A Buyer's Guide to Second-hand Clothing
It can take some time to find the right thrift shop. Some are just full of junk, while others have genuinely good quality clothing. Check out the different shops in your area. Larger stores like Value Village tend to have more selection and a higher standard in the clothing that they sell.
The first thing to look for when buying second hand clothes are flaws. When you find something that you like, glance over it for any obvious problems like tears or stains. If nothing jumps out at you, toss it in the cart to try on. You should never buy a second hand item without trying it on since the sizes may have changed since it was produced or it may have shrunk in someone's wash.
Once you have an article of clothing that fits you and looks good, do a closer examination. You want to avoid anything that has frayed seams, stains or mildew spots. Look around cuffs and collars for problem spots since these areas often hide stains and small tears that will rapidly grow with use.
Some problems are completely fixable and you can save a lot of money by finding clothing that has a problem which you can fix at home. For example, if you find a shirt that is missing a button, but has an extra one tucked inside the lower hem, you might be able to get a discount and simply sew the button on later. Another trick is to take the top button from a shirt and use it to replace a lower button (the majority of people don't button up to the top anyway). Jeans that have stained or frayed cuffs, but are too long for you, can be hemmed up later to look like new and they will be far cheaper than jeans in perfect condition.
There are thrift shops that will try to sell you used clothing for ridiculous prices. For this reason, it is important to shop around. You want a store that offers decent prices, good quality and the possibility of striking a deal if you find a damaged piece.
Buying second hand doesn't have to be a negative thing. You can find some very unique pieces for rock bottom prices and with a good wash, they can be just like new! You just need to know what to look for.
Published by Joshua Ska
I am a freelance writer in my spare time, father of two, and husband to a wonderful woman for the past 8 years. View profile
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