How to thrift your dream wardrobe on a budget
Abigail Dickerson, Staff Writer
When your anything-but-trendy mom tells you that skinny jeans are going out of style, you know it’s time for a closet refresh.
Are you trying to keep up with the never-ending cycle of clothing trends but don’t want to send your wallet into a national state of emergency? Check out these tips on how to thrift your dream wardrobe in a financially responsible way. This article will show you how to create an inspiration board, choose a budget, shop the thrift stores, shop online and even find things for free.
When you walk around campus and notice other girls wearing outfits consisting of Lululemon, Hoka, Aritzia and Nike in the same outfit, you know they probably spent an entire car payment to afford it. Just know you don’t have to donate a kidney to sport a glamorous style. One of the most popular ways to curate the stylish closet you dream of at night is to thrift.
Thrifting is a great way to explore new styles, mix and match clothing pieces, and find hidden one-of-a-kind pieces, said Teen Magazine. North Greenville University alumni, Hannah Billingsley said that the best part of thrifting is finding cool and unique items that regular stores don’t always offer. You can freshen up your closet without breaking the bank, she said. Billingsley was an education major and often thrifted pieces of professional attire.
For education majors along with many others, professional attire is often required by employers. Along with that comes high price tags for things like suits, dresses, blazers and more. Thrifting is a more affordable option for those looking to build your professional wardrobe as well as a casual one she said.
On a college student’s salary or even an entry level job it’s extremely helpful to find affordable clothes, said Billingsley. She said that a great part about thrifting is finding clothes for every season in just one trip. As you start this quest to find those hidden gems, you will need to set a budget, find your style and shop.
- Create Pinterest Board
The first step to creating this dream wardrobe is heading to Pinterest. If you don’t have an account, create a username and password and then create a board for inspirational images. Name the board something that “sparks joy” as Netflix’s best-known professional organizer Marie Kondo says.
Click the board then simply pin images that make you feel confident to your board until your heart’s content.
If you need inspiration on what is in style, check out the article Sweater Weather is Here by Tolli McWhite from the Vision NGU. Keep in mind that you can shop for items from any season, said junior Ruth Evans. People are always purging their closets during the off-season, she said.
2. Set a budget
Next, it is time to plan out how much cash you are willing to drop. Average Goodwill prices range from approximately four to eight dollars so do your math accordingly. Once you have picked the amount you’re willing to send, head to the ATM. Shopping with cash forces you to stay within your budget, you may want to give it a shot.
3. Head to the store
With a mind full of inspiration, go search for your keys that you set down and swore to remember where you put them, then head to the thrift store. Choose your navigation app and look for “thrift stores near me.” Create a route of two to three thrift stores, and don’t forget to add Starbucks.
For those looking to pinch pennies, dimes, or even themselves after reading their credit card statement, start in the clearance section. Yes, even thrift stores have clearance sections. An article by Living on the Cheap said, “As if the prices aren’t low enough, many thrift stores have regularly scheduled sales. Many Salvation Army stores have a half-price day.” Also, many places offer student discounts so students bring your ID card.
4. Begin your search
Now what you will do is take your board of inspiration and search out like items. You don’t have to look at everything, determine what fabrics, colors, and patterns you like and skim with your eyes and hands said Evans. Tip- do not limit your aisles to only your size, things get moved all the time. Definitely shop in the men’s section too, even if you’re a girl she said.
As much as you know what you are looking for, decide what you don’t want as well. Avoid anything with holes, bleach, stains or heavily worn material, said junior Ismary Alvarenga, and don’t forget to try it on in store because not everything you grab will fit.
5. Don’t forget to check online
In your thrifting adventure, don’t leave out sites like Facebook Marketplace, LetGo or OfferUp and see if any clothing has been listed as free in your area. Tired mom’s, moving families or parents with grown children just looking to get rid of things without the hassle will often put items for free if you are willing to pick it up. One specific thing you can do is look for a Facebook group near you that acts as an online tag sale.
If you want something highly specific you may want to head to the internet. Search for online thrifting resale websites such as ThredUp, Thrifted.com, Mercari, Poshmark, DePop or even eBay.
These online stores resell clothes at heavily discounted prices. ThredUp’s home page directs you on how to create a capsule closet as well. If you are looking to make some money as well you could sell clothes on these platforms and put the funds towards new items.
In an article by Greenamerica.org, they said being able to filter by brand is another perk of e-thrifting. Even though you’re picking up items secondhand, buying clothing from environmentally conscious brands that offer quality materials is still key. This makes it easier than being in the store because you don’t have to do the sorting manually.
As your thrifting adventures come to a close, imagine all the cute ways you can style your new pieces. Your closet will slowly become a sanctuary of style. Remember to keep looking around to find your perfect items, they can be sneaky. Feel free to go thrifting weekly and check back in if you don’t find your hidden gems right away, good things may take time to find. Maybe next time bring a friend, grandma or roomate along and see where the aisles take you.
