I’ll be honest, I haven’t done much thrifting as an adult compared to when I was a child and teen. Back then it was more or less a necessity due to the fact that my family couldn’t afford much so we had to make the best of what we could find in thrift stores. Once I got older and I started working, I made a point to start shopping in stores that I previously couldn’t afford now that I had “adult money” to do so.

Fast forward to 2023, thrifting has become as much if not more expensive as shopping mainstream brands. Couple that with the fact that there are so many people intentionally looking for items in plus sizes to repurpose the fabric as they design something smaller. That was my long winded way of saying that I’ve been avoiding it, but I have friends who have taken to “shopping green” whom have made a point to pull me away from mainstream/fast fashion so I’ve  started to join them in their adventures these last  couple of years. That said, here are 5 things that I’ve learned as I’ve started to thrift again.

1.Don’t be afraid to look

Even though I am on the lower end of the plus size spectrum in terms of size, I have this habit of avoiding places that don’t outright sell plus sizes.  As an “old fat”  (someone who has been plus size her whole life) I still carry the trauma of crying in fitting rooms during shopping trips with my mother because I couldn’t find things that fit me, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise I make an effort to avoid going through those same emotions even today.

I scored this pink and white stripe linen skirt at a store that is literally a few steps away from my alma mater. I had only been there one other time before when I as enrolled as a  grad student and I left empty handed, mostly because I didn’t bother looking through the racks much given that plus size options weren’t clearly marked. While plus size focused thrift stores do exist, they are scarce so many of us have to make due with those thrifting options around us, this means looking even if our sizes aren’t clearly marked and maybe even checking out both the men’s and women’s sections.

2. Know what you’re looking for

I think its best to go with a plan, at least for the most part. This helps you gauge what pieces to really consider and which part of the store to focus on. For the most part, I do most of my thrifting in the warmer months as I’m always looking for spring/summer clothing as that is the biggest gap in my wardrobe. So things like skirts, dresses and flowy tops that I can mix and match tend to be my focus, but once it gets colder I’m on the hunt for footwear, specifically boots. This isn’t to say that you can’t or shouldn’t go thrifting without a plan, just that in my experience it helps as it also keeps you from potentially getting frustrated.

3. Give various thrift shops a try

As is the case when shopping mainstream brands, not all shops are created equal. You’ll find that some carry more vintage pieces and others just resale items that were part of last season’s trends. The same goes for things like sizing. I’ve noticed that a lot more shops downtown carry options that plus size people could shop versus uptown which is definitely more geared towards the smaller end of straight sizes. It’s still worth making a visit so you can check out the options around you which will ultimately help you figure out where you can go if you’re looking for something specific.

4. Don’t just focus on just clothing

I think when it comes to thrifting most of the focus is on clothing, but you can also find some great diverse set of accessories and shoes. Most of my broaches, few of which I have featured in my blog outfits, are actually from my thrifting adventures. Personally, I find this a great way to add some sophistication and old world elegance without breaking the bank, especially when you consider that depending on the shops you visit you may end up scoring some designer items, if not at least some out of print media such as books and films. For example, during my most recent thrifting adventure I also managed to find a DVD of the 1997 Cinderella featuring Brandy – I found gold that day and no one can tell me otherwise.

5. Have fun

I think the best part of thrifting is not only finding cool pieces to add to your wardrobe, but simply taking the time to try new things. Thrifting presents you with the challenge of not only finding things that fit, but also looking into how you can expand or elevate your personal style. It can also be a low(ish)-cost and fun outing with friends.  I personally prefer shopping with a friend, especially one who doesn’t share the same style aesthetic as me as it gives us a chance to play with each others styles. This skirt being an example of this as my friend pulled out this skirt and handed it to me to try even though it was more her than me. Pink is my other favorite color other than black, though I rarely wear it given that I don’t own much of it. But I tried the skirt on, fell in love with it, and the rest is history.  But you know me, even when wearing lighter colors there will still be a pop of black no matter what.

~Get the look~

White Fitted Scoop Neck Puff Sleeve T Shirt (XL) | Old Navy (similar here)
Vintage Stretch Denim V-neck Vest (Size 1) | Torrid 
apuntob drawstring skirt | Thrifted at Beacon’s Closet
Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Slip | Converse (old)

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Have you thrift? Do you have any tips for people just starting to give it a try? What are some of your favorite shops?