Surprise: I regularly shop in thrift stores. Yes, I love luxury, designers and everything related to fashion, ans I sometimes buy in thrift stores. It’s something I used to do a lot when I was much younger, and I must admit that I took a break in the last few years, I was doing less shopping in general. However, I started visiting second-hand stores again, and I couldn’t be happier and prouder of that!

I know, you don’t know where to start… Here are some basic tips to help you get started!

 

1. Aim for the right neighborhood
It makes sense, you’ll probably find better items in the thrift stores of more upscale neighborhoods. There is no need to go to Westmount, but make an effort and spot neighborhoods or cities where the population is known to be a little more average.

2. Take a look at locked items
I already found a Marc Jacobs handbag at Value Village, behind the locked display. Thrift store managers know the value of items entering their establishments, and sometimes they will keep some designer pieces behind glass doors or locked areas, so don’t hesitate to take a look at these displays.

3. Prioritize classic items
Fashions pass, and of course, what we find in thrift stores is often already a few years old. So prioritize simple pieces you know that won’t be going out of style, such as silk dresses, jeans, jackets, turtlenecks, etc.

4. Wash it right away
No more explanations: shopping at thrift stores is a great way to shop at low price – in addition to reducing your ecological footprint by buying second hand – but it’s necessary to wash your new items when you get home. For fur items, shoes or other materials, it should be placed outdoors for a few days before getting onto the house.

5. Choose your time wisely
Obviously, thrift stores are becoming busier in the run-up to Halloween, so this is not the best time to try to find designer pieces. Prefer weekend mornings, or better, go during lunchtime, when it’s much quieter.

6. Make thrift stores online
Not tempted to browse the shelves of clothes, but rather attracted by online shopping? Several second-hand shopping websites exist and offer items of excellent quality. Poshmark, Craigslist, The Real Real are all great ones. Arm yourself with patience and don’t forget the shipping costs that will be added to the bill.

7. Don’t buy what can’t be repaired
A broken zipper or damaged sole can be easily repaired at the shoemaker, however, nothing can overcome stains embedded in a garment. Keep in mind that some things simply won’t get repaired, and if you do find something like this, don’t even try to buy it!

Do you have any tips to add? Tell me in the comments below!