you must avoid paying for damaged items because it is cheap.
Try out the items for fitting
The most appalling thing any buyer can stand is their clothes or shoes not fitting properly. The last thing you want is to shop for clothes that lack fitting. So that your friends won’t look at you like you borrowed granny clothes to wear out.
Except you are all for oversized trends, try out the outfits for fit. You can use the seller changing room or wear the outfit on your clothes to check for fitting. Also, ensure you try out the shoes too. But if you love the outfit irrespective of how big it is for you. Get a good tailor to mend it for fit.
Buy it if you love it
I have to add this to the list. Sometimes we leave great stuff on the table because it is not the right size. However, if you love it and get good use from it ,buy it.
In this instance, you need good tailor. Your tailor will do a good job to make it fitted. Initially, I roll my eyes, like why will I get something that doesn’t fit. But Imagine scoring a cute marc jacob dress which one size up. I will snag and get it tailored to fit.
Patience is neccessary
Thrift stores can be overwhelming. I hate shopping from physical stores. However, you get to see the items in person and decide if you need it.
Start from one section at a time. For example, I will start with the tops sections and gradually move to other section. Take your time to sift through the pieces. You may find great pieces hidden beneath rubbles. So take your time.
Where to shop for thrift clothes online?
Whether online or in store, I do love both. However, my favorite store to shop for Thrift is Preworn. Preworn ltd is a UK owned thrift brands that houses cute thrift pieces.
You can shop fast fashion and high street brands like Zara, H & M, Mango etc. Also, you can shop for Designer brand pieces like Dorothy Perkins, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors among others.
How to shop Preworn ltd? You can opt to shop by searching with gender, or brand. Click here to shop from Preworn ltd UK
What other tips do you have for shopping thrift? I hope you enjoyed this basic guide to thrift shopping. Feel free to comment below your thoughts down below. Ciao