They say one person’s trash is another one’s treasure, yet I often find myself wondering how anyone possibly could have decided these to be their trash as I am running my fingers through the vintage leather jacket section. To think that leather jackets genuinely fit better as they get older thanks to body heat, movement, and natural fibers makes the seemingly hefty rack of them even more confusing to fathom. They fit better as the stiff material softens and molds to your unique body shape over time. How could anyone dare to abandon that? It basically becomes one with you, like custom made or even tailored but for leather.
Anyway, scouring the racks and shelves for vintage finds has become increasingly popular as more people are searching for sustainable, alternatives to buying new. Plus, more people are becoming more environmentally conscious day by day and people are also looking for ways to have a more unique style, thus finding themselves beneath one of the only places left that is away from the intolerable tide of micro trends that we cannot seem to get rid of today. Not to mention that, even if people fail to realize it, thrifting has become a trend by itself, a good one I would say if we were to ignore the ridiculous price raises due to that. There are certainly some hidden gems concealed amongst the masses that may seem like they were meant just for you, all it takes is a little bit of patience and ability to imagine the potential.
Thrift shopping may feel like searching for a needle in a haystack if you are clueless and new, but you’ve got to calm down, spare time, and start digging. Trust the process and you will be surprised. One thing I like to do is to give a chance to them, imagine them put on and try to make an outfit in your head or just take anything promising and try them on honestly. The coolest pieces I’ve found were the ones I struggled imagining the most. Another tip is learning to sew, it can do wonders and even if you hate the piece, a promising piece of grandma dress with a nice pattern can be turned into the cutest top or maybe even a skirt, a scarf or all at once if you are feeling bored. Also, it is crucial to know to shop what you are looking for if there is any. If you’re after expensive, brand name items consider heading to a thrift shop located near a wealthy community. While thrifting, do not shy away from the opposite sexes clothing. For instance, the men’s section, is full of nice, sturdy denim. Their jeans look great as is and are also the perfect candidate for a little trim. The women’s jeans on the other hand aren’t usually in very nice condition.
If you have nothing specific to look for, try searching with your fingers. Just walk up the rows running your fingers across the garments and when you feel a unique texture or fabric, or one that feels high quality take it. Something else to keep in mind should be to forget loyalty when thrifting. Trust me, no store is worth it and finding something nice once there does not make it a “good thrift store” there is no such thing as that because they aren’t regular stores with certain styles embedded within them. Most of the time, clothes end up wherever their fate determines when it comes to thrift stores, it is mostly random, so staying loyal to a few stores will merely limit your options. Lastly, do not buy things because they are cheap. You will never wear them.
At the end of the day, thrifting is all about patience, curiosity, and keeping an open mind. Hidden gems are everywhere you just have to be willing to look beyond what something is and imagine what it could become.