Score Vintage and Designer Clothing Quickly at Thrift Stores

Shopping for unique or designer clothing, shoes, and accessories at vintage stores is a favorite pastime of many people. Some people look for these goods with an eye solely geared towards reselling the item online for a tidy profit while others are merely hoping to find the one-of-a-kind item that will make them stand out in the workplace or at a party.

The sheer volume of goods hanging on the clothing racks at many thrift or resale shops can be enough to intimidate the shopper who is not used to quickly surveying the options, but this intimidation does not have to last past an initial beginner's phase. There is a method to "power shopping" the resale scene, and a few tips will help transform these shopping trips from misery to mirth.

Know Your Shopping Days

Everyone knows that the "Day after Thanksgiving" is one of the biggest shopping days of the year for huge discounts, so people who want huge discounts know to shop on this day. This same principle can be helpful when it comes to thrift store shopping.

Many thrift stores that do not deal with huge quantities of donations or drop-offs have a dedicated day or two a week when new inventory is brought onto the floor. By coming in these days you increase your chances of getting the best goods while ensuring you do not double-shop the same "new" clothing articles on multiple days. Many stores will have a "new" release rack of their most recent additions, so stop here first.

Look for Textures, Cuts and Patterns for Vintage Clothing

When you are looking for unique vintage clothing, a clothing by clothing analysis can cost you a really good piece and tire you out early in your shopping trip. While it is not a fool-proof shopping method, walking down the clothing aisles slowly with an eye for unique collars, bold patterns, and vintage clothing cuts can provide fast results.

For example, a sheath dress has been popular for decades, so you may encounter dozens of sheath dresses at the resale shop. You can weed a large amount of them out if you are looking for a vintage sheath by focusing your attention towards dresses that have the bold patterns and unique colors indicative of the 1950s and 1960s.

Look for Designer Logos and Buttons to Identify Labels

Power shopping for designer clothes is a bit more difficult but not impossible. Sometimes you really do have to look for the tags, but if you only have a few minutes on a lunch break and you want to make it count there are a few specifics that can help you pick out a designer piece if one is in the resale shop.

First, know your designer details and look for them. Logos on accessories and bags are easier to spot than having to find the inner labels on each item. If you spy a bag with a logo, do peak inside to double check for trademarks inside the bag as well to verify you are getting an original and not an imitation piece. Another tip is that designer suits have distinctive buttons. If you are facing a wide aisle of suit jackets, look at the cuffs and the button. If you see a designer button, give the suit a closer look.

Power shopping for good pieces at the thrift store is a must when you have limited time or if you shop these stores on a regular basis. Over time you will pick up a few more tricks of the trade based around your own shopping experiences.