Before I worked for a charity a few years ago, I never would have imagined that half my wardrobe would be made up of preloved clothing, but that’s the case these days and it’s saving me a fortune whilst also supporting local charities and reducing waste at the same time. I’ve been asked a few times now, after sharing my latest bargain finds on social media, how I manage to find such lovely pieces so I thought I would share some of my top tips for finding yourself preloved bargains at charity shops.
Get in There and Touch Everything
I think the easiest way to start finding bargains is to not be afraid to get in there and touch everything you are looking at. For a start this immerses you in the clothing and focuses you on your mission, but it also means you can feel the quality of the clothes that you are looking at – there’s a lot you can tell about quality by touch when it comes to clothes. I always rifle through the rails and make sure I am touching each and every item as I look at it, this is the easiest way to tell if an item is worth considering further. Also look for damage, bobbling and staining when you are thumbing through the rails, there is no point in buying something which is already showing signs of wear and tear, looks grubby or has discolouring meaning you will never end up wearing it (yes, even if it is Ted Baker).
Only Look at Your Size
The worst thing you can do is go about a shopping trip the same way as you would in high street shops as the pieces don’t come in every size and there aren’t any available out back or online, what you see is what you get so stop torturing yourself and stick to your size when scanning the rails. Most charity shops are helpful and sort clothing by size, which allows you to easily look only at the clothes you will be able to fit into, avoiding the heartbreak of falling in love with something three sizes too small for you.
Be Adventurous
Now is your chance to discover new pieces for your wardrobe which you never considered before, so don’t be afraid to go for materials, colours and designs you wouldn’t ordinarily try when shopping. You never know, you may just find something incredible if you push yourself out of your comfort zone!
Try Things On
This kinda goes hand in hand with the previous point, as nobody wants to waste money on something which looks fantastic on the hanger but awful once on. Most charity shops will have a fitting room, and to be honest I would avoid buying something from one that doesn’t as it’s just too risky. The only time I have ever been disappointed with a charity shop buy is when I was forced to buy it without being a able to try it on and it didn’t zip up, I was gutted (it’s also worth noting the shop refused to exchange the item even if it didn’t fit, total red flag). I make sure I try everything on so that I can work out if it’s right for my body shape, that it’s flattering and that the colours suit my skin tone. I generally take around 8 pieces in with me to the fitting room and leave with half of those, so definitely worth doing to make sure you aren’t wasting your money, even if they are bargains!
Look at the Labels
This might be controversial, as brand names don’t always equal quality but I have found that certain brands do have better longevity when it comes to clothing so I will always hunt these out. At the same time, I don’t really see it worth buying secondhand Primark pieces, when they are almost the same price as they would be new at times (watch out for those Atmosphere labels and avoid). I shop mostly at Prama, who have set prices for their clothing, shoes and bags, which means you can really pick up some absolute bargains. I have some amazing things from Zara, Pretty Little Thing, Brave Soul and Wallis recently and I have seen designer brands in there before now.
Avoid Spending for the Sake of it
Finally, and most importantly, it isn’t a bargain if you had no need for it in the first place. I tend to head to Prama when I have had a clear-out, so I can afford to pick out a few extra pieces, or if I would otherwise be going to the high street stores to get some new outfits. I absolutely love the thrill of picking up clothing in brilliant condition at a fraction of the price I would spend in ‘normal’ shops. Most recently I spent £16.50 and came away with a coat that looked brand new, a nice knitted jumper to brighten up my spring wardrobe, two dresses and a hardback book in excellent condition for my mum (which was a steal at just 50p). I also managed to find a pair of warm winter boots just hours before catching my flight to Geneva back in February and they were perfect for walking around the streets of Switzerland!
I hope this has helped give you some tips if you are looking to pick up some preloved bargains on your next charity shop trip. I absolutely love getting ‘like new’ pieces and nobody would guess the clothes I wear are having a second lease of life, in fact I often get compliments on how put together my style is.
