Final yr, I set a purpose to buy solely secondhand for one yr. Actually? I didn’t absolutely consider I might stick with it. I’ve put myself on procuring bans earlier than, however by no means for something so long as a yr. For the primary few months of 2023, I didn’t store in any respect. However then, I began to seek out my ft on the planet of secondhand procuring. Actually—I couldn’t consider how a lot I discovered about consumption, my private fashion, and even myself from a yr of shopping for nothing new.
Cristina Cleveland
Cristina creates interiors that stability your fashion, consolation and performance in order that your house helps your way of life. With a background in digital publishing, she additionally produces the web sequence Dwelling Faculty to make elevated house design accessible to each finances.
A previous model of myself as soon as thought that secondhand procuring wasn’t practically as enjoyable as shopping for new items. In any case, I’m human and attuned to the joys of novelty that excites so many people. Nonetheless, after a yr of honing my secondhand procuring expertise, I’ve come to like the creativity the follow requires. It’s a talent and one which lets me flex my design prowess and love of curation.
Are you able to dive into the secondhand procuring world? Forward, uncover my prime classes from secondhand procuring—and all of the alternatives for enjoyable and creativity I’ve gathered alongside the best way.
1. Most Impulses Are Fleeting
Buying is extra accessible than ever earlier than. With a easy swipe and click on you will have a package deal heading straight to your door. My dedication to procuring secondhand created a second of pause. If I had the impulse to purchase a brand new pair of shoes, I needed to discover them first. The hunt might take a pair journeys to a consignment store or a while scrolling by way of eBay. I discovered that more often than not, I forgot about them after a day or two. If I saved looking out with zeal, then I knew it wasn’t simply an impulse.
There’s a complete rabbit gap of the web devoted to secondhand procuring. From watching movies and studying recommendation, I discovered that it’s a muscle that you just construct by way of follow. Many avid thrifters pop into their native retailers a number of instances per week. Your first time will doubtless really feel overwhelming, however with time you begin to get a really feel for the sections you want to have a look at, the prints, materials, or sorts of items which might be price spending time on. (And which of them aren’t.) Finally, you get to some extent the place you’ll be able to comb the shop fairly shortly and develop an intuition for what’s a gem.
Throughout my problem, I found so many new methods to buy secondhand past the thrift retailer that will instantly come to thoughts. There are apps like Poshmark and Depop the place you should purchase instantly from sellers, and classic retailers which you could observe on eBay, Etsy, and Instagram. There are additionally classic and consignment retailers and meetups with girls who need to commerce their pre-loved garments.
You’ve gotten so many choices, and even when you’re not doing a problem like I did, it’s price including a couple of of those into your common procuring routine. The truth of our trendy world is that so lots of the garments on supply have been worn as soon as—only for images! That is very true for Instagram retailers.
4. What You Need In-Retailer Is Most likely Already for Sale Secondhand
Final yr, I purchased a bridesmaid gown new at a bridal boutique, however realized afterwards that the identical gown was listed on-line, so I returned the brand new gown and purchased the used one. It labored out completely! I discovered that once I did fall in love with one thing new, I might do a fast seek for the merchandise on-line. More often than not, it was already on the market secondhand on-line. You will discover absolutely anything, together with designer and boutique manufacturers, on the apps and websites I discussed above. On eBay, you may as well arrange a saved search so that you just get an e-mail if somebody lists the merchandise you’re on the lookout for, which takes a number of the legwork out of it for you.
5. Creativity Thrives
The overwhelming response I’ve heard from individuals who follow capsule wardrobes is that originally they frightened they’d really feel restricted. In actuality, they have been capable of create extra appears they cherished once they have been pressured to get artistic. The identical may be stated for procuring secondhand. Once I store for brand spanking new garments I discover myself recreating trending outfits that I’ve seen on Pinterest or Instagram, in some circumstances even shopping for the exact same garments. Once I store secondhand, I break away from the default tendencies and assume extra creatively about how I need to current myself.
6. You Can Discover What’s Trending—However Higher
The designs on the runway and in shops proper now are largely primarily based on silhouettes that have been designed within the 70s or the 90s. When you stroll right into a Goodwill as we speak you’ll be able to truly discover the unique designs from the 70s and the 90s from high-end designers. (Bonus: They’ll look a lot cooler and are cheaper!) Sure, it’d take a few journeys to Goodwill to seek out the proper outsized blazer or culottes, however if you do discover them it should really feel a lot extra satisfying than clicking on that Instagram put up and shopping for the precise blazer you noticed another person sporting. The place’s the enjoyable in that?
