Category: Thrifting

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Tips for Finding Clothes Cheap!

Are you looking to update your wardrobe? Maybe your current clothing choices don’t reflect who you are, or perhaps you’ve lost yourself over the years and need a revamp. You might just be in need of some seasonal staples, or be in need of some new pieces following a weight loss journey. Either way, you’ll find that buying clothes is expensive especially if you’re after a whole new wardrobe! Here are some of the ways to keep those costs down.

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok

Shop second hand

Secondhand apps like Vinted have changed the ways that many of us shop for clothing, and how we think about ‘pre-loved’ items. These platforms give you the choice of masses of different items at a fraction of their original cost which is a great way to save money as well as the environment. When it comes to things like baby clothes especially you can get some real bargains, where most people over buy items and their baby grows out of them quickly. However, there are hidden gems in all categories and you can get unique pieces and even designer labels at hugely discounted prices. If you prefer to shop in person then charity shops are another gold mine for bargains. You can find all kinds of great items especially if you check in them on a regular basis, and as a bonus the money you spend in there goes to a charitable good cause so you’re doing good while you buy. 

Utilizing fast fashion in the right way

The trouble with fast fashion sites like Shein is that they’ve come under a lot of scrutiny for the environmental impact they have and that their labor can be exploitative.  If you do choose to shop at fast fashion sites, be mindful of the impact that they have and try to make sustainable choices where possible. Due to the cost of living crisis, many of us are short on money, and buying essentials like clothing has become unaffordable. Cheap fast fashion sites can be useful here as they mean you can get the things you need without breaking the bank, but try to shop as responsibly as you can. If you go for versatile and timeless pieces that can be worn across seasons then you’ll get the most amount of wear from each thing you buy. 

Shop the sales

Keep an eye on seasonal sales, holidays, and clearance events to snag discounts with your clothing- times like Black Friday can be a good time to refresh your wardrobe. Just be careful and avoid getting carried away and buying items solely because they’re on sale, and be wary of shops inflating prices before sales to make the discount seem bigger than it is when it comes to sale periods. Stick to your shopping list and only buy what you genuinely need or love.

Shop safely

When you’re shopping online it’s important to stay safe and protect your money. There are two common ways to pay electronically- ACH vs EFT. ACH covers different electronic transactions like direct deposits and bill payments while EFT is about transferring money between accounts, like online payments. Always make sure to use trusted websites with secure payment options like Paypal, and keep your financial information private to shop safely online too.

What are your tips for getting clothing cheap?

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Three Top Tips For Building A Sustainable Wardrobe 

Over the past few years, fast fashion has taken over the clothing industry. Instead of concentrating on well-made, long-lasting investment pieces, many popular retailers instead sell poorly constructed garments made from inferior synthetic materials for an extremely low cost. The design of these clothes is often trend-led, meaning that they quickly become dated after only a few seasons and are subsequently discarded. However, the toll that fast fashion is taking on the environment is quickly becoming evident, as well as the poor working conditions and wages of the people employed in making fast fashion clothing. If you would like to help in the fight against fast fashion, read on for three top tips for building a sustainable wardrobe.

Photo Credit:  @brandy Instagram 

  1. Buy second hand

Instead of buying into fast fashion, you could instead buy your clothing second hand. Do not let the fact that these clothes are pre-owned put you off – you don’t necessarily have to spend hours going through a smelly $1 sales rack at Goodwill (although you can find some gems here if you are willing to put in the work). If you know exactly what it is you are after, try searching for it on an online sales platform such as eBay. You can find some real bargains here, with a lot of clothes being either brand new or only worn a handful of times. Alternatively, you could look at specialist vintage clothing dealers, who will be able to provide you with a unique and sustainable piece of fashion history.

  1. Shop from ethical retailers

If you do decide to buy an item of clothing brand new, make sure you buy from an ethical retailer, such as yuniont.com. An ethical retailer will use fabric obtained through sustainable sources, such as recycled fabric, and have the items sewn in an ethical environment that pays workers fairly for their labor. They may also seek to reduce the air miles involved in producing the garment and avoid using materials that could potentially involve putting an animal through pain, such as angora. This information is often readily available on a sustainable retailer’s website so that customers have complete transparency about business practices and manufacturing methods.

 

  1. Create a classic capsule wardrobe

As much as fast fashion is trend-led, you could avoid this pitfall by creating a wardrobe based on classic pieces that will always look chic, rather than constantly chasing after the lastest trends. Garments such as a white t shirt, well-cut pair of jeans, and little black dress can be used to create many different looks suitable for any occasion; however, what garments you choose to include in your capsule wardrobe will depend on your own personal style – you might consider a leather jacket indispensable, whereas someone else might prefer a beige mac, for instance. Buy items that are well made and the best that you can afford on your budget. This way, you are unlikely to need to replace them after only a few wears.

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Savers Thrift Store Sneak Peak Shopping Event

Savers Thrift Store  opened in Owings Mills on Thursday, June 11, 2015.  The store invited me to a sneak peek event on Tuesday, June 9 , 2015 and provided a gift certificate to jump-start my shopping spree.

The challenge was to see how far I could stretch the gift certificate at a thrift store.  I love thrifting and finding quality items for a good price, so course I was up for the challenge!  The store was decorated in true event style with balloons and associates helping shoppers.

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Glitter Blouse Purchased from Savers

Savers was also well-organized and provided a great shopping experience.  I found several items to enhance my summer wardrobe.

I like to mix low – end and high-end merchandise to create a unique style.  For example, I would pair my louboutines with a lace skirt found at a local consignment shop.  Fashion’s about self-expression and not the amount of money your spending.

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Tangerine and Sea horse Shorts Purchased from Savers

To view more items at Savers visit my Instagram Account:  kwest1908

As background if you’re not familiar, Savers is an international thrift retailer with more than 330 stores across the U.S. and Canada, and each store has more than 100,000 items on the sales floor at any given time and gets 5,000 new items every day.

It’s a perfect place to find quality items at low prices, especially if you’re shopping for clothing or home décor that can’t be found anywhere else. The new store is located at 9800 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117.

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Glitter Blouse and Denim Shorts Purchased from Savers
Items from Savers: Bohemian Inspired Blouse
Bohemian Inspired Blouse Purchased from Savers
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The Art of Thrifting – How To Guide

Thrift shopping has become “the cool kids” way of updating their wardrobe and I have always adored thrifting.  It’s one of my favorite hobbies since the age of 15 and allowed me to express my individual style.

My dad could never understand my obsession with consignment/thrift shops.  He gave me money for clothing but instead of spending it at McCraes (which is now Belks) I would ask my mom to drive me to the thrift shop.

I think it was the experience of understanding clothing construction that attracted me to this hobby.  In the process of shopping, I learned a lot about fabrics and fixtures.  I also learned how to properly care for clothing because some items need to be dry cleaned while others required fabric softener.

Thankfully my mom never rejected my obsession because she also enjoys thrifting.  To this day we call it “the closet” and when I visit my parents we turn this into a major event.  For us, it’s a bonding activity and a perfect opportunity to neglect the budget planner for a little while, and still somehow save money!

I do recognize that thrifting’s not for everyone but I think it’s about strategy.  There’s an art to thrifting that many may not understand and some of us have the true knack of finding a good deal.  I want to help those who may not understand how to thrift and share in this experience.

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Thrifted Skirt, Handbag, Belt, and Dress

 

Step Number One:  I read fashion magazines like Instyle or People StyleWatch to recognize what’s fashionable for the season.   When I’m shopping, I will instantly gravitate towards that trendy pair of white seersucker pants hanging on the rack.

Step Number Two:  Know your body type before shopping consignment/thrift stores.  Entering a thrift store can be overwhelming because there’s so much merchandise.  You want to select items that compliment your figure and NOT because it’s a designer blouse.  Nothing’s worse than paying $12 dollars for something that doesn’t work and you can NOT take back to the store.

Step Number Three:  Search for quality fabrics or what I like to call (this is my fashion degree moment) natural fibers.  They tend to hold up well in the course of wearing and look chic.

Step Number Four:  Always, Always, Always, Always, overlook the garment.  Do not purchase anything without searching the garment from top to bottom.  For example, if you have a blazer in your basket search the pockets for tears, look at the buttons to see if one’s missing, or whether there’s a hole in the fabric.  This is a very important step to thrifting.

Step Number Five:  This may come as a surprise but thrift shops actually have sale days.  Check with the sales associates or look around the store for sales.  Also, keep up with the store discounts; for example, if a ticket has a red sticker your item could be 50% off.

You’re probably asking what type of items have I found while thrifting?  Well,  you’ve actually seen a few of the items on this site but I’ve purchased a fur coat (my first one in graduate school) Louis Vuitton wallet, Ralph Lauren sweaters, BCBG pumps, vintage sunglasses and clutch purses, denim jeans, wool plaid swing coat (my favorite in college) knee boots, and the list goes on!

Nothing says “chic” better than mixing vintage couture and fabulous accessories.

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Guys & Dolls Vintage Clothing & Accessory Pop-Up Shop

Guys & Dolls Vintage Pop-Up Shop
Guys & Dolls Vintage Pop-Up Shop
Guys & Dolls Vintage Pop-Up Shop

Washington, DC (Monday, July 7, 2014) – On the heels of their successful event in 2013, the ladies of Instant Vintage 78 bring to you the “Guys & Dolls Vintage Clothing and Accessory Pop-Up Shop” event to the Nation’s Capital. This one-of-a-kind pop-up shop will be held at Penn Social, which is located in the Chinatown area of Washington, DC on July 19th from 12-4 PM.

This event will feature top vintage and retro dealers and boutiques from MD, DC, VA and Philadelphia. The vendors that will be featured are: B4 Kizzy Evae, BeSpoke Not Broke, Bourgeois & Rebellious, Brown & Williams Clothiers, Catch 22 Boutique, Craft Culture Co., Haute Crave Boutique, Instant Vintage 78, Mahogany Bleu, Pixie Kitsune, Rag Dollz Collective, Sophisticated Phunk Vintage + more to be added. The items that will be on site are one-of-a-kind articles of clothing (for men & women), jewelry, shoes, housewares, luggage, accessories and more. There will also be a stylist on site who will offer ideas to patrons on how to incorporate a statement piece to your everyday wardrobe and how to pull together various looks for different times of day.

Not only will this pop-up shop be about fashion, but it will also scream fun! Your Saturday afternoon will be filled with old school jams that will be spun by DJ Amen Ra as you enjoy signature cocktails and drink specials. In addition, there will be swag bags given to the first 75 guests, a “Best Dressed in Vintage” contest (winner will receive a prize), Soul Train line, throwback photos, games and more!

The “Guys & Dolls” pop-up shop is sponsored by Facon Magazine and Shop Love DC. Penn Social is located at 801 E St. NW, Washington, DC. To join the conversation or to see who will be attending the “Guys & Dolls” pop-up shop, please use the official event hashtag #VintageGuysAndDolls on all Social Media platforms.