If you’ve always wanted to get into thrifting clothes, but haven’t yet found your rhythm, here are a few tips to help you become the nifty thrifter we know you can be!
South Africa (24 April 2025) — If you always feel like you fall short when attempting to thrift clothes, congratulations—you’ve just reached the first tier of second-hand shopping self awareness. Like any skill, becoming a nifty thrifter doesn’t just happen because you’ve decided it’s something you want to get into it. Thrifting requires a beginners’ mind, a healthy dose of patience, and (perhaps most importantly), a keen sense of observation.
I’ve been thrifting since I was a teenager, and it took me years to avoid many thrifting pitfalls, writes Good Things Guy’s Ashleigh.
So, as my love letter to budding nifty thrifters in-the-making, here are a handful of tips to keep in your back pocket on your next thrifting adventure:
Go in with a ‘grocery list’
Just as you would (hopefully) check the contents of your pantry or fridge before heading off to the shops, give your closet a good look to figure out what you actually need. Is it an accessories moment? A time to hone in on practical pieces and basics? Or are we in statement piece territory?
Go in with intention, and don’t let the cute coat hangers bulldoze you into buying pieces that won’t add value to your wardrobe.
Don’t fudge up your budget.
I am by no means trying to tell you how much you should or shouldn’t spend. However, I will advise you with a cautious eyebrow, to take whatever budget you cook up seriously. Because if you don’t go in with an idea of your monetary limitations, you could well overspend—which might put you off thrifting entirely (and no one wants that).
As thrifting is typically more affordable, people tend to get caught up in the thrill of the threads which leads to them catching big frights when they reach the till. Avoid the awkward interaction of having to put some pieces back, and just stick to a shopping amount you’re cozy with.
Roll up your sleeves.
You don’t find diamonds simply because you wondered into a cave.
When it comes to thrifting, you need to be prepared to dig through racks, stacks, and packs of clothes. Some thrift stores are very cutesty and very demure, but many (and some of the best ones) are vast and overwhelming. Patience is of the essence in either case, which is why a sub-tip all good thrifter know, is to avoid going thrifting when you’re tired or hungry.
The pay-off for your efforts will be how amazed you are at what you find simply because you choose patience over instant eye-candy.
Put on your detective cap.
When you find an item you like, don’t just look at the condition, label and size. Always check out the materials if possible, and here’s why:
- You’ll get a good indication of how many more rodeos the piece still has in it
- You’ll figure out quickly if a price is fair or not
- You’ll be better informed as to how many headaches the item is going to cause you
Good finds include: natural fibres (or as close as possible), denim (for durability) and linen.
What’s on the inside counts a lot.
Don’t forget to check the garment on the inside. Check out the seams, keep an eye out for any home-mended sections, and always check if the zippers are in working condition! While a few hiccups aren’t deal breakers if you know your way around a sewing machine, it can be hugely upsetting to find out a piece you’ve just copped has problems when you don’t have the skills.
If you are keen to get started, here is a list of charity shops to star with.
Sources: GTG
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