Thrifting requires a certain level of persistence and patience to be successful. If you're shopping second-hand in thrift stores and charity shops, you'll need to dedicate a fair amount of time in order to find what you're looking for. Thankfully online marketplaces like eBay, Depop, and Vinted have made thrifting much easier. The hardest part is learning how to thrift to find what you want. But with a few thrifting tips, you'll quickly find success.
Whether you're thrifting online or in-person, you'll be participating in one of the most environmentally-friendly habits. 80 billion to 150 billion garments are estimated to be produced every year. Most are only kept for a month and worn less than 5 times. Unwanted clothing rarely gets recycled or donated. Instead they are burned or sent to landfill. So if we're able to, we should be thrifting as much as we can to reduce waste and lessen our impact on the planet.
@imsophiedavies what I thrifted vs how I styled it #thrifttok #thrifted #thriftedfashion #sustainablefashion #depophaul ♬ ylang ylang - 🫶🏻 • Friends
Clothing Brands To Look For When Thrifting
The best brands to look for when thrifting are the ones that reflect your personal style. Brand labels don't matter as much as the style, quality, and fit of a garment. If you're unsure what you enjoy wearing and don't feel you have a distinct style yet; I recommend looking for style inspiration and outfits to create before putting together capsule wardrobe using what you already own. Whatever items you feel you're missing can be added to a thrift wishlist helping you to hunt down "new" items for your wardrobe. Follow these tips for thrifting for more success when shopping second-hand.
The next most important thing to look for when thrifting is materials used. Poor quality garments are typically made using cheap synthetic fabrics, which aren't very comfortable to wear. They're less durable and will wear out faster too. Cotton, linen, denim, silk, wool, and leather are better options in terms of quality and durability. Having said that, regardless of the materials used, buying second-hand is always more sustainable than buying new. So if you love the item, thrift it.
Certain brands are known for their quality and are always worth looking for when thrifting. Brands like Patagonia, Jaeger, Eileen Fischer, Levi, St Michael, and Clockhouse are a few of the most popular to thrift and the best quality. Although it's best to skip the cheapest fast fashion brands, like SHEIN, Primark, or H&M. The more expensive fast fashion brands, like COS, Zara, Weekday, and Free People, are worth thrifting. They tend to use better quality materials and have better fitting cuts—although always check the label! You can occasionally find high-end designer brands being sold secondhand, such as Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and Balenciaga. However, there is a risk they may be counterfeit. Luxury brands with lower-end prices are less risky to thrift, like Ganni, Lacoste, and Coach.
@imsophiedavies my favourite brands to thrift #thrifttok #thrift #thriftedfashion #sustainablefashion #CollageVideo ♬ original sound - logan
My Favourite Brands To Thrift
Since posting my outfits regularly on TikTok, I've frequently been asked where I shop. Over 50% of my wardrobe is thrifted, which makes it more complicated to point people in the right direction. Although I'm always keen on encouraging more people to thrift for their wardrobe.
I usually don't look at brand labels when thrifting in person. I focus on material and construction instead. Having said that, there are certain brands that offer the style of clothing I enjoy wearing. Shopping for those brands via secondhand marketplaces mean I'm more likely to find items that suit my existing wardrobe. Or specific items I want to add to my outfits.
A big part of developing personal style is having a go-to list of brands to shop, even when thrifting. These are the brands that make the kind of clothes you enjoy wearing. Whether buying these clothes new or thrifting them means your wardrobe develops a cohesive look that reflects your distinct style.
My favourite brands to thrift include Patagonia, Everlane, MUJI, and UNIQLO. These tend to be great for basics, especially Patagonia. I'll occasionally search for Monki, Weekday, and ASOS too. COS and Zara offer some decent quality everyday clothing, like dresses and coats. While Ganni is fantastic for dressy items with interesting silhouettes. Lazy Oaf has such a unique style and original pieces that I love to mix through my wardrobe to keep outfits interesting. When it comes to shoes, there are a lot of pairs that have been tried on only. I search mostly for Dr.Martens and Birkenstock. Ralph Lauren, Richards,and St Michael are the vintage brands I always look out for as they have exceptionally high quality clothes, and can often be found in charity shops.
If you want to find out my best thrifting tips and how I thrift for what I need, follow my thrifting guide to shopping online and in charity shops.
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