top of page

Guide To Thrifting

Writer's picture: Adelia SmithAdelia Smith

Like many other small towns in Ohio, in Loveland, thrifting is an activity held sacred to bored teenagers. Second-hand clothes shopping is a great activity because it’s accessible to all different price ranges and styles. Many people, however, find themselves swearing off thrifting, claiming they can never find anything they like. As someone whose closet is mostly thrifted, I challenge this statement. I firmly believe that thrifting requires technique and skill - and so I present my basic guide to thrifting.


There are some tips and tricks I’ve discovered that can be used universally wherever you thrift. My most general rule is to look at everything. It’s easy to see a weird-shaped sleeve or a color you don’t like and to dismiss the item entirely, but this is why hidden gems remain hidden. If you take a little extra time to push aside the surrounding clothes, you might find that what you originally thought was just an ugly blouse was actually a cute button-up with a really cool design on the front. Even just seeing an article of clothing in full allows you to determine how you could style it - you might find that oversized t-shirt would actually go perfectly with that pair of jeans you own. Don’t judge a shirt by its neckline! 


If there’s an item you’re interested in but has some flaws, don’t be afraid of giving it some TLC. Even if you have no sewing or mending skills, there are easy DIY ways to turn an oversized item into form-fitting. I like using safety pins and tucking them into the fabric so they’re hidden, but there are plenty of hacks online that make it easy to customize the fit of a piece. Stains are often unappealing, but if they are small or surface-level, it’s likely some stain remover and scrubbing will do the trick. Also, if you don’t like the neckline, sleeves, or cuffs on a piece, scissors are your best friend. Don’t avoid altering clothing - when clothes hunting, trying to imagine the potential of an item opens up many more possibilities. 


Ultimately, seeing a piece of clothing on you is what makes or breaks your purchase. It’s very easy to feel the post-shopping exhaustion and just want to take the risk and try your items on at home, but do your best to fight this. Clothes can either die or come alive when you wear them. The sizing might be off, or, alternatively, the pants that looked so-so might actually fit you perfectly. It works for me to pace myself, so that for every five items or so I try them on, and it helps avoid getting overwhelmed by a giant cart full of clothes to tackle. 


As for where to thrift, the Loveland Goodwill is the mecca for local second-hand shopping. It’s a good overall thrift store with mid-range prices. Other stores I champion are St.Vincent for their diverse collection and Trendy Treasures, a hidden gem consignment store where there is always a crazy good sale. My personal favorite is Valley Thrift - their prices are a little bit higher, but I always find one thing I absolutely love. My biggest piece of advice is to not give up after a few trips that turn up empty-handed. It’s easy to get discouraged, but remain determined and you will find your groove of thrifting! 


3 views0 comments

Related Posts

Comments


© 2022 by The Loveland Roar.

Find us on:

  • Grey Twitter Icon
  • Instagram
bottom of page