Thrifty Shopper

A few of Centric’s staff offer tips to find the ideal second hand wardrobe.

The benefit of thrift shopping is impactful. Not only does this type of shopping save you money, but it in turn is a donation to the community.  In order for thrift shopping to help you look your best and not just feel good, there are a few things you can do to keep the secondhand wardrobe look a secret. By making the most of your thrift store finds, you can fool anyone into thinking you bought your outfit at a retail store or boutique! To give you a deeper look into thrift shopping, we spoke to a few locals for their expert tips!

Kimberly, a shopping fanatic and Centric Solutions Consultant, is excited to share with us as she has been shopping thrifty since her teens. When wearing second hand clothes, Kimberly feels smart. She says it doesn’t matter where it comes from, garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores. If it is stylish, clean, fairly priced, and fits well, it’s a win for her!

• Remember to check for holes, stains, allergens, odors, and missing buttons.
• There is a wide variety of sizes.
• Take a tape measure. This will help you determine if something has been altered previously and if it has a hem that can be altered.
• Shop often as most stores put stuff out daily. You never know what you will find!
• Power shop at lunch. Most people aren’t crowding the stores during this time, so you can score some great finds.

How wonderful it is that just because your passion is the same as someone else’s, one may have a completely different look on things. We took some time to speak with Jackie, Centric Executive Assistant, about her do’s and don’ts for thrift shopping.

• Stay mindful of social media posts where people are selling clothes!
• Keep an eye out for nice neighborhoods having garage or estate sales. Most of those items have designer or boutique tags without the retail prices.
• Don’t underestimate the quality of thrift garments. Dresses worn once like wedding or cocktail dress can be bought for a much more reasonable price.
• Research designers if you see one that you are not familiar with! You will be amazed by the retail prices of these items!
• Most thrift stores have their racks more organized by size than a retail shop. This is convenient on a shopper who may not have time to dig!

Wearing outfits she purchased wisely is something Jackie loves! She states that the most important part of thrift shopping is that you are saving money while supporting a community in need.

Secondhand wardrobes are an inspirational concept. You can donate your own clothes that may not fit or no longer fit your style. This industry not only helps a passionate shopper stay on budget, but provides a unique ministry to many in the community. Where some families cannot afford to spend big money on nice clothes at a retail store, they have a chance to buy quality brand and lightly worn clothes through the giving of others.

To highlight one local store, we visited Transformations Thrift Store, a women’s recovery ministry. Their mission is “to bring honor to God by ushering his children from darkness into light by encouraging restoration, redemption, and relationships with Jesus Christ and with people of all ages and life changes. Our desire is to bless everyone we encounter, enriching our community and offering hope to our world”. After speaking with some of their employees, it became clear the impact this ministry has had on women in the community. They have seen families brought back together, as well as morals, faith, integrity, and honesty restored. You will hear about this ministry through radio and in partnership with various local treatment centers as well as White’s Ferry Road Church. For more information, visit the Transformations Thrift Store Facebook page.

I encourage you to think about the many benefits to shopping thrifty. This habit is a life change that allows you to cut costs in order to stay on budget. Not only is this a win for you, but a win for those in the community. Remember these tips to make the most of your time and efforts when creating a secondhand wardrobe.