Amber's Reign ...: Triple T! (The Techniques of Thrifting!)

Ahhh thrifting! To some a wonderful pastime, to others a daunting task. To those who may feel a little overwhelmed by the idea of picking through thousands of various second-hand items in a maze of racks and shelves, do not fear! There are hidden treasures among this sea of items that are worth looking for. If you're like me, you may prefer to spend hours going through almost EACH and EVERY article of clothing, rack by rack, inspecting EVERYTHING so as not to avoid any details. But of course this is time consuming and tedious, so for those who don't have the hours and patience to dig excessively, here are my Techniques of Thrifting to make your endeavor a little easier.

1. Narrow down your search through categories. If your looking for a top make sure you're not wondering around aimlessly aisle after aisle going through pants and shorts!
+ Pay attention to the labels on the racks and the size divisions in each rack. I would recommend checking a size up for some items like sweaters, tees, caftans, etc... if your item of choice can be worn over-sized.
+ Also depending on the item you're looking for you may want to rule out certain colors and patterns you're not partial to. Some thrifts have the items on each rack organized by size and color making it even easier to pick something out you're interested in.

2. Be realistic! We all know that thrifts can hold hidden treasures but let's be honest, there can also be a boatload of reject items in between every wearable piece.
+ Always remember to utilize the fitting rooms if they are available at your thrift and if you have time. No one likes to waste money so if you can avoid it, even its a small amount, try it on!
+ I would also recommend for ladies to wear leggings and form fitting clothing OR a loose-fitting knee length skirt. This is because if your thrift doesn't have fitting rooms there is no shame in trying on an item right over your leggings or pulling pants up under your skirt so you're not exposed. For guys, it's always helpful to have on basketball shorts under your pants.
+ There are usually mirrors scattered about the store for your convenience when trying things on. When there's no fitting rooms, it's also helpful to have a shopping buddy to watch your stuff while your trying things on by a mirror. There can be a lot of people crowding the close-knit racks so keep track of your personal items!

3. Always thoroughly check the condition of your items! You want to make sure your not going to be disappointed when you get home with your thrifted items only to find major defects.
+ Check for stains. This can be tricky at times because some stains are more subtle than others. Some are even barely noticeable enough to get away with. BUT, you'll want to take your time and check the front, back, sides, pant legs and sleeves of items for any stains. While some stains MAY be removed with store-bought or home-made stain remover, keep in mind it's possible the stain may be the very reason it's in the thrift to begin with. I typically only purchase a stained item it's extremely subtle or I'm confident it can be removed with a product or through dry-cleaning. Otherwise it's a risk!
+ Missing buttons, holes and seams are things to look for when determining the condition of your item. Missing buttons can be very minor issues. Check the inside of the garment to see if extra buttons are all ready available. Otherwise button replacements are very low cost and you usually find and array of substitutes at your local craft store or online. (You can replace all the buttons or use mismatched ones for a unique and funky look!) Now look at the seams. Check and see if the seams of your items are unfinished and if there are any holes along the seams. If you're okay with unfinished seams you're good to go or you can always finish them yourself if you like. Just beware that sometimes unfinished seams can unravel and depending on the material tend to curl up. As for holes, these issues are usually easily fixed with a simple sewing by hand with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine for extra security. No one will ever know there was a hole to begin with! Other holes may not be as savory. I would avoid items with gaping hole unless you're okay with using a patch to cover it. Sometimes repairing holes create seams that are not complimentary to the garment. Consider going to your local tailor if you're set on an item with a substantial hole.

Thrifting can be a very rewarding experience for those who attempt it. It's always nice to find quality clothes for a steal if you're willing to look. There are thrift store scattered all through out the DMV from the big value villages to you're hole in the wall stores. Thrifts stores in areas where the cost of living is higher are generally prone to have great quality items. I'd also recommend signing up for a Value Village VIP card which gives you 25% off every Thursday and you'll get emails when they have big holiday sales!

Here are some of my favorite thrifted items. Some are vintage, some are contemporary, all are awesome!! Check them out!