DO:
Give yourself lots of time:
Make a day out of it and allow yourself enough time to be thorough. If we could only give you one tip it would be this one! Take your time and have the patience to look through everything carefully.
Go at the end of a season:
Give things that aren’t on your list or you wouldn’t normally consider a chance, and consider ways that you could make it work for you: could you dye it? Crop it? Hem it? Take it in? Get it altered by a tailor? Change the buttons? You can do all this while still being critical of whether you actually need and will wear it.
Start at larger & less expensive places and go from there:
This will help you feel confident that you aren’t overpaying, and keep you from worrying that you could have found a similar item for less at a different place.
Have an open mind:
Give things that aren’t on your list or you wouldn’t normally consider a chance, and consider ways that you could make it work for you: could you dye it? Crop it? Hem it? Take it in? Have it altered by a tailor? Change the buttons? You can do all this while still being critical of whether you actually need and will wear it.
Look for things that are good candidates for reuse:
By this we mean clothes that are durable, versatile, and repairable. Clothes that you’ll be able to wear again and again and again with different things in your wardrobe; can be easily mended and maintained; and could still be used (either by someone else or repurposed for a different use) even after you are done with it.
Try things on:
This is essential! - don’t waste your time and money on things that don’t fit you well or are uncomfortable. If you have to keep adjusting it or standing a certain way to make it look good, move on!
Take note of materials:
It’s always good to remember in the back of your mind that natural fibres (cotton, linen, silk, wool, viscose etc) are generally better than synthetic fibres (Nylon, Polyester, Lycra, Spandex etc) when it comes to the environment, and often quality & durability. Check the tags!
Look for loose or oversized garments and consider altering your thrift finds:
Some things are easier than others to thrift; loose, flowy dresses and shirts, skirts or coats because they are more likely to be forgiving with fit and less worn out. When something is just a little too big, consider Diy or reaching out to a tailor - clothes that fit you perfectly make all the difference, but be critical and ask yourself if it is really feasible and worthwhile.