Thrift Shopping

10 Spring Trends to Thrift for Now

March 12, 2016 by Double Minted

The best finds come to thrifters with a trained eye.

That is why we try to stay tuned in to the latest seasonal trends. We’ve even been known to wander around traditional retail stores just to make sure we know what to look for when we hit up Goodwill later. There’s nothing quite like turning a corner at the Salvation Army and thinking “That looks just like that coat at Bloomingdales!”

Like many things that are worthwhile in this world, thrifting for current trends takes time and research. But that’s part of why we love it. Don’t things just feel better when you’ve worked for them? That’s the joy of the score!

Plus it feels so much better than supporting the wasteful behemoth that fast-fashion has become. While we aren’t immune to the draw of trendy abundance of the Forever 21’s, H&M’s and Old Navy’s, the amount of clothing waste they produce is absolutely deplorable. We’d be lying if we said part of our love for thrifting doesn’t come from good-old, home-grown, Northern-California environmental awareness. Also, we can’t tell you how often we find perfectly good fast-fashion pieces at the thrift store – including hot online brands like Tobi and Nasty Gal – for a fraction of their original price.

To help you train your eye this spring, we’ve compiled a list of the season’s most thriftable trends. Take this list with you on your next second-hand shopping spree! (By the way, we’ve limited the images to versions of these trends we think are most likely to be available second-hand).

1. Bomber Jackets

Pro tip: your best finds might be hiding in the men’s section!

Forever 21

Thrifting Tips Part 2: Getting Serious

March 25, 2015 by Double Minted

All it really takes to get you hooked on thrifting is one really good find. Once you’ve brought that treasure home and started to enjoy it, you’ll start to feel a pull to search for more treasures. But if you want to be consistently successful finding gems at the thrift store, you need to start paying attention to the details.

Here are a few more tips for when you want to go from casual browser to a serious hunter.

1. Pay Attention to Fabrics

One of the best parts about thrifting is that you can buy lightly used but very high quality clothes that you might not otherwise shell out for. Paying attention to fabrics is how you get the best bang for your buck. We don’t think very highly of spending $5 on something you can get new at Forever 21 for $8. But keeping an eye out for quality fabrics means you could get for $5 what might cost $60 at Banana Republic or $90 at Nordstrom.

Use your fingers to examine texture and pick up the item to gauge its overall weight (many higher quality fabrics are heavier). Look for natural fibers like cotton over synthetics. The shinier the fabric, the cheaper it looks. Keep an eye out for worn out fabric. It is possible to use a razor to freshen up pilled fabric, but it’s tedious, time-consuming work, so unless you’re in love, skip it.

Thrifting Tips Part 1: The Basics

March 19, 2015 by Double Minted

Thrift shopping is such a different experience than regular retail shopping, it can be intimidating at first. But many of the things that make up that difference are what make it so worth it.

Your chances of finding something really special and one-of-a-kind are very high, which is a perk you’d have to shell out big bucks for in a department store or online. Plus, we can guarantee you that one of your thrifty finds will end up being the item you get complimented on most by friends and coworkers.

So if you’re ready to dive in and give thrift shopping a try, we have put together some tips based on our experiences. We’ve done some of the trial and error for you, so you can concentrate on finding some seriously fashionable upcycled styles to add to your closet.

1. The ideal thrifting outfit
Comfort is key, but so is flexibility. We recommend jeans or leggings for bottoms because they’ll help you gauge the wearability of tops you try on. A tank or camisole allows you to try on tops outside of the fitting room, if needed. Flats or other slip-on shoes are convenient for trying on shoes and staying comfortable. A cross-body purse keeps your arms free for browsing the racks.