Showing posts with label thrifting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thrifting. Show all posts

Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size - Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting






Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting: Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size. Most people understand that shopping at a thrift store is about the hunt. Unlike retail, you'll rarely find more than one of anything. That's the nature of thrifting. In my opinion, that's also the beauty of thrifting. Finding that unique item. That one-of-a-kind. I have a few recommendations if you have difficulty finding thrifted clothing in your size.

TRY SIZING UP

I always recommend that you try multiple sizes and departments when you're hunting for thrift clothes. For example, if you usually wear a size Medium, go up the rack a little to the next size and check out the inventory. If you know your actual measurements, you will find that items labeled as Large sometimes fit like a size Medium. And there's the possibility that some pre-owned clothing has been altered by the previous owner, so you cannot always rely on labels.

Here's a tip: Take a tape measure with you when you thrift. It comes in handy when thrifting for clothing (especially if you don't like to try on clothes) or hard goods like furniture and wall art.


SHOP IN THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT

The men's department is a treasure trove! Often overlooked by women shoppers because, well, because it's the men's department. But why can't we wear men's sweaters and jackets? You can!



Don't sleep on the men's department! If you're ever at a loss and not finding what you want in the women's area, like a sweater, shirt, jacket or even slacks, check in menswear. I've found beautiful tailored jackets and shirts that could easily transform any wardrobe. It just takes a bit of imagination.

You got this!
















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Awesome Thrift Haul Dresses From Goodwill

There are so many great buys at the thrift store! I recently made my way to my local Goodwill and came away with some awesome finds, including six dresses.

I'm a big proponent of recycling clothing and even household goods, where it makes sense. It's good for the environment, not to mention that your dollar goes far at a second-hand store. Don't sleep on the thrift, Y'all!

Here are few pics from a recent Goodwill thrift haul. Don't you just love the hat? 


One of my finds was a Free People dress. I considered re-selling it.  Free People merchandise does well on the re-sale market, but I think I'm going to keep it.  I'm thinking of closing my Poshmark closet, but we'll see. Maybe I'll address that in separate blog post.


I'm so excited about my latest thrift finds and I can't wait to style them!


The full video is on my Youtube channel. Here's the link:


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Confessions of a Thrift-Addict




These are the confessions of a thrift-addict.

I want to share some of the changes that I went through as a result of being on lockdown due to the pandemic. I hope everyone is doing well. 

How it Started

I was ( and still am) on lockdown, but I noticed some of my buddies on YouTube were already out there thrifting and shopping at other stores.  They were going places and I had not left my house in months.

I gotta tell you it was not easy. I have to take a deep breath every time I think about it. I'm doing better now, but I have to tell you it was really, really hard!

The Thrill of the Thrift

I'm used to going thrifting at least once a week -- sometimes twice a week. Sometimes I'm thrifting for myself. Sometimes I'm thrifting for resale.  Sometimes I'm there just because I love to be in that kind of environment.




But I must confess that it is really hard when you're so dependent on just being in a thrift store. I don't know about you, but I get such a rush when I'm planning a trip to the thrift store! I get there and I'm super excited about being there!  And I'm just hoping that I'm going to find something.

Sometimes you know you're not going to find anything, but it's the thrill of being in that space and just touching things!

Yeah, I'm dependent on that thrill. I'm always looking for that next big find. It's such a rush just going through the store, aisle by aisle, rack by rack, slowly touching things. I'm getting chills just thinking about it!

I saw that some of my fellow social media creators and thrifters in other states had already gone out shopping while I was home waiting for stores to open in my area. I wanted to get out there too! I was chomping at the bit!

I am emotionally dependent on thrifting. I don't know if that's a bad thing.  


 Are There Symptoms

I guess if you're bringing stuff into your home and you're constantly going out and spending your last dime on things that you really don't need but you "just have to have", then that could be a bad thing.  I don't think I have gotten to that point yet.

Hiding my thrift finds

I store my finds in my car until I can safely sneak them inside without hubby noticing.  Sometimes that could be days or weeks later.  I then squirrel them away in the garage and later into the laundry room where I can clean everything. Whew! The life of a thrifter ain't easy! Who can relate?

I don't just pick up stuff on the regular.  I know I've picked up stuff and thought,  "I like this, but do I really need it?" 

I enjoy thrifting so much! 

I think I did kind of go through a withdrawal of sorts when I was stuck at home and my thrift stores were closed. Did I get the shakes? Did I get sweaty palms or pull out my hair?  Did I start grinding my teeth? Was I pacing the floor and going to the door and just looking out?

 No, I didn't do all that. But yeah, I did go through some kind of a withdrawal from not being able to go thrifting. I admit that I felt a little antsy.



Thrifting is Up Close and Personal

I kept thinking about what it would be like when I made my return to the store for the first time after being in lockdown for so long. Would the store be clean? Would it be safe to be around other thrifters?

Thrifting is up front, close and personal. Touching items is a big part of the thrifting experience for me.  I have to touch everything!  When I'm thrifting, I'm going to pick up that picture. I'm going to pick up a bowl. I want to touch a sweater or a coat. I have to look at things. I want to touch things when I'm at a thrift store.  

Just the thought of putting on protective gloves and a mask and going into the thrift store during the pandemic was overwhelming. Couple that with the anxiety of bringing thrifted items into my home, and I was fit to be tied. Cleaning and sanitizing my thrift finds had taken on a whole new meaning.


Yeah, these are the confession of a thrift-addict

During the lockdown, I didn't shop at any online thrift stores like some of my fellow drifters did. Some resellers went to online sites to buy thrifted goods in order to sustain their way of life. Their situations may be a little different than mine. 

If you're a full-time reseller and you make your living from thrifting, you have to find inventory wherever you can. And that explains why I saw several thrift haul videos of folks who were frequenting online thrift stores. I'm a part-time reseller and for the most part I go thrifting for personal reasons, so I am not financially dependent on thrifting.

Funny story, but I started picking through my inventory that I had set aside to resell and it felt a little like thrifting.  I saw a pair of walking shoes in my stash that I had listed on Poshmark that I may take out and wear. Essentially, I went thrifting in my own thrift pile! 


Conclusion

I can empathize with anybody who was feeling anxious about not being able to go to the thrift store.  I certainly understand.

I kind of rode the wave and now I think my thrift withdrawal is on the downside.  Happily, thrift stores have opened up again and I've done a little shopping!

I don't think I'll ever get over being a thrift-addict. 

But I'm going to be okay.



Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content.


 







20 Random Thrifting Facts You Should Know

 






How many of these random thrift facts do you know? Test your knowledge!

20 Random Thrifting Facts

1). Thrift shop – noun - Merriam Webster Definition of thrift shop: a shop that sells secondhand articles and especially clothes and is often run for charitable purposes

 2). August 17 - National Thrift Shop Day

 3). 1879: The Salvation Army comes to the U.S

 4). 1902: Goodwill Industries is founded in Boston

5). 1919: The term “thrift shop” is coined.

6). 1974: Buffalo Exchange opens first store in Tucson, AZ.



7). 1984- NARTS-- The Association of Resale Professionals. Founded in 1984. Has noticed an increase in resale shops. Helps members (shop owners) with educational and professional development.  Also provides consumers with an online SHOPPING LIST to locate shops in their city or towns when visiting.

8). 1995: eBay and Craigslist are founded



9). At a garage sale in 2000, a Fresno, California house painter noticed images of Yosemite National Park on glass plates of old photo negatives. After some negotiation, Rick Norsigian bought the lot for $45. He had a hunch the images were by the iconic nature photographer Ansel Adams, so Norsigian asked some experts. CNN reported that his find may have been worth than $200 million.

10). 2006: Nashville, Tennessee thrift shop find for $ 2.48 turned out to be a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Sold for $477,650

11). 2009: thredUP is founded ---an online thrift store for women’s and children’s clothing. 

12). 2011: The RealReal and Poshmark are founded for the resale of luxury goods, and as a peer-to-peer social networking resale platform, respectively.

13). In 2015, Zach Norris paid $5.99 for a watch at Goodwill, Phoenix. The watch was later discovered to be a rare 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm. It sold for $35,000 

14). A bargain hunter picked up a $20 blue and white teapot in an online auction.  It turned out to be one of the first pieces of porcelain created in America. It was the work of John Bartlam, a well-known artisan from nearly 250 years ago. Though broken, the teapot sold at a  2018 auction for about $806,000. 

15). Re-wearing clothes reduces waste and pollution

16). Second-hand clothes are less likely to end up in landfills

17). Thrift stores make it easier to know where your money is going


18). Many thrift stores directly support charity 

19). Thrifting is cheaper

20). Second-hand clothing is often higher quality than comparatively-priced clothing

Bonus facts:

21). Thrifted clothing offers more room for uniqueness

22). Thrift shops allow for more creativity




Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content.

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