For as long as I can remember I have loved shopping resale. My mom tells stories of taking me to thrift stores as a toddler and watching me immediately make a beeline for the shoes. Teach em young right?! As a fashion addict on a budget, shopping resale has given me the flexibility to shop more frequently, find unique items and build a quality wardrobe at a fraction of the cost.
The thing about shopping resale is that it can be intimidating and overwhelming for someone who hasn't spent a lifetime learning the shopping strategies like I have. Today, I am sharing my top 5 tips for shopping resale.
Patience & Time Are Key
The first tip is making sure you are in the right mood for resale shopping. It's going to take a little more time and energy than a normal trip to the mall so plan your outing for a time when you have a free afternoon and can peruse the racks without checking your watch. I also recommend choosing the type of resale store according to amount of time and patience you have.
New with tags Loft skirt $5, Talbots floral top $8 Clothes Mentor : Banana Republic Wedges $3 Goodwill : Sunglasses $10 Vintage thrift store in Paris
For example, when I am looking for something in particular, I will go to a consignment store like Clothes Mentor where I know the items are carefully cleaned, curated and organized. When I am just browsing for random gems, I may go to a thrift store like Goodwill, where I know it will take me more time and energy to sort through the rows and rows of less organized and refined items. That's not to say I won't find amazing steals, it just take a little more energy.
Location is Everything
I always get asked how to find the best consignment or thrift stores in your area and the answer is aim for wealthy neighborhoods. Resale shops in nicer areas always seem to have better items to choose from. Definitely explore thrift and consignment shops when traveling. Overtime we travel to Hilton Head Island their resale shops are filled with high end quality items at a steal. I always find something amazing to bring home with me after my trip.
New to an area? Try Yelp or Google reviews. Reading feedback from other shoppers is the best way to evaluate somewhere before you check it out.
What About Online Resale?
More and more resale shops are going online as well. Look for the shop pages on Facebook or Instagram. If you find them online, the added benefit is getting a sneak peek of new merchandise. Some places will even hold items for you until you can get into the store. That's how I got a phenomenal mint-condition pink Banana Republic coat from Clothes Mentor that you may have seen on my Instagram stories last winter. Don't want to leave your house? Try online consignment options like Poshmark, Ebay or ThredUp. The only downside is shipping costs sometimes make the deals less lucrative.
Old Navy pants $5, Gap top $5, Target cardigan $5 Clothes Mentor : Shoes $10+ shipping from Poshmark
H&M pink chiffon skirt $12, Shoes $10 + shipping Poshmark : Necklace $3 Clothes Mentor
Focus on Staples & Quality
When shopping resale, I try to focus on staples - items I know will work well with my current wardrobe. When you focus on staples, it's easier to find what you're looking for and will ensure you will get a lot of use out of the items. It's easy to fall into the discount mentality and want to buy everything in sight including that trendy zebra print dress you'll wear once and forget about. Try to stay away from these traps. Instead, look for brands you know and love. This approach makes it easier to evaluate quality and sizing. I know the J Crew items I buy resale will last many seasons longer than that trendy F21 tank.
I felt so accomplished snagging this brand new Lily Pulitzer dress for $50 at a local consignment shop.
Go-To Fabrics
Natural fibers always look best over time, even if they cost a bit more. Seek out cotton, linen, and leather. Avoid fabrics such as polyester, nylon, or pleather, which can definitely look cheap and worn over time.
Never Buy Damaged
This tip goes back to the importance of patience and time. You must have time to carefully examine resale clothing for tears, rips or stains. If you're shopping consignment they will have most likely reviewed, cleaned and steamed the clothing, but thrift stores will require a little more diligence. Getting something discounted is fantastic if it's great quality. If it's damaged, you are just throwing money away. Check carefully for damaged zippers, ripped seams, or stains that aren't fixable or will cost more to fix than is worthwhile Missing buttons, hemming or minor alterations on the other hand will be worth the money in the long run.
This dress is my favorite resale find of all-time. I eyed this no name dress it in a pile of junk in a thrift store in paris. I tried it on over my clothes and paid $20 to bring it home with me. Another $20 for alterations and I had a custom fit dress that would have cost me hundreds new. It's such a classic style and I always receive so many compliments when I wear it. Pairing it with my thrifted $3 Banana Republic wedges from Goodwill and the vintage sunglasses gave me the perfect Jackie O look.
Your Tailor Will Become Your Best Friend
The biggest lesson I ever learned when shopping resale was the power of a good tailor. This applies to your entire wardrobe. A expert tailor can modify your clothing to make them look custom made. How do you think celebrities always look so good? All of their clothing is custom made or altered. Every woman deserves to find a tailor she can trust. It's a total game changer!
Skirts are super easy to alter and can really give your body a more flattering shape.
Banana Republic skirt $12 from Clothes Mentor.
I started with tailoring by getting pants hemmed and sleeves shortened. Later graduated into more complex modifications to ensure my clothing better flattered my my body. Now, I have almost every item I buy tailored to fit my body. Alterations were particularly helpful as I adjusted my wardrobe to fit my ever changing body during cancer. Check out my dressing for short hair post here.
Michael Kors Dress, $10 from Clothes Mentor
The more I worked with a tailor, the more I learned about the cost structure and what types of alterations are worth paying for. If you fall in love with something that doesn't fit when shopping, use the tailoring guide below to make your purchase decision. In my mind tailoring is always worth the money, because it means the item will look amazing on YOU. I'll be honest, I've spent $5 on a skirt and $30 on alterations because in the end, it's still a steal at $35.
J Crew Skirt $15 from Clothes Mentor, $20 for alterations
Easy Modifications
- Replacing buttons
- Hemming
- Adding darts for shaping
- Taking in a waistband
Medium Level Alterations
- New dress zipper (runs approx. $20)
- Rips or tears not on a seam
High Level Alterations (Not Always Worth the Money)
- Shorts or pants that need seat alterations
- Tailoring heavily structured pieces like blazers
- Damaged or missing embellishment
- Modifications or repairs to lace
- Replacing or adding a a lining
- Shoe resoling
Not Fixable
- Clothing that is too tight
- Cracked leather or fur
Looking for Designer Brands?
If you are looking for gently used Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel or other high end brands, check out online consignment shops like Tradesy or The Real Real. These sites sell high end items that are verified for authenticity and are priced according to value, condition and availability. I have my eye on this classic Chanel bag. One can dream right?
New to Resale?
New to resale shopping or nervous to try it out? Experiment with shopping for resale accessories first. Jewelry, sunglasses, belts and scarves wear well over time and there will be a wide selection a most resale shops. As you get more comfortable with the resale shopping experience, you can branch out to shoes and/or clothing.
$10 sunglasses from a vintage thrift store in Paris
Resale shopping at thrift stores, consignment, and even online is bound to bring you deep discounts on quality brand name items and will help you build an amazing wardrobe within your budget. Take your time, look for quality, befriend a tailor and I promise you'll be a resale shopping like a pro in no time.
What Else Do You Want to Know?
Are there any questions you have that I didn't cover in this post? Feel free to ask. I always love sharing my knowledge about resale shopping and helping others reap the benefits of the experience.
Breast cancer survivor, lover of style, beauty and all things pink! Inspiring you to thrive through adversity.
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