Have you ever vibe-checked someone and thought:
“Omg, where did she get that cute vintage jacket?!”
Chances are, she had paid for it with half the price that you expect. How? Simply because she shopped at a thrift store. Let me tell you why thrifting clothes is such a huge thing now.
To begin with, thrift shopping or thrifting means shopping for items, usually clothes, at a garage sale, flea market, or thrift store. Most of the items are gently used or pre-loved, and often sold at discounted prices.
Simply put, thrifting clothes is a great way to give used clothes new life!
Thrifting clothes works best without a list.
Thrifting is all about the unexpected finds you can get from each store, which are usually filled with plenty of vintage, retro, and off-season goods. If you’re lucky enough, you can even find a perfectly seasoned leather jacket directly from the 80’s!
If you’re looking for an unconventional look that makes heads turn, thrifting clothes will surely do you justice. Nothing feels better than being able to creatively put together your own style with items you’ve carefully picked and curated to fit your look.
So what if you’re a fashionista on a budget? No one’s here to judge!
Many would have frowned on the idea of purchasing secondhand clothes in the past. Now more than ever, scoring the perfect addition to your wardrobe from the thrift store feels more euphoric than buying a brand-new item from fast fashion brands.
When thrifting clothes, you will find plenty of beautiful pre-loved pieces at a fraction of its original price, or maybe less. Either way, thrifting clothes is a sure money-saver if you’re on a budget but still want to flaunt a unique look.
Some head-turning clothes you may find in a thrift store are:
Vintage Jackets
Image source: Pinterest
Denim Jackets
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Corduroy Jackets
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Seasoned leather bags and dress shoes
Image source: Pinterest
Baseball Jackets
Image source: Pinterest
Classic / limited edition sneakers
Image source: Pinterest
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.
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!
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!
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:
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!
Jocelyn Cheng (JC) is an INFP writer seeking to spread inspiration and spark connections through her words. Her dedication to writing has gifted her with an ability to write for multiple platforms (e.g., website, social media, newspaper, magazine, etc) in different fields, namely Education, Travel, and Healthcare. JC personalizes her works by adding a touch of her own experience into the mix whenever she can to relate to her readers. A self-proclaimed poet and currently a freelance writer, she's working on an untitled poetry book at home while juggling between writing for Eduloco, dancing, and keeping her only plant alive.
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