from drab to fab: how to thrift

Though we enjoy shopping at the mall and local boutiques, thrifting and vintage shopping is at the top of our list. There’s something rewarding about going out to shop, and having no idea of what you’re going to end up with. You could find a one-of-a-kind piece that you’ve always had your eye on, or on the other hand, you might leave empty handed (we’ve had our fair share of these).

Is that to say thrifting is a skill? We’ll be the last to say it is but we do have a short and sweet system that we keep in our back pocket whenever we’re sifting for finds.
1. Be willing to dig
2. Have a vision
3. Try something new

Here are some finds from our thrift session this past week to give a better idea of what we’re talking about.

Its rare that you walk into a thrift shop and find something right away. Every item is unique, so you have to be willing to dig through everything. After sifting through the entire mens pants section, CJ came across these camo Docker pants that have been on his wish list for a while. Katherine lucked out by spotting a fabulous pair of cream heels that she didn’t have in her shoe repertoire yet.

Sometimes you have to see pieces for their potential, so keep an open mind when thrifting. The money that you save by bargain hunting can be used for alterations, and still end up being more affordable than buying something brand new in a store. Also try to see items as something they are not. A really large women’s shirt could be a mini dress when belted, or a pair of mens jeans could be cut into shorts. We both found blazers that need a bit of work but with some tailoring, should fit us like a glove.

There are no guidelines here, other than thinking outside of the box and trying something outside of your comfort zone. Thrift stores are best places to try new things, as all the pieces are more affordable, so if something doesn’t quite work out it doesn’t set you back by much.

CJ decided to try some different outerwear pieces, so he thought this blue vest was a great place to start. Katherine came across this polka dotted skirt and fell in love with the pattern. Although she’s never tried wearing a hemline that hits the knee, found that it was a really flattering cut.

 So there you have it, our tips on how to successfully bargain hunt. Bargain shopping doesn’t end there though, there are other ways to be a savvy shopper. Try shopping at the end of the season for great discounts, and also be aware of sale days. Most stores have promotions from time to time, so shopping then could save you a few pennies. Whenever you shop, bargain or not, we think our tips still apply. For what you want, have the vision to make it awesome, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

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