Cheap and Fashionable: Shopping for Used Clothing

A lot of people have misconceptions about used clothing. They believe that the only thing that they'll find is decades out of date, that the places they shop at will be gross and that only poor people shop at those places. This couldn't be further from the truth. You can get all sorts of great deals by shopping for used clothing, and find some very stylish wares. Here are some tips for shopping for used clothing:

Set a Limit - Before you go out shopping, decide how much money you plan to spend that day. This will prevent you from going overboard, and make it more interesting. If you decide that you're only going to spend $20.00 that day, it will become a competition to see how much great stuff you can get for $20.00.

Go With a Pro - If you're new to shopping for used clothing, find out if any of your friends already do it. They'll be able to share the best places to go, and all the tips and tricks they know about the used clothing stores and shopping for used clothes in general. They'll also be able to give you a second opinion to help you figure out what looks good on you and what doesn't.

Try Things On - Sizes have varied quite a bit in the last couple of decades. Today's clothes have a much looser fit, so if there's a dressing room available, try on the clothing before taking it home with you.

Trash Your Prejudices - Many people think that thrift stores and used clothing shops are nasty dirty places. A few of them are, but the majority are high-quality stores in which you can get some great deals. Find a couple of shops that you like, and you'll never go back!

Keep an Eagle Eye - Nobody wants to go home and find out their new shirt has a button missing or their pants have an unwanted hole in them. Check over the items you intend to purchase very well and make sure there's not something there that would make you not want them.

Layers - Even if a shirt has a bit of a stain on a sleeve, it still might be worth getting. If it has a great color for wearing under a sweater, don't immediately pass it up.

Accessories - Used clothing stores are also great for accessories such as hats and belts. There's no reason to fork over $25.00 for a new belt when you can get one at a thrift store for just a few bucks.

Specials - Second hand clothing stores do run periodic specials, so watch out for sales.

Stock Rotation - If you go to the same store, ask when they rotate stock. They get new shipments of clothing on a regular basis, and often have extra stock in the back. If you go when the new stock's just been put out, you can the first chance at the new inventory, rather than just picking over what others didn't want.