Let’s Get Thrifty!

Submitted by Trisha Wiggins

If you’re in the market to try a new clothing trend but don’t want to spend a lot of money, or if your work wardrobe budget is about as tight as that old pair of dress pants you’ve been wearing for the last five years, then maybe it’s time for you to check out your local thrift store or consignment shop.

Thrift stores and consignment shops carry a lot of great merchandise as well as upscale designer brands at a fraction of the price. You’re sure to find an abundance of bargains all within your price range. Most places are careful to sell only items that are in good shape, don’t smell, have holes, etc., and you can find some great things from purses and shoes, to suits and dresses. There are lots of awesome household goods, too.

If you do decide to try thrifting, then here are a few tips to keep in mind before you go:

• Not all stores have a try-on, so be sure to wear something simple like a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. That way, you’ll be able to try things on over your clothes and still get a feel if it will fit.

• Check the store’s return policy before you buy. Some stores won’t take returns while others are happy to give you at least 7 days to return anything you don’t like or doesn’t fit so long as it’s accompanied by the original receipt.

• If you find a skirt or a pair of dress pants you like, be sure to check out the jacket section. There just might be a match, i.e. you found yourself a new suit!

• Make sure all buttons are intact. Remember to check the sleeves, too.

• Watch out for items altered by a novice seamstress, i.e. hems don’t match; shoddy or loose stitching. You’ll know it when you see it.

• Watch for sweat/hairspray stains at the neck of suit jackets. This can be removed by having the item professionally dry cleaned.

• If the previous owner of a suit jacket or blazer has removed the stitching that keeps the pockets closed, reconsider purchasing the item unless you prefer the pockets be open and you use them. Otherwise, the jacket/blazer will lose its shape faster if the pockets are used.

• As with shopping in any retail store, if it doesn’t fit in the store, it won’t fit any better at home. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll lose weight to get into any piece of clothing… trust me, it never works.

• If an item needs alterations, consider the type and cost of what needs to be done and add that to the total purchase price. Then weigh whether you still consider the item to

be a bargain. Unless, of course, you’re up for trying your hand at sewing! The item didn’t cost an arm and a leg, so why not go for it!

• Be cautious about hemming pants that have a lining. That is best left to the professionals. Again, trust me on that one. I speak from much experience!

• Check that zippers are in good working order. Replacing the zipper can be costly depending on the type and the tailor you use.

• Some items labeled as “dry clean” can be hand-washed or machine-washed on the gentle cycle. Items labeled “dry clean only” should only be professionally cleaned. If the item is priced right, you might want to take a chance and wash it at home, depending on if you’re willing to risk not being able to wear it after you wash it.

• Bounce and other laundry detergent manufacturers make at-home dry cleaning products so consumers can freshen clothing items by “steam” cleaning them in their dryer. I’ve used both Dryell and Bounce and recommend those as good but temporary alternatives to professional dry cleaning. Of note, though... neither product is made to remove spots or stains (although they do come with a liquid stain remover, I don’t recommend them). If something has a stain on it, leave it to the professionals to remove it or forego purchasing the item altogether.

• Sweaters that appear to be stretched out of shape, look as though they’ve been put in the washer (and shouldn’t have been), or the fibers appear to have been melted by the high heat of a dryer are not good buys. 

• Avoid undergarments like bras and panties. My personal preference is to refrain from even considering purchasing these items unless you’re lucky enough to find a nice La Perla set with the tags still intact (and good luck with that!). As we all know, bras get stretched out and lose their support. I won’t even mention the bottoms (cringe!). Opt to purchase fresh new undergarments at all costs.

• Exercise clothes. I don’t know about you, but when I used to work out, I worked out hard. My clothes were soaked through by the time I was done. As hard as it was to get the gym/sweat smell out of my own exercise clothes, the thought of wearing someone else’s exercise gear makes me sick. Stick to buying new. This goes for pajama bottoms, too.

• A lot of thrift stores have half-off days or colored tags, stickers or barbs to indicate when items are specially priced. Look for signs or ask at the register to see if a special is going on during your visit.

• Check the hem of any dress pants you’re considering purchasing to be sure they weren’t hemmed using any sort of heat set webbing. The webbing is very difficult to remove if you need to alter the hem.

We hope you find these tips helpful. We’d love to hear from you on what some of yours are. Please share them with us by sending an email to admallies@gmail.com. We just might use your tips on another fashion episode of The Admin Allies podcast. Check out our fashion show here.

Happy thrifting!

The Admin Allies