Seasoned leather bags and dress shoes
Image source: Pinterest
Baseball Jackets
Image source: Pinterest
Classic / limited edition sneakers
Image source: Pinterest
Best Choice For A Fashion Glow-Up Experiment
Thrifting clothes is the best way to try different styles without overspending. As an impulsive buyer who loves fashion, I used to purchase clothes just because they look pretty. However, it’s a different story when I try them at home. I ended up hiding them in my closet, not wanting to picture myself in the poorly fit clothes again.
I was stuck in this vicious cycle for a few years. When I discovered the thrifting culture, I was surprised to find many rare items that are to my taste. The fact that they are no longer in-
season makes it even more exciting for someone like me who love expressing myself through my outfit.
Thrifted clothes are generally much cheaper than fast fashion brands, so it is a great way to work on your glow-up. You can try on multiple styles until you find ‘the one’ and not feel bad about burning a hole in your wallet.
Save Our Planet Through Sustainable Fashion
Did you know that the average consumer discards 34kg of clothing?
These clothes then contribute to global textile waste of up to 13 million tons. This is because the clothing supply chain produces excess waste in manufacturing that is often mismanaged.
Hence, thrifting clothes is one of the best sustainable choices to combat this. When you purchase pre-loved clothing, you’re not only extending the shelf life of these clothing, but you are also reducing the piling up of existing clothes in the landfill.
By thrifting, you’re practicing eco-friendly fashion, which helps reduce the demand for fast fashion by decreasing the need to produce billions of garments daily. Every contribution counts!
New To Thrifting?
If you’re a thrifting newbie, you might find it hard to locate a nice piece of clothing. In fact, I left my first thrift store with empty hands!
But don’t worry, it gets better with practice. It is best to start slow and spend some time going through each rack of clothes. Now, I can easily scan ‘potential’ clothes once I step in a thrift store.
Besides, I’ve met people who spend half a day at thrift stores as their hobby! Once you’re used to it, you’ll be able to snag that cute dress that fits your vibe perfectly, at a super low price. It only takes a little patience. *winks*
Thrift stores are always restocking, so their inventory is always changing. A trick to be strategic when you’re thrifting clothes is to come back every so often. Even better, befriend the staff and perhaps they’ll let you know each time they replenish their awesome goods!
Online Thrift Stores
If you’re not up for physical thrifting, there’s plenty of online thrift stores that you can easily find. Here are some of them:
Malaysian-based online thrift stores:
Upcycle Your Thrift
Snatches Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of tailoring to make your thrift shirt look truly unique.
You might find some clothes that you love, but aren’t available in your size. There are limited stocks after all. However, you can still buy them and give them a makeover. Upcycling is a good way to personalize your thrift fashion.
Be creative and pin or sew up sleeves, hems, or even cut the neckline to give an edgy vibe. Pair your ‘newly designed’ shirt with a leather jacket or flannel, and you’re good to go!
However, it is best to practice ethical upcycling if your intention of thrifting clothes is solely to scavenge and cut fabric. Instead of thrift shops, you can look into charity shops that have faulty clothes, such as broken zippers, missing buttons, and rips.
Here are some upcycling ideas to inspire the fashion designer in you:
There is no rule in fashion.
We live in a time where men can wear skirts and dresses (Hello, Harry Styles), and women can rock suits just like men. Fashion is one of the best ways to express yourself, so let’s flaunt our unique looks in an ethical, sustainable, and affordable way!