6 Things to Buy Secondhand
Scavenging for treasures at thrift stores is one of my favorite pastimes but, admittedly, it can be a bit tedious to find just the right thing. A few weeks ago, I shared 5 things to avoid buying at thrift shops, but my advice doesn’t end there!
Today I want to share the items I prefer to buy at thrift shops over regular retail stores. For me, thrift shops aren’t just more sustainable alternatives to the mall, they’re treasure troves of goods that defy current trends and traditional merchandising standards. My personal preferences (and my body type) don’t always mesh with current trends, so thrift shops provide an essential resource for finding things that work for me across brands, styles, and eras.
1. Durable Cotton Denim
Even if you’re not big into the mom jeans trend, you have to admit that thick, cotton denim from the 1990s and earlier just holds up better than jeggings. Since I carry most of my weight in my hips and thighs, I hunt for high waisted denim with extra room in the hips to make into cut-offs in the summer. Cropping full length jeans allows me to customize the length (booty shorts just aren’t my thing) and they’re a lot more flattering than the flimsy, skin-tight shorts you often find on the market today.
2. Skirts, Skirts, Skirts
Why buy a new midi skirt when you can buy a groovy, vintage one from your local thrift shop? I don’t shop for skirts from traditional retailers at all now that I’ve discovered the skirt wonderland that is the thrift shop. All sorts of patterns, lengths, cuts, and brands are available in a single place, which allows you to try on lots of different things and find the perfect fabric, pattern, and cut. I recently styled a vintage Ralph Lauren Country skirt I thrifted in a The Moral Wardrobe post.
3. Sweaters & Outerwear
Cold weather clothes made of high quality, cozy fabrics like cashmere and wool are expensive, not to mention that a lot of today’s luxury materials just aren’t as high quality as they used to be. That’s why I’ve become a secondhand cashmere hoarder ever since I started working at a thrift shop. I used to stock up on Old Navy sweaters made of acrylic and cotton blends, but they never really held in my body heat like a layering piece should. Now that I have access to cashmere sweaters (at $4.00 a pop!) and the perfect wool toggle coat (for $29.99), winters are a lot more bearable.
4. Statement Dresses & Tops
The ethical fashion world is great at producing high quality, organic cotton basics and I tend to prefer to buy those sorts of things new for the best fit and long term wear. But fun, printed garments produced under fair trade guidelines are either harder for me to find in the right cut or out of my price range, so I seek them out secondhand. Favorite finds: a cold-shoulder top, a ’90s skater dress, a slinky polka dot t-shirt dress, and a Ralph Lauren color-block button-down.
5. Swimsuits
This may surprise you, but I actually prefer to buy swimsuits secondhand. Hygiene issues aside (just be careful to check for wear and wash thoroughly before wearing), the thrift shop provides better variety and better pricing on swimwear. I found the perfect, daisy print halter swim top at a shop in a neighboring town a few years ago (I can officially say that I had a halter swim top before it was cool) and it pairs just fine with the black swim bottoms I already owned. For someone who is neither an hourglass nor a wearer of push-up bras (it always seems like swim companies assume we all fit in those categories), I like being able to select from a wide variety of silhouettes and sizes. In fact, I think my top may be a children’s item.
6. Purses
Though I have a pretty even mix of new and used bags in my collection, I often get more use out of the surprise finds from the thrift shop. I always use a mid-sized crossbody, preferably made of lightweight fabric with lots of organizational pockets. Finding all of that in an ethically produced bag is pretty much impossible, so I keep my eye out for conventional brands with those specs at secondhand shops.
I’m interested to hear your thrift shop victories! Let me know in the comments.
See my other Shopping Guides.
Read about 5 Things to Avoid at Thrift Shops.
It's funny, too, because if you shop secondhand enough, you start to forget how much of your favorite stuff didn't belong to you first.
Yes! Sheets are so much cheaper secondhand. I've only found one set that fits my mattress at the shop where I work, but I scooped it up as soon as I saw them and now they're my favorite because they've become softer from several washings.
Great tip on the gusset hack. I haven't cut down men's sweaters, but that's also a good idea. I need to refresh my sewing and crafting skills.
Thank you! And yes on quality. It's terrifying how bad textile quality has become and how little people seem to care about it. That's awesome that you found a lens that's compatible with your camera at a thrift store! That would be the score of the year if I could find that.
Amen on the sturdy denim. The thrift stores I've found in Germany are all small, so it only takes a few minutes to scan everything in the shop. Plenty of my favorite stuff is secondhand.
I buy sheets and then run them through the wash on very hot with lots of soap. Much cheaper than buying new, and when they start wearing out, the fabric makes great lining material for when I'm sewing dresses.
wool coats are my weakness in charity shops – they resew so well. I dont really swim but if anyone is hung up buying a 2nd hand swim suit, you can always cut out the gusset and pop a new one in from a old piece of teeshirt. I have managed to get cashmere sweaters in charity shops (not often) and recutting and crocheting new edging onto mens sweaters is a handy option
Oh my gosh, yes! Nowadays most of my clothing is either very old or seems to have come from the thrift store. Statement dresses are definitely a yes, and purses – absolutely! I have two vintage leather purses, one Fossil and one Coach that I paid less than $20 each for. They are so much nicer than the same brands at the mall today. Quality has gone so far downhill that I simply can't fathom paying new prices… even unethical stuff like F21 and Old Navy seem not worth the money. Why buy a $15 sweater that doesn't hold heat and will fall apart after one season when Goodwill has one that will last years (and be warmer) for $5?I have a lot of thrift favorites, but lately it's two boho dresses and a Canon AE-1. I guess I really love statement dresses. :)Love your blog, by the way. It's so hard to find people who are interested in fashion but are not running out and buying sweatshop produced goods every Saturday. :(aroseisinbloom.blogspot.com