Posts Tagged: used

Thrifting for Coats

by Sally on in the category: thrifting

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As the weather turns from cool to cold to downright FREEZING, you may be reconsidering the coats in your closet. Are they warm enough? Do they cover all of your bits? Are they in good shape? Styles that work with your figure and wardrobe? If your current coat options are somewhat lacking, consider hitting the thrift shops before shelling out for something new.

The best types of clothing to thrift are durable. While flimsy tees and diaphanous blouses are lovely to wear, they just don’t hold up to lots of use and laundering so by the time they hit the thrift racks they may only have a year or so of wearable life left. Garments like blazers, jeans, handbags, and coats, on the other hand, are made from sturdier fabrics, constructed using heavier thread and stitching, and are created with use and abuse in mind. Even if they were made decades ago and worn relatively frequently, these items can still be in good shape when you find them at your local thrift store. read more

Originally posted 2013-12-05 06:08:04.

Consignment vs. Thrift: Knowing Your Options

by Sally on in the category: shopping, style, thrifting

What are the differences between consignment and thrift store shopping?

When it comes to my outfit posts, I tend to list anything that’s been bought secondhand as “thrifted,” which isn’t quite fair. Yes, items purchased at consignment shops are used and yes, I had to do some digging to find them. But thrift stores and consignment stores are really quite different.

HOW THRIFT STORES WORK

Weeellll, some will work differently than others. But here in the U.S., the vast majority of thrift shops are donation-based and center on a charity or non-profit organization. Community members donate used goods – including clothing, shoes, and accessories – to the organization in question. Although donating truly ruined items is discouraged, damaged, heavily worn, and flawed items are relatively common. Items are sorted and priced by volunteers, then sent to the sales floor where they are bought by shoppers. read more

Originally posted 2013-08-19 06:08:04.

Biases Against Thrifting

by Sally on in the category: thrifting

biases against thrift shopping

I’ve been thrifting since high school. Buying used clothing has never bothered me one whit, and I encourage all stylish women to consider hitting the thrift stores virtually any time they need new duds. But I know there are many longstanding biases against thrifting, and I’m curious if any of you are loathe to thrift for these reasons:

The stigma of buying used

I’ve never experienced this one directly, but I’ve heard from many people who have. I feel like used clothing doesn’t carry the stigma it did years ago, but that could vary from region to region. I also get the impression that young people who are only just learning about money, clothing, and associated statuses might disdain used clothing. But it could be more prevalent than I realize. read more

Originally posted 2012-01-23 06:12:42.