1. take your time - thrifting is fun because it's a hunt, you need to dig a little to find something special. if you are in rush, thrifting probably isn't a good idea as you need to take your time and be able to sift through the crap (there's a lot of it) in order to find the treasures! knowing what you want or having some sort of idea is also a good start. i know i always have a mental list (& sometimes a written list) of things i'm on the hunt for!
2. try it on! - i started thrifting just by picking up things and looking at them, then putting them away based on how it looked on the hanger. you can't judge a book by it's cover, right? just like you can't judge a piece of clothing by how it looks on a hanger. by trying things on you will see what they look like on your body and also be able to get a better idea of how you could style it and work it into your wardrobe or perhaps alter it, which brings me to my next point...
3. could it be altered? - you may not like the item you just tried on because it's too long or too short or just doesn't look right. is there a way you could alter it to better fit you? you don't have to be a pro sewer to alter things...of course some alterations take more time and effort then others but there are very easy ways to alter things as well. shortening dresses or skirts for example, cutting off sleeves, cutting pants into shorts...these are all quick & easy alterations that anyone can do!
4. try something new! - now is the time to try something different. thrifted items are generally cheaper then something you'd buy new & therefore if there is a style or something you've wanted to try but are too afraid to, now is the time. thrifted items are fun because generally speaking, you are going to be the only one who has it.
5. "i can't pull that off" - i hate hate hate hearing people say this. i get it said to me often and i always answer with the same question "why the heck not?" the only reason why you think you can't pull it off is because you haven't tried it out yet. some people think it takes confidence to 'pull something off' i just think that it takes a bit of courage to try something new. don't be afraid...and as i said, thrifting is the time to try it because it's cheaper!
