https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:42:21 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/3#post-1006471 Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:19:13 +0000 ironkurtin 1006471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If eBay counts, yes.&nbsp; I buy a lot of gently used clothing.&nbsp; I know what I like, and I don't really care about being dated. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/3#post-1006466 Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:16:09 +0000 Joan Joplin 1006466@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love it in concept, since it's eco-friendly, ethical, and inexpensive. But, being in possession of a Bust Of Extraordinary Size, I wear a lot of knits, and knits at thrift stores always seem to be stretched out or pilling. And I wear a curvy size 2 on bottom, any bigger and it falls off my waist, but if it's not curvy fit it squishes my bum. So aside from coats, which sometimes work, and accessories, which are lacking in my local thrift stores, I don't fit many thrifted clothes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/3#post-1004857 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:02:52 +0000 AnnieMouse 1004857@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, I'm kinda a hippie - I don't love the fast fashion thing that the US seems to have fallen into, due to its cost in both human and environmental terms, and I like that I'm reusing things and keeping them from going to waste. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004852 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:56:22 +0000 AnnieMouse 1004852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I thrift probably about 80% of my wardrobe - I just look for classic pieces, and it has served me quite well. I've been able to get certain items/ brands I would otherwise not be able to afford (or feel comfortable shelling out the ducats for, more accurately) with it - my closet is sprinkled with DKNY, J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Express from this method, with a few even higher-priced bits. </p> <p>My "trick," if you will, is remembering that even new clothes have been tried on before, so *nothing* is truly "new," and looking for fabrics and colours before anything else. It helps me scan more rapidly and avoid overload of ridiculousness. I tend towards the "last chance" thirft (where you buy by the pound), with Value Village being my "splurge" thrifting. </p> <p>I will say that since I lost weight last year and moved into a smaller size, it's more difficult to find things that will work for me - it was much easier when I was larger to find pieces. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004823 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:29:46 +0000 dizzys 1004823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thrifting for me was a requirement if I wanted to stay clothed. I lost 85 pounds and on the way down desperately needed clothing that was not falling off of me. (7 sizes in a year and a half.)<br /> I think even at this point 80-90% of my wardrobe is thrifted through 50% off Goodwill sales, womans shelter non profit stores and the occasional eBay find. I try to be picky and do well most of the time. I have become more selective now that my weight loss has stabilized. That has been hard but YLF has helped me to be picky. I just picked up a white summer dress for my girlfriends wedding getaway, my wedding cocktail dress, a Banana Republic jacket and a few retro styled dresses. I love it and it makes me feel better knowing I am reusing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004454 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 21:37:00 +0000 Trishalee 1004454@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have never had any luck with the thrift stores. &nbsp;That said I found this great store in Hong Kong that resells high end items. &nbsp;The lady in the store told me that when mistresses get dumped they bring in their Birkins, Chanels etc etc to sell for living expenses. &nbsp;My great find was a crocodile Birkin Bag for the mere price of $36,000 US. &nbsp;It is still there if anyone is interested. &nbsp;;)</p> <p>The store truly was amazing. &nbsp;It had every label you could imagine. &nbsp;I looked upon it as visiting a museum. &nbsp;Great craftsmanship! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004403 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:58:29 +0000 In My Joi 1004403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hello! I am a thrift lover! I love to mix vintage, classic<br /> pieces with high-end and even trendy pieces.</p> <p>&nbsp;1st Point: Thrifting can be a good habit and a<br /> bad habit. How so? </p> <p>Good habit: you find amazing pieces in the most unusual places<br /> that are high in quality, detail, and style. The price can be reasonable, the<br /> durability good, and you never have to worry that you’ll see someone else wearing<br /> the exact same piece.</p> <p>Bad habit: You find yourself buying things that don’t fit,<br /> don’t work with your current style, and that you don’t really like, all because<br /> of a ‘low’ price. It’s important to ask yourself if an item truly suits your<br /> needs (in every way) before purchasing it. Otherwise, you will end up with a<br /> closet full of unpractical and unused clothing.</p> <p><span>2nd Point: Thrifting can help you to discover new<br /> style practices. It gives you the flexibility to purchase items that you wouldn’t<br /> normally purchase. You buy the item, are amazed that it does indeed look good<br /> on you, and it becomes a wardrobe staple. In turn,&nbsp; you find yourself looking for items that are<br /> similar to it. Mission accomplished!</span></p> <p>3rd Point: When looking for vintage pieces take<br /> note of the zipper, buttons, seams, and tag. Sometimes I utilize Google right<br /> on the spot so I know exactly what I am looking at :)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>HTH!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004286 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:31:33 +0000 texstyle 1004286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like thrifting once in a while just for a change of pace and to get a deal. I used to do it more when I couldn't afford many new items and there was a great store close by my home in Austin. I can't say that a lot of my current wardrobe is from thrift stores- in fact maybe only a few pieces I guess. I found a great jcrew leopard print shirt after Ingunn shared her success with&nbsp;finding one on ebay and they were no longer available any other way. I got a $12 classic Gap denim jacket&nbsp;lined with shearling at a local thrift store that I really like a lot. And I do sometimes buy a used handbag or jewelry. I have a $2 necklace I just wore the other day in my "Camp" post for example.</p> <p>I think it can be a great resource if you have good stores near you but if like me you live in a rural zone, it's just not as easy. I think I prefer to stumble upon things just once in a while at a garage sale or really do a diligent search on ebay if I want something in particular. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004272 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:20:22 +0000 Sara L. 1004272@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I usually go thrifting with my sister when she's in town. Not very often - just 3-4 times a year. It's a fun way for us to spend an afternoon together with no husbands or kids and not spend much money. It's also a good way for me to try out a trend or silhouette that may be new to me. Also, I generally stick with dresses, jackets, skirts and scarves. I avoid most knits since they're almost always stretched out or shapeless unless brand new. My favorite thrift store is organized by color and type of clothing and I enjoy looking at the rainbow of colors down each aisle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004270 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:18:23 +0000 Anonymous 1004270@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't enjoy thrifting, at all. Other posters have mentioned the reasons why, but I do find it fascinating that it's suddenly a cool, trendy thing to do. All I have to say is -- those YLFers must live in areas with much better thrift shops than where I live! There are decent thrift shops for children's clothing, but there's a serious lack of *good* secondhand clothing for adults, IMO.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004249 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:34:28 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1004249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just wanted to add that in my area the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores all give you a week to return items for store credit. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004239 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:01:02 +0000 Anonymous 1004239@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I had to add my two cents, even though your questions have been answered many times over.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have a love/hate relationship with thrifting. I have had some hits and some misses over the years. I find myself unable to totally give up thrifting because I can't always find what I want need in retail for&nbsp;<i>any</i>&nbsp;<i></i>price. I use the second hand market to fill in the gaps with pieces I (hope) are classic looking and not dated. Right now the hard category for me to till is tops. I am off synthetics since I live in a hot climate, and I have difficult neckline and opacity requirements so oftentimes the thrift or consignment stores come to my rescue. I can find things that are excellent quality, timeless and there is so much more variety than just what is trending at the moment. Most of my silk blouses and sweaters are pre-loved.&nbsp;</p> <p>I don't think thrifting is for everyone, or that you should feel like it's something you need to do to be hip or cool or blogger-esque. You'll know if it's for you or not, and that's perfectly okay!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1004206 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 15:27:54 +0000 Kristin L 1004206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love to thrift, but it's more because for the "thrill of the hunt." I love seeing what I can find and sometimes I find some great things. Other times I buy things and wonder what on earth I was thinking. I have to keep my head on and remember that if it doesn't follow my rules, then it needs to go back, no matter how cheap it is. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003982 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 05:31:32 +0000 goldenpig 1003982@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been to thrift stores several times and have not yet once come up with anything to buy. I guess I'm not very good at it. Because of my work schedule and the kids,&nbsp;I don't have much time to shop during the day,&nbsp;so I do a lot of my shopping online at night. Plus I need to be able to return things when I change my mind or after doing K/R's&nbsp;and you can't do that when you thrift. I've gotten burned on non-returnable&nbsp;eBay purchases too so I try not to do that either. I have gotten a few things at TJ Maxx but it's so random what you find there.&nbsp;I'm jealous of all the super thrifters with their amazing finds though! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003974 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 04:15:19 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1003974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use to own a consignment store and I love thrifting. I can't believe how many new shoes people donate. I just picked up a pristine white cardigan by J Crew this week. Thrift stores in my area are better organized than ever. Each category is hung by color. It's quite frankly become a hobby and going with a friend makes it fun. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003954 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 03:14:11 +0000 Boata 1003954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Almost all my clothes is thrifted. I buy expensive shoes and bags, and thrift most of my clothes. Wednesday is half-price day at our local salvation army, and so I'll go and spend the $3 per item on things that seem like they'll work for me. If they don't, they go back in the donation pile at very little cost.<br /> If they do, I feel so accomplished!<br /> I love thrifing because vintage clothes is often far better constructed than new clothes. And, because I've read so much about the true cost of "fast fashion" on our natural resources and workers overseas, I have a hard time buying new without A LOT of guilt.<br /> I buy based on era produced and materials. I don't buy old, smelly polyester. I do buy old silk or undamaged cashmere.<br /> I just got a brooks brothers suit jacket from the 60s or 70s (based on the label) for $; it's like new and fits me like a glove. I once got a pair of fantastic brown leather loafers from the 70s that were unworn (still had the price tag stapled to the unworn bottom!) for $5. I got my beautiful wool winter jacket (made in paris) for a dollar (then had it tailored to fit perfectly). These piece look like quality because they are quality. And there's something so cool about wearing a little bit of fashion history, I think. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003888 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 01:46:09 +0000 Lisa 1003888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not a regular thrifter.&nbsp; I have piked up items over the years from thrifting but I usually purchase items new.&nbsp; I'm just too lazy to hunt on the racks for thrifting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003779 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:02:20 +0000 stefani 1003779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Because of where I live, the thrift/consignment store here is the only way to go in to a physical place and shop for clothing unless I want Wal-mart, Kmart, outdoor, or western style clothing.&nbsp; The town is not super tiny, but it just doesn't have retail clothing stores. The next largest town is 40 miles away.&nbsp; </p> <p>Its a university town with students and professors coming in from all over the world and consigning their clothing, so it has allowed me to try on<br /> brands/styles that would not be accessible without a two hour drive and<br /> serious planning. </p> <p>That being said, I only will buy certain things. I walk right past the used shirts/sweaters but I like looking through the jeans, outerwear, and accessories. I feel like these items will hold their quality better even if slightly used. On top of that, I look for things that still look new (where its more likely someone just changed their mind about it and it sat in their closet.) </p> <p>This is how I found my perfect pair of jeans. Now I buy them directly from the merchant or on ebay but I would not have tried them in a million years if I hadn't found the first pair in a second-hand store.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003752 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 20:27:25 +0000 Stuti 1003752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not thrift.<br /> After joining YLF visited 2 consignment stores and couldn't bring myself to go through mess and smell.<br /> I am not against hand me downs but as someone else mentioned being compulsive organizer it drives me crazy.<br /> And probably the stores in my area are not that great </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003677 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 17:44:07 +0000 chewyspaghetti 1003677@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am constantly in contact with second hand items- being an antique dealer. I have always thrifted, so it doesn't make me squeamish at all. I have found that the more I am around &nbsp;these clothes, the less I buy. I keep my standards even higher than I would for my store bought purchases, just to make sure I don't &nbsp;miss anything. It's very easy to fall into the trap of buying items just because they are cheap. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003647 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 16:14:44 +0000 Aziraphale 1003647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another non-thrifter. &nbsp;I have nothing against it in principle. &nbsp;I think I'm just sensitive to visual presentation, and thrift stores are a chaotic mess of colours and fabrics. &nbsp;It makes my eyes water. &nbsp;I don't care for sale racks, either, for the same reason. &nbsp;Unfortunately that means I probably miss out on an awful lot of great stuff for bargain prices, but oh well. &nbsp;</p> <p>I think another part of it is that I'm not in love with the process of&nbsp;shopping, either. &nbsp;What I DO love is having awesome new clothes,&nbsp;but a little goes a long way. &nbsp;I choose pieces carefully and&nbsp;I'm not easily bored with them once I buy them, so going through racks of disorganized clothes has less appeal for me than it might for people who are constantly experimenting with their style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003634 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 15:19:37 +0000 Periwinkle 1003634@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love thrifting! &nbsp;It's a great way to fill wardrobe holes while you're saving up for investment piece, to score the occasional quality piece for almost nothing and to get unique things that nobody else has. &nbsp;</p> <p>I've done well at thrift stores with dresses, skirts,&nbsp;shoes, and scarves. &nbsp;If well made, those things tend to last for a long time. &nbsp;People will get rid of them long before they are worn out or dated. &nbsp;Occasionally I get lucky with a pair of pants, but size is hard to get right. &nbsp;I don't like buying shirts or knits thrifted--I find that those tend to show wear&nbsp;pretty quickly.&nbsp;</p> <p>I scan the racks based on&nbsp;fabric--I can usually&nbsp;tell whether something is a good quality&nbsp;fabric and whether the color appeals to me from pretty far away. &nbsp;If the color and fabric appeals to me, I check the size, cut, etc. That usually&nbsp;narrows things down a lot for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003539 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:04:15 +0000 ccdjane 1003539@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do thrifting "in spurts", as we say here in the southern US.&nbsp; I like the challenge of scanning through lots of trash to find the treasure.&nbsp; I DO try to keep a mental list of needs, but truth be told, I probably don't need anything.&nbsp; (So why do I now have a darling jacket and some shoes so cute I want to cry from the NAS?) My last trip to a thrift store netted a black 100% wool blazer from J Crew for $7.&nbsp; I look for wool, leather, and silk then take to the cleaners.&nbsp; I have a longish&nbsp;leather coat&nbsp;that I wore every day on a trip to Scotland &amp; Ireland during the horribly cold spell in March.&nbsp; Gorgeous Italian leather for $17.&nbsp; <br />That's why I love thrifting.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003495 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 08:39:05 +0000 Jaime 1003495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a dedicated thrifter/second hand shopper (as Suz mentioned, not exactly the same thing). I am quite tough when it comes to allergies and smells, and quite good at scanning and picking out what may be the one thing of value in a large heap. It is fun for me! More than that, I have tastes that far exceed my budget and my closet is sprinkled with designer names for which I paid H&amp;M (or less) prices. I did visit TJ Maxx on this trip and find two great tops, but I paid much more for them than the equally great things I found at second hand stores. Totally agree that it is a matter of style of information processing and time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003491 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 08:16:28 +0000 Nicola 1003491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I enjoy thrifting. It can be really hit and miss but such a buzz when you find something great for next to nothing. It helps my wardrobe dollar go a bit further and make a bit more cash available for items I want to purchase new. I've made a few mistakes, entranced by the cheap price, but I'm learning to be more picky. Last week I picked up a completely fabulous dress, barely worn, exactly what I wanted, wonderfully cheap and something I could never have even considered new. Experiences like that make popping into thrift shops every now and then well worth it for me. (Bad allergies here too but nothing a bit of handsanitiser on your way out and a good wash can't fix) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003482 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 06:32:49 +0000 mrseccentric 1003482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i used to thrift in my late teens/early twenties. But i soon learned that a) retail previously owned by someone else doesn't fit me any better than retail never previously owned and b) i am very hard on clothing so if i buy even 'gently used' items they will pretty much evaporate after a couple of months in my closet.</p> <p>It takes me so long to find something via shopping that i want it to wear for years to justify the time investment (and i don't like shopping either, so it's not like a diversion for me). Now I focus my energies on snapping up new, well made pieces on sale and sewing my own.</p> <p>But some people develop fabulous wardrobes via thrift and consignment. Like all else in style, it's all quite personal and you need to find what works for you in your current situation. Best of luck, and Happy Meteors Everybody! steph </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003480 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 06:31:40 +0000 lyn* 1003480@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I "thrift" like Mo does - via eBay! I also go to Winners a lot too </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003464 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 05:50:52 +0000 Mo 1003464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Via eBay, I buy preowned things all the time. &nbsp;I don't thrift in any stores, but love to sift through the discount retailers like Ross and Beall's Outlet. &nbsp;I quite happily will wear hand me downs from friends.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003459 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 05:31:09 +0000 froggiebecky 1003459@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd classify myself as an occasional thrifter. In theory, I like it--I don't mind sifting through racks of clothes, or wandering to see what catches my eye. I'm also not bothered by the fact that the clothing once belonged to someone else. I'm a bit pickier about shoes (and I find that most shoes are looking pretty beat up by the time they're donated.).</p> <p>That being said, not all thrift shops are created equal. It not only depends on the type of shop (a shop selling donated items, consignment, high-end resale, vintage, etc), but also the geography and the demographics of the surrounding community. Particularly in the case of shops selling donated items. For instance, the shop nearest to me is run by a church; there is a catholic school next door, and it's situated in a neighborhood that's mostly families, ladies who lunch, and older folks. That influences what the shop&nbsp;receives. On the other hand, if I go down to the hip, urban neighbourhoods, the stock is entirely different (and more to my taste). I find I have more luck there, but it's a bigger trek, and becomes a one-off trip rather than regular browsing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In general, though, I find that when it comes to the shops selling donated items, I have more luck when I select a neighbourhood first and a shop second.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-you-thrift-or-no-thrift/page/2#post-1003450 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 04:59:53 +0000 Lantana 1003450@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The church in my little country town has a thrift/opportunity shop. The Ladies Fellowship runs a clean, well organised operation and supports a child's education from the profits. I occasionally buy my gardening clobber from them and clothes for my grandies for when they come to stay. I always check out the accessories and have bought shoes, belts and a bag. The shoes and belts are good quality with minor flaws ( guess why they were discarded) that I have had fixed by a cobbler.<br /> I like stretching the life of clothing to compensate for the energy that has gone into its production.<br /> Wearing other people's clothes bothers me not at all. I launder the items, hang them in the sun and any residual frass gets nuked by our extreme UV rays. </p>