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Update Your Wardrobe Using Secondhand Options...

Fashion doesn't have to break the bank...

By Yolie NonnayaPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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Introduction to Secondhand Shopping for men and women ......

In today's society, we want the newest and greatest thing on the market and will pay a pretty penny for it. Did you know that you could find the same or similar item secondhand? Buying thrifted and secondhand has been making waves with millennials and shows no signs of slowing down. Today's younger generation are very earth friendly and into more sustainable practices. Therefore, a lot of retailers are recognizing this shift and are rearranging their efforts. They now incorporate at least an aspect of sustainable or upcycled clothing in their stores for customer retention. Just this morning, I saw an ad for GAP and they now have an upcycled puffer jacket made from recycled plastic bottles... repurpose/reuse/recycle.

Pictured items: Banana Republic wool coat - Thrifted for 14.99; Urban Outfitters studded suede handbag - Purchased on Poshmark for 12.00; Vince wool blend gathered ankle trousers - Purchased on Poshmark for 12.00; 1.State cotton sweater - Purchased on Poshmark for 10.00; BCBGMaxAzria suede studded heels - Thrifted for 9.99; Tahari shades - Thrifted for 4.99; Free People ring set - Purchased on Poshmark for 20.00 (set of 14)

What are the best resources for shopping secondhand? Well there are a few but I have listed my personal favorite avenues below:

  • Thrifting! My fave on the list. Goodwill, Savers, Family Thrifts, Antique thrifts, etc. There are so many different thrifts around that I still find smaller ones I have not even explored yet. The pricing is different by storefront and so is the setup. The first time you thrift may be slightly overwhelming as it is A LOT OF STUFF. Don't get discouraged and take your time. My best rule of thumb is to break it down in sections to minimize the mass.
  • Online secondhand shops. Online platforms such as Poshmark, EBAY, Tradesy, Mercari and ThredUp are big players in the online aspect. I personally love Poshmark as it is super easy to navigate and use PLUS they have a reseller platform where you set up your own closet or store and add your own spin to it. If you haven't checked out Poshmark, I encourage you to give it a shot and see what screaming deals you can find!
  • Clothing Swaps. This can be with friends and family or even a swap meet up. I went to a swap meet up and it was fun. Not only did I get some great additions for my wardrobe but, I also helped someone with theirs. Clothing swaps are a great way to meet new people who share a common interest and have one of a kind style. I would love to do another one someday.

Now, this isn't to say you won't find great deals in regular retail stores because you will. I have purchased items from Nordstrom Rack in the past for 5.00 which is just as cheap as any thrift. Once I decided to increase my secondhand vs. new retail ratio, I diminished the amount of new items purchased greatly. As with any shopping avenue, you want to research brands, styles and pricing before you buy. Unfortunately, even some thrift stores are overpriced and no one likes to overpay no matter where it is. A large part of any shopping experience is timing. Finding the best deals at the right time will take awhile and requires frequent visits, sometimes with no results.

Well, that is all I have for this post but I hope you found it informative and maybe it inspired you to try thrifting or one of the other secondhand options. I don't think you will be disappointed...

*Main picture merchandise: A.N.A hunter green sweater with beaded sleeves - Thrifted for 5.99; BDG black and white cotton sweater - Thrifted for 5.99; Zara colorblock side buckle booties - Purchased on Poshmark for 20.00

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