10 Mar Want to Master Thrift Shopping? Here’s What the Pros Do!

The only thing that separates thrifting pros from the newbies is time and strategy. Really, that’s all it is.

Thrift shopping can be a bit intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it’s so easy to become hooked! And it’s understandable. You can find wallet-friendly, unique clothes and accessories and even Fashion Week trends at your local thrift shop.

If you’re new to the world of thrift, there’s no better way to learn that just diving right in and more importantly, learning from the pros. Here are a few things thrift shopping pros do all the time, and you should too if you want to score!

With 10+ years as a thrifter {I even wrote a book on thrift shopping!}, I would consider myself a pro and I know a lot of other hardcore thrift lovers. Below are a few things we always do or don’t do and it makes a huge difference.

Go Back, Often
I can’t stress this enough. If you want to find those amazing thrift store scores, you have to thrift shop often. It’s just a numbers game. The more you go, the better shot you have at finding what you’re looking for. Now, how often you go can be once or twice a week or every other week. It really just depends on your schedule and budget. But you can’t really expect to thrift shop once a season and find the perfect items. You’ve gotta be in it to win it!

Leave Empty-Handed
Yup, anyone who’s been thrift shopping for a while will tell you that they occasionally leave the store without buying anything. And you know what? That’s totally fine. One thing I’ve seen new thrift shoppers do often {and erronenously!} is feel the need to just buy something because they don’t want to feel as if their trip was a waste of time. If this just wasn’t your lucky day, it’s okay to walk away and thrift another day. The one thing you don’t want to do is just buy things because they’re cheap. You’ll end up with a closet of cheap stuff you don’t even like.

Have a Vision
This one is big. Major. Huge! Two people can see the same item on the rack: one may see it’s potential and snatch it up right away, while the other will think it’s a waste of fabric. It’s all about how you can potentially wear something and make it your own. Maybe it’s an oversized sweater that you kinda sorta think might be cute, but you leave it behind. But a thrift shopping pro would think of a few ways to belt it, tuck it or wear it with what they already own. Don’t be so quick to write something off. You just might be passing up on a gem.

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That final tip really requires you to know your personal style, as well as a few styling tips. For even more in depth thrift shopping advice and styling advice, be sure to pick up a copy of Looking Fly on a Dime: How to Find Fabulous Fashion at Any Thrift Shop & Make the Cheap Look Chic. I break thrift shopping down step by step, from finding the best store to putting your look together!

Are you a thrift shopping pro: what’s your top tip for new thrift shoppers? Are you a thrift newbie: what’s your biggest challenge?