Thrifting Tips for Beginners

Thrifting can help you find quality clothes, furniture, and household items for less, but finding the good stuff takes a little practice. Before you go, dress so you can easily try on clothes, bring a measuring tape, and learn what to look for when checking quality. Most importantly, don’t let a low price convince you to bring home something you don’t need. These beginner thrifting tips can help you spot the gems while leaving the clutter behind.

Key takeaways

• Wear fitted clothing and slip-on shoes so you can easily try on thrifted clothes and shoes.
• Bring a measuring tape to check clothing, furniture, and other items when trying them on isn’t an option.
• Ask employees when new merchandise typically hits the sales floor so you can time your visits.
• Check racks outside your usual size, department, and even season because great finds can turn up where you don’t expect them.
• Look through racks piece by piece instead of only scanning for interesting colors and prints.
• Check labels, fabric, construction, and condition to help identify better-quality clothing.
• Don’t rely solely on the size tag. Try on clothing or compare its measurements with clothes that already fit you.
• Inspect secondhand furniture for sturdy construction, quality materials, damage, mold, mildew, and signs of bugs.
• Use tools such as Google Lens to research unfamiliar furniture and other interesting finds.
• Don’t buy something just because it’s inexpensive. Consider whether you’ll actually use or wear it before checking out.

What do you wear to go thrifting?

If you’re clothes shopping, how you dress for your thrifting excursions can make or break your trips. Most thrift stores don’t have anywhere to try on clothes, so you have to try them on in the aisles. To make it easier, wear form-fitting clothes that you can slide another layer over. A tank top and leggings or shorts are ideal.

The right shoes matter, too. Wear slip-on shoes that you can easily take on and off. Be sure to wear socks if you’ll be trying on footwear.

What should I bring with me to the thrift store?

A measuring tape is a thrifting must-have. You can use it to measure furniture to see if it will fit in your home (or in your vehicle). You can also measure the waist, chest, shoulders, and length of your favorite tops and pants at home, then measure any finds at the thrift store to find the right fit.

What are the best days to thrift shop?

Thrift stores typically bring out new merchandise for the weekend on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so if you want to find the real gems, those are the best days to shop. Morning is the best time of day, since you’ll get first pick of inventory that was put out the night before.

Of course, the best thing to do is ask someone who works at your favorite thrift store about the best times to visit. They can give you the inside scoop since all thrift stores, especially small, locally owned stores, are different. 

What’s the best way to find good clothes at the thrift store?

When you’re thrifting for clothes, don’t shop like you do at regular stores. 

• Look at racks outside your size and gender. You can often find an amazing piece nestled in where you wouldn’t expect it. 
• Don’t skip the pajama section. Sometimes you’ll find name-brand silk items and other awesome finds. 
• Shopping for coats and sweaters during the summer instead of the cold seasons will yield the best finds, too. 

Novice thrifters just scan a rack for a print or color that stands out to them. Skilled thrifters sort through the rack, hanger by hanger. As they go, they keep an eye on the labels and ask themselves: 

• Is it a designer brand? 
• Is it made of natural materials like silk, cashmere, cotton, bamboo, leather, or wool? 
• Does the label look old or vintage?

Practice rubbing the fabric between your fingers as you read labels and take note of how each one feels. As you get better at thrifting, you’ll be able to tell a quality fabric from a cheap one by just feeling it. 

Here are some brands to keep an eye out for as you peruse labels. They have well-made garments.

• Ralph Lauren
• Gap
• Old Navy
• Chaps
• L.L. Bean
• Eloquii
• Land’s End
• Chico’s (particularly older pieces)
• Abercrombie
• Alo
• Lululemon
• Carhartt
• Everlane
• Uniqlo 
• Quince
• Patagonia
• Club Monaco
• Lands End
• Eddie Bauer
• Duluth Trading Company
• Levi

Once you find a possible candidate, look over the garment. Check for stains, missing buttons, broken zippers, or any other defect you don’t think you can fix. 

If it passes that test, try it on or measure it to see if it will fit. Size tags are very unreliable in telling you how a garment will fit. A good deal isn’t a deal if you go home with something you can’t wear.

How do you find quality furniture at the thrift store?

To find the best furniture at thrift stores, remember to look for:

• Real wood, not particle board or laminate. Wood will be heavier.
• Stone tabletops instead of plastic. Stone will feel cool to the touch, and plastic will be room temperature. 
• Thicker fabric on upholstered furniture. Check to make sure the fabric isn’t worn out or damaged.
• Stable pieces that don’t feel like they’ll fall apart when you jiggle them.
• Dovetail joints (triangular pieces of wood that interlock on the corners of furniture and drawers). They signal a well-made piece.
• Wrought iron metal. This metal is very heavy and often nubby to the touch. It is super durable and highly sought after. 

As you’re inspecting, open drawers, look under cushions, and check seams. Look for signs of bugs, mold, and mildew. Skip any pieces that look suspicious. 

To research the piece, take a photo of it with Google Lens and see if it comes up with any online matches. You could be looking at thrifting gold and not even know it.

How to not fall into the thrifting goblin trap

Chances are, you’ll find a bunch of good stuff while thrifting and end up with way too much. That’s okay, but it can be a problem if you go home with a bunch of stuff you don’t need. It’s not a deal if you don’t need it. Run each item through these test questions before heading to the checkout:

• Will I use this item on a regular basis?
• Does it go with other things in my home?
• Will I be able to wear it with at least three other items in my closet?
• If I left it here, would I want to come back for it?
• Is it good quality?
• Do I already have something like this at home?

Thrifting FAQ

What should a beginner look for when thrifting?

Start with items you actually need or know you’ll use. For clothing, check the fabric, label, seams, buttons, zippers, stains, and overall condition. For furniture, look at the materials and construction, and check for damage, mold, mildew, and signs of bugs.

Should you make a list before going thrifting?

A list can help you avoid buying things just because they’re inexpensive or interesting. Write down specific clothing, furniture, or household items you’re looking for, but leave yourself a little room for an unexpected find.

How do you know if thrifted clothes are good quality?

Check the fabric, seams, stitching, closures, and overall construction. Look at the fiber content on the label, and feel the fabric as you shop. With practice, you’ll get better at recognizing fabrics and construction you prefer.

Should you wash clothes after thrifting?

It’s a good idea to clean secondhand clothing before wearing it. Check the care label first, then wash, hand-wash, or dry-clean the garment based on its instructions.

How do you know if thrifted clothes will fit?

Try the garment on when possible, but don’t rely solely on the size printed on the tag. If you can’t try it on, compare the garment’s measurements with the measurements of clothing you already own that fits well.

How do you avoid buying too much at the thrift store?

Before checking out, ask yourself whether you’ll actually use the item, whether you already own something similar, and whether you’d be disappointed enough to return for it if you left it behind. For clothing, consider whether you can wear the piece with at least three things you already own.

What should you avoid buying at a thrift store?

Skip items that are badly stained, moldy, infested, severely damaged, or beyond your ability or willingness to repair. Also skip things you don’t need. A bargain that becomes clutter isn’t much of a bargain.

How can you get better at thrifting?

Thrift regularly and pay attention to what you’re handling. Read labels, learn how different fabrics feel, inspect construction, and research unfamiliar brands and furniture makers. Over time, it becomes much easier to quickly spot the pieces worth taking a closer look at.