The College Girl's Guide to Shopping Secondhand

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You’ve probably all heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” by now, but have you ever tried shopping at a thrift store, or “thrifting”?

Or have you ever consigned your clothing or engaged in a ferocious bidding war on eBay? For the fashion-focused college girl, secondhand shopping is an amazing way to fill your wardrobe with great clothes and accessories without emptying the bank.

While “Thrift Shop” made secondhand shopping out to be totally grungy, it doesn’t have to be that way! More than half of my closet was purchased at thrift and consignment stores, and it consists mainly of classic brands like J. Crew, Club Monaco, Theory, Madewell, and even some designer stuff!

If you’re interested in shopping secondhand but don’t know where to start, I’ve put together a handy guide that’ll get you looking incredible in no time! Read on for the college girl’s guide to shopping secondhand:

Table of Contents

Why Shop Secondhand?

It’s cheaper. I’ve bought items secondhand for more than 90% off of their original prices (sometimes the tags are still attached!)
It’s eco-friendly. By purchasing secondhand clothing, you’re recycling in the most stylish way possible.
It’s a great source of inspiration! Sometimes I’ll spot a vintage or totally unique garment at the thrift store that I might never have thought to try on at a normal retail store.

What To Buy Secondhand

Coats and Jackets. Wool coats, trench coats, and leather jackets are usually in good shape even if they’ve been well-loved in the past.
Woven Tops and Dresses. Silk shirts are an especially worthwhile find, since they’re usually pretty pricey new.
Dress clothes: blazers, trousers, skirts. Beyond the scary shoulder-padded ’80s, corporate wear doesn’t really undergo dramatic changes. Even if a pencil skirt is from seven seasons ago, it’s probably almost exactly the same as one that’s in stores now.
Special Occasion Attire. Chances are, that fancy cocktail dress or gown was only ever worn one time.
Shoes. I know, I know, it sounds a little gross to wear someone’s old shoes, but you’d be surprised how many brand-new shoes wind up in thrift stores or consignment. (Just think about that adorable pair of heels you bought but never, ever wore.)
Accessories. Since purses and scarves don’t go through as much wear and tear as clothes, you can often find great pieces in terrific shape.

What to Avoid

Knits

Unless it’s brand new with the tags still on, most secondhand knit clothing (e.g. tee shirts, thin sweaters, jersey anything) won’t be in great shape. Even high quality knits tend to pill, snag, tear, or stretch out after a year or two of wear.

Anything stained or stinky

This one shouldn’t need further explanation, but do make sure to check for any stains that might be lurking, especially in the armpit region.

Anything that needs serious alterations

Some alterations are easier than others: if all you need to do is shorten the hemline or replace a button, go for it! But if that dress needs to have the bodice taken in, the neckline lowered, and the sleeves slimmed down, it might be more work than it’s worth.

While a DIY is always fun, it’s easy to get carried away and swamped with “projects.” I’ve fallen into this trap too many times – I’ll find a piece with a fun pattern or great fabric or cool detail and completely overlook the fact that it just doesn’t fit me. While I occasionally do get around to the alterations, more often than not my exciting purchase ends up gathering dust in my closet.

Do Your Research

Although thrift stores usually price their products pretty low, some consignment stores or eBay sellers might list an item at a higher percentage of the original price.
If you want to make sure you’re getting a good deal, look up a description of the item (e.g. “gold sequined dress + “brand name on garment”). Big retailers, like J.Crew or Old Navy, usually put a product number on the tag.
If your Google search turns up empty, see if you can find out what other similar items from the same brand are going for so you have a point of comparison.

Where to Shop

Thrift Stores

Examples: Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Savers, Boomerangs

Best for: discounted basics, the diamond in the rough

I love thrift stores because I’m all about the thrill of the hunt. True, you might have to flip through racks of hopelessly outdated ’80s has-beens, but you never know what you might find! (My personal crowning achievement is a Converse by John Varvatos coat that Goodwill listed at $10 and originally retailed for $790. I bargained down to $7 because it was missing a button.)
Some thrift stores offer student discounts and others have discounts based on the day of the week.
Most thrift shops I’ve been to have offered dressing rooms, but some don’t. In that case, wear form-fitting clothes on your shopping trip so you can slip things on over them to see how they fit.

Consignment Stores (Buy/Sell/Trade)

Examples: Beacon’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, Second Time Around, Plato’s Closet

Best for: a neatly curated selection

At consignment stores, the staff has gone through the items brought in by sellers and selected only the pieces that they think will sell. This means that a lot of the junk has been filtered out for you! On the flip side, consignment stores are usually more savvy about the value of the items, which usually results in higher price tags.
Many consignment stores offer discounts based on how long an item has been in the store; for instance, at The Closet, a posh resale store in Boston, clothes are 25% off after 30 days and 50% after 60 days. If you can wait it out (and willing to take the risk that someone else won’t scoop up your treasure first), patience can lead to a real score!
If you have clothes to consign, a Buy/Sell/Trade place, like Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet, or Second Time Around, will let you choose between getting paid in cash or in store credit. Typically, you get a higher cut of the selling price if you choose store credit. This can be an easy way to refresh your wardrobe without actually spending any money.

Online Consignment

Photo: Screenshot

Examples: Threadflip, Tradesy, Bib+Tuck

Best for: Mid- to higher-priced designer goods

While I can’t vouch for the other sites, I’ve purchased from Threadflip several times and had a great experience. Online consignment is essentially the same as at a brick-and-mortar store, but you can filter for brand, size, color, etc.. Although you can’t try anything on, you can always ask the seller for measurements or additional pictures.
Like any other e-retailers, you can join the e-mail lists for flash sales or members-only discounts.
If you’re in the market for a designer purse or accessories, online consignment is a great choice, since many sites offer refund policies if the item turns out not to be authentic, or they will authenticate items themselves.

eBay