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Thrift stores are a lot of fun. Yeah, those clothes were worn by somebody else, but it’s really not as gross as some people think. I would definitely advise washing your purchases before wearing them, but there’s no problem in buying second-hand clothing. Plus, you’re recycling!

Here are several tips for thrifting:
- Check for holes & stains. If you are handy with a sewing machine, that loose button would be an easy fix. However, stains can be difficult to remove. Think twice before purchasing.
- Avoid impulse buys. Sure, that coat with “Pink Ladies” embroidered on the back seems pretty rad, and it is only $2.00…but would you really ever wear it?
- On the other hand, experiment! Thrift stores are a great place to find unique items that no one else has, and with those affordable prices, you can buy things you might not at full price.

2. Consignment Shops

Consignment Shops are generally more expensive than thrift stores. Owners buy your old clothing (and other items) and then re-sell them at a higher price. Consignment shops are generally more picky than thrift shops, so you’re usually bound to find higher quality garments. The only downside — you might end up shelling out more $$.

3. Dumpster Diving (proceed at your own risk!)

Harlequin and I have never personally attempted this. However many people are quite successful at dumpster diving. For some examples of clothes that people have found, check out Found Clothing.

The closest I have gotten to dumpster diving is getting free clothes from the mounds of “trash” at my college. At the end of the year there’s always a clothing drive to donate to the local charity shops. It’s pretty common to see students rifling through the piles of cardigans and Abercrombie jeans to find something to take home with them. You never know what you might find!

Two very informative sites:
http://eco-chick.com/2008/04/29/the-art-of-dumpster-diving/
http://www.wikihow.com/Dumpster-Dive

4. Swaps

A swap is just what the word means — a barter. Clothing swaps are when two people exchange their used clothing (or other items, ranging from homemade goods to postcards) by mail or in person. It’s a great way to find an item you really covet, while exchanging it with something that your swap partner loves as well.

Whether you find a local clothing swap (Painfully Hip recently ran a San Francisco-based swap) or swap online (Swap-Bot is one site I’ve run across), swaps can be rewarding and fun. Try Googling your town’s name and “clothing swap” to see what you can dig up.

5. Ebay

Ebay and I have a love-hate relationship. As in, I love buying clothing from it, and my bank account hates it. I recommend setting up a Paypal account for safe internet shopping.

There are a lot of ways of using Ebay. You can search for a specific item or label, depending on your style and preferences. Or, you could look through the many vintage “shops” hosted by Ebay.

Here are a few of my favorites:
http://myworld.ebay.com/thriftwares/
http://myworld.ebay.com/sleepyheadvintage/

6. Eco-friendly materials

When in doubt, buy green! There are stores now that only use eco-friendly materials. Some might be expensive, but with a little research you might find some affordable sites.

Here are a few that I found:
Rawganique
Jonano

Don’t forget, too, that although adding to your wardrobe can be fun, it is important to clean out your closet every once in a while. Donate your clothes to the nearest thrift store or consignment shop (try Goodwill and Salvation Army for starters). Good articles by Icing‘s Gala Darling on clearing out your closet can be found here and here.