thrift shopping tips, looking fly on a dime and thrift shopping
"Patrice, I never find anything when I go thrifting!"
I can't tell you how many times I receive emails or tweets like this. And in spite of all of the thrift shopping posts I do {thrift shopping 101, thrift shopping commandments, etc.}, there's always someone who tells me they keep walking away empty handed. Of course I don't mind the emails, you guys can always contact me, but anytime I respond to problems like this, I tell the frustrated shopper they're most likely committing typical thrift shopper sins.
If you keep striking out while thrift shopping, you're probably doing one or all of the things below wrong.

3 fall pieces to find at any thrift store, fall fashion
Fall is unofficially here and in addition to revamping and organizing your closet for the season, it's important to know a few key pieces that will serve you well this fall.
And instead of spending a ton of money, you can hit up your local thrift store. Every secondhand shop is different and the inventory is constantly changing, but the three wardrobe staples below can be purchased at any thrift shop and for women of any size.

how to thrift shop, looking fly on a dime
We've already established that a big part of thrift shopping involves patience {countless Thriftspiration ladies say patience is the number one thrift shopping tip}. You have to have time and energy to dig through bins and inspect numerous racks. But there's something even bigger involved in thrifting. When you're lucky enough to find an item, the next major step is how to wear and style it. This is where the importance of what you do in the fitting room comes in to play. You may be leaving behind some serious fashion gems because you're not sure how to incorporate them in your closet.
I can't tell you how many times I've pulled a questionable item off the racks, but once I take it in the fitting room, the script can be flipped and it becomes a fashion must have!

selling on threadflip, online consignment

I first learned about Threadflip last year when I wrote a piece for The New York Times on them as well as other online consignment sites.
Threadflip has a premium White Glove Service where the company professionally photographs your clothes and accessories before listing them on the site to be sold. But their peer-to-peer service is where it's at if you want to unload your fly threads you no longer wear or score some new-to-you pieces at highly discounted prices.
And now, the site has been revamped so the process is even easier.

Thrift collage
When you head out to your favorite thrift store, you're typically thinking of all the goodies you're going to score. But you should really take a few minutes to pack your purse with essential items that can ensure you'll have an optimal shopping experience.
They're all compact and take up just a teeny bit of space in your cross body bag, but they can affect everything from the way you try on clothes to how you lug your items around the store. Below are my five pics for items you should have in your thrift shopping arsenal. You might not need all five, but you certainly need a few...