Your Favorite College Guide To Thrifting Is Now Available!

Despite thinking of Macklemore..do you feel overwhelmed by the thought of thrift shopping? Does the idea of vast amount of clothes to search through feel like finding a needle in a haystack? Well this guide will help you explore the world of thrifting in the most efficient way possible.

If you love shopping, this alternative is a great way to spend the day and experiment with fashion you normally wouldn’t want to spend a full price tag on. Not only are thrift stores cheap (especially for that student budget! Be sure to keep your student ID on you, most thrift stores will give you an additional 10% off) but you never know what you’re going to find!

1. Do your homework

Find stores in an area of town that you know to be trendy or is known to have wealth. The more thrift stores you go to the more likely you are going to stumble across a great piece!

For example, my personal favorites are Point Loma, Hillcrest and Pacific Beach. I usually check out GoodWill or Salvation Army. Although, sometimes the mom and pop shops have really good finds!

The best part about these stores is that you can find name brand clothes, such as Free People, Madewell, and LululemonThrift shopping in the wealthier parts of San Diego will make finding name brand and higher quality clothes more likely.

 

2. Know the deals

Some stores also have deals on certain days of the week so keep an eye out for the different colored tags. AMVETS in Old Town has deals every Wednesday on certain colored tags and are usually posted on the racks.

This may require you to do a bit of research before hand, but it’s totally worth it. Big sales usually means they are about to get new inventory the day or two after the sale, so you can make a mental note to come back to see what new items are in stock.   

 

3. Get a clue

Once you find a store that looks interesting to you, have set idea of what kind of clothes your looking to buy. This will help you narrow down your search so you don’t seem so submerged in a sea of clothing. For example, if you’re looking for that cute band t-shirt, start by looking in the shirt section and then look accordingly the color your after.

(Pro tip: If you aren’t finding anything in the women’ section, try looking in the mens section, don’t be afraid to venture off from women’s clothing!)

History of Thrift Stores
Retrieved from Time.com

 

4. Be Creative

If you’re looking for the right pair of high waisted jean shorts, don’t be afraid to look in the jeans section and be creative with your sewing skills!

Thrifting allows you to get crafty with your clothes and venture outside of your comfort zone in fashion without crying every time you swipe your card.

 

5. Try on Haul

Once you have a handful of clothes I highly recommend trying them on while you’re there. Just because it looks good on the hanger, doesn’t mean it will look as good as you thought it would on….The worst feeling ever is getting home after being excited on finding a really good piece to find out it doesn’t fit and there’s no way to return it. Always remember to look if it has any holes or stains before you buy it. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

 

These steps can help you find unique pieces to add to your wardrobe and expand your fashion.

The rewarding feeling you get from finding an awesome piece will definitely outrank the feeling you get from buying a fast fashion top from Forever 21. Not only by shopping at a thrift store are you helping support a cause but, you’re also helping out the community!

Written By: Alexis Cramer

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