How to Thrift Mindfully

The Rise of Thrift

It's no longer news that thrifting is in. It's steadily gained popularity over the past 5 years, but wearing, shopping, and upcycling secondhand clothing is nothing new. Throughout my childhood I was handed down clothes, and in high school, I began to thrift. The cultural shift I witnessed alongside my peers, wherein secondhand clothing came to be coveted rather than shameful, was as unexpected as it was welcome.

With the rise of thrifting came the rise of thrift hauls being posted online. A long-standing practice of sustainability, thrifting quickly became a new means of overconsumption. I love to see so many people enjoy thrifting, and I don't think we should stop. But we could do it better. So, for our planet and wallets, here are some tips for thrifting mindfully.

What Are You Looking For?

My early failure in thrifting was not asking myself this question enough. Without a clear direction, I wasted hours examining every piece in the store, and I struggled to assess items by my own tastes. What a find! The perfect early 2000s top - I can't tell if it's my size but it could work. The 2000s are cycling back into fashion, so it's perfect timing. A variation of this thought ran through my head about 10 times in one thrift trip before I considered whether or not I liked early 2000s style on myself. Spoiler alert: I don't.

Entering the thrift without an objective is a recipe for lukewarm purchases. Rarely do I encounter an item that I am 100% in love with. With the right mindset, finding those pieces feels all the more special. Before I was more tuned in while thrifting, I would toss things I kind of liked into my cart because they were well-priced, and leave with clothes I never ended up wearing.

Many environmentalists see thrifting quickly becoming "glorified fast fashion," as low prices and endless options result in young people buying more than they need. Shopping secondhand is a great start to reducing your environmental footprint, but it's important to keep in mind that overconsumption always comes with a cost.

To ensure success at the thrift, I ask myself these questions before hitting the store:

• What pieces am I currently lacking in my closet?
• What pieces will I benefit from having in the upcoming season?
• What style most resonates with me right now?
• What pieces/styles do I never wear/like?

I love to create a mood board with some pieces and styles I'm interested in scouting on a thrift trip. It's helpful to have images of outfits I can really see myself wearing to refer back to, and try to find similar items in store!

Where Are You Looking?

With a clear goal in mind, thrifting can be an experience akin to a scavenger hunt. Like any scavenger hunt, it's vital to search in the right places!

• Looking for pieces from a particular decade or era of fashion? I'll head to a vintage store. Vintage stores are often home to unique, hand-selected, high-quality secondhand pieces. The prices tend to be higher at vintage shops, but the search for particular items and looks is much easier.
• Looking for a luxury shopping experience? If I'm not necessarily in the mood for true vintage fashion but still want a curated, quality-oriented shopping experience, I'll check out a consignment shop. Consignment shops, as opposed to thrift stores, tend to be for-profit businesses. Clothing items aren't simply donated, but sold to the store. This offers a more curated experience and is a great way to find modern or luxury pieces that are still secondhand.
• Looking to make a major wardrobe adjustment? Fully committing to a new style, or just restocking my arsenal for the upcoming season, I'll likely hit a regular thrift store - chain or otherwise. Nationally, Savers, Goodwill, and Salvation Army are usually easy to come by. But small local thrift stores are the real gems. In the Boston area, my favorite is Boomerangs. Standard thrift stores boast relatively low prices, and a massive selection, so be prepared to search!
• Online shopping? For accessibility factors, or even just plain preference, many people do all of their shopping online! As far as major online secondhand markets go, I favor Depop and ThredUp. TheRealReal is also great for that luxury vintage feel in a virtual environment. There are lots of up & coming small online thrift shops to support as well. Some of my favorites are: Phart Clothes, Flower Power, and Alex_Vntg

Essential Considerations

Ok, so I'm narrowed into a clear goal, and I'm in the right place. Scavenging the aisles of the local thrift in search of anything that radiates the particular "cool girl energy" I saved on my Pinterest board. I pull a piece and begin to examine it. Here are the essential considerations to be made:

• Fit- Is this the correct size or measurements to fit the way I want it to? If I'm seeking an oversized look, I want to ensure that it's not too big.
• Color- Is this a color I wear? Is it a color I feel confident in? If the item features a print or pattern, I ask myself if I even like the print on its own, outside of the context of the rest of the garment.
• Vision- I always think back to my closet and try to imagine some outfits with this piece using items I already own - I aim for at least 3. I'm pro-outfit repeating, so if I can think of at least 3 looks that I absolutely love, it's usually enough to sell me.
• Duplicates- Do I have anything that looks like this already? I'm trying to avoid overbuying, so there's no need for lookalikes in my closet.
• Timeline- Is this something I would wear right now, or something I would have worn, say, in college? Even more important - is this something I would wear right now, or something I imagine my future self would wear? Far too many times I've taken a big risk at the thrift, betting that my future self would be more confident and bold than my current self. I've learned to stop trying to reinvent myself, and just shop for me.

Pro Tips for Thrifting:

• Shop your closet first. All shopping begins with examining what you already have. Trend cycles and influencers can put on subconscious pressure to go out and seek more, but if you've already curated a look you love, feel confident in that! You might find something you haven't worn in ages that you love now. Leave no stone unturned!
• Take your measurements and bring a tape measure! You may not want to try on clothes at the thrift depending on accessibility, or you may be unable to if you're thrifting online. Knowing your measurements is a surefire way to bring home clothes that fit.
• Bring the right company - which might even be no company. If you plan to scour for hours, it's usually best done alone. For a more casual shop, it's great to have friends and get opinions - just be sure to surround yourself with people who know you and your tastes. Nothing wrong with a third-party reality check.
• Respect the space and community you're in. Whether or not you believe in "the thrift gods" or the concept of karma in general, it's important to show respect to any space you enter. At the basic level, hang things back up, don't leave a mess, and be aware of those around you. If you notice a lack of essentials (particularly coats & jackets) and you are just shopping for fun, do not take those resources from others who may need them.

I believe thrifting will remain a primary shopping outlet, especially for current and future young people. With a little more mindfulness, this cultural movement could become a widespread environmental movement that changes the way we view our consumption habits.

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