A true product of US culture, I love shopping. While I have favorite things that I like shopping for, honestly, I will shop for anything. I also like to think of myself as an eco-conscious person. Don't get me wrong, I'm no eco-hero who's started a non-profit to save this world from combusting (although I whole heartedly salute people who have), but I try to make environmentally friendly decisions - especially when it comes to my spending habits. That's why I'm a thrift store junkie. While my thrift store habits are maybe a little too obsessive, anyone can be a successful thrifter with the right approach. That's why I've devised five magical Ms that will help you get your thrift on, too.
- Know your makes
- Know your materials
- Know your market
- Know your measurements
- Know your moments
Know Your Makes
For divas who are passionate about fashion - this is your every weekend homework, so it's most likely not a new concept. For those of you who do not ogle at Manolo Blahniks, lust over Kate Spade handbags, or lose your breath when you see “50% off Ella Moss” signs, don't worry; it's not only about luxurious designer clothes. We've all heard the expression "if the shoe fits, wear it" but nobody ever says "if the ugliest, most painful shoe fits, wear that sucker anyway!" While I have to admit, some of my prize finds include top designers, if Gucci looks awful on you and is not your style, don't but it. This is why it's important to know the brands that you enjoy, and you find appealing. While there are many ways to acquaint yourself with fashion brands, two of my favorites include reading fashion publications and foshopping (fake shopping, or browsing).
Publications are perhaps the most obvious tool when it comes to studying fashion because they're very accessible, relatively cheap (when purchased via subscription, not shelf price), and always current. These publications can be literal fashion magazines such as Elle or Vogue, or they can be catalogs that you order clothing from. I read both types of publications for an overall balanced fashion perspective. This way, I'm able to read about contemporary trends in fashion mags, and then view those trends through clothing featured in various catalogs. Additionally, publications can be dissected, so when you find articles or pictures that strike your fancy, you can save them and use them as references.
When shopping, the key is self restraint. You have to make sure when you walk in retail stores that sell your favorite lines, you are headstrong enough to suppress the urge to buy. Remember, this is homework. While in the shops, take notice of the clothing that you like and would buy, and make sure to examine the tags on the inside of the clothing. This way, you'll not only have a name to remember, but a visual symbol of that name. Because most tags are accessible enough to where you can see them from where they're hung, familiarizing yourself with clothing brand tags will help you more easily flip through clothing at thrift stores. Thus knowing what your favorite brand tags look like will save you time.
Know Your Materials
Unfortunately, Madonna said it best in that we are living in a material world. One in which we feel the need to compulsively buy stuff. While buying secondhand is a great way to avoid the production of unnecessary materials, in order to be a fruitful thrifter you literally have to know your materials, as in textiles because not all fabrics are created equal. With a wealth of fabrics out there, it would be quite an undertaking to try and learn each and every one, however, there are certain fabrics that are noticeably different from others, and therefore usually deserve a higher price point. As always, it's really about what type of material you prefer, so if you favor cotton over cashmere, search for cotton!
Familiarity with different fabrics is something that's useful when thrifting because it involves incorporating your sense of touch, yet it's fairly easy to learn. Discovering textiles is similar to studying brands because you can research by foshopping and looking at the tags to see what the material make-up of an item is. You can also do this within your own closet, but beware that unless your closet is fairly diverse, you're most likely not exploring a sundry assortment of fabric. Thus, although your closet may be full of material that you enjoy, you may be missing out on luxurious textiles that you don't even know exist. When it comes to fabric, foshopping is nearly a must.
