I’ve been thrifting (charity shop shopping) since forever and I can’t think of anything more satisfying than finding a real bargain. A few weeks ago I picked up a Kooples silk shirt for £4 and if that doesn’t inspire you to hit the charity shops then I don’t know what will. Being a seasoned thrifter I have a few tricks up my sleeve for making these finds look more expensive. It’s not rocket science but I thought I would share them with you in case you’re new to charity shops and are worried about what the clothes will be like.
The first and most important thing to know is that it mostly comes down to how you style them. You need to use all your imagination and creativity to see the potential in the random pieces on the rails so that you can work them into your wardrobe. It always helps to have an idea of what you want in mind or to only buy things that work with your style to avoid getting carried away. I’ve lost count of the number of pieces I’ve picked up in crazy prints or loud colours but I rarely end up wearing them.
Another rule I try and stick to is not to buy anything that’s really bad quality but to hunt for pieces that will stand the test of time. My best example of this is my cashmere camel coat that I picked up a few years ago. It’s the best purchase I’ve ever made, it was £15 and it’s as classic and timeless as ever. Sure, I’ve had it dry cleaned about 10 times and had to sew up the seams once or twice but cost per wear must be pennies by now. That’s why it’s so important to look out for pieces that are well made and in good quality fabrics. I’m currently on the hunt for wool and leather coats which retail for at least £150 so finding one in a charity shop would be a real steal.
Another thing to consider is upcycling or changing a garment you find in a thrift shop. I get that if you don’t know how to sew this can be daunting but swapping some buttons or cutting the hem off a pair of jeans is easy. If you find something that’s almost perfect don’t be afraid to take it home and experiment. There’s also a million tutorials on YouTube that cover every possible way to upcycle and that are really easy to follow. This is also a great way to bring something up to date and make it look more on trend. For example, cutting a pair of jeans so that they’re slightly cropped or swapping out some old buttons for gold ones.
That pretty much concludes all my tips but I hope that you’ll find them useful and that they’ll inspire you to get thrifting. As always I’d love for you to pop any advice that you have in the comments, it’s always good to get other peoples opinions and I love discovering new hacks!
PS. The white dress I’m wearing in this post was £2.50 and no I’m not kidding…
Leave a Reply