Macklemore was right, thrifting is awesome.

Second hand shopping has become all the rage in the past few years but it wasn’t always this trendy. It used to have quite a negative connotation attached to it, luckily this is beginning to change, as it should.

Thrift shops have endless possibilities when it comes to clothing, where anyone can find a stylish wardrobe personal to them. 

Not only is thrifting affordable for those balling on a budget but also, it gives people a sustainable fashion option. Fast fashion has taken over all mainstream clothing companies and has a heavily negative impact on the environment.

Fast fashion is the term used when referring to a higher quantity of new made clothes for a low cost. By going thrifting, it allows you to boycott these companies while still being able to find cute clothes at a reasonable price. 

I started thrifting in middle school and I’ve become pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. More than half my closet was from numerous thrift stores and I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way. So, here are my rules to thrifting: 

• Go into it with an open mind! Never go shopping with a specific wish list, with charity shops you are not guaranteed to find the items you want. Most likely, you will go into the store hoping to find a nice pair of jeans and leave with a cheetah jacket. Accept that now. 
• Be patient. It’s impossible to find the hidden gems without taking the time to look for them. Majority of the clothes you will look through will either be stained or straight out of the early 2000s, if you dig a bit more you can find something really chic. 
• Always wash the clothes before you put them away in your dresser or on your body. At the end of the day, no one has any clue about the story behind the clothes donated. This article of clothing could have been anywhere and doing who knows what. Just trust me and wash it. 
• Try on the clothes before you purchase them. In my opinion, you should always try on clothes first  when shopping but it is especially important when it comes to thrift shopping. It may say it’s your size but these are multiple brands interpretations of that one size all in the same section. Everything will look different when they are on your body. 
• Don’t buy something just because it is cheap! When thrifting, it is really easy to have a “Hey, it’s only two dollars so why not”. Then, whatever you just end up having a bunch of funky clothes in your closet forever (I’ve learned this from experience). It’s unnecessary to buy the items you aren’t obsessed with because it could have bought by someone who needs it more. 

“If it looks too worn in, it’s probably not meant to be that you get it.” said Senior, Abby Youches.

• Finally, my last tip is to not be afraid to buy clothes you need to tailor. If you find something you love but it needs alterations, go for it. Sometimes you try something on and your imagination goes wild and you can make it into something really cool. You can either bring it to a tailor or just bring out that sewing machine, I can guarantee it will still be cheaper then buying it brand new and more unique. 

Now that you know how to thrift all you need to figure out is where. Here is my review of the thrift stores in our area that I’ve been to;

Salvation Army, located on 414 E Main St, Patchogue, NY 11772. I think it’s deserving of a 9/10 because it’s an amazing charity and also affordable. 

Island Thrift, located on 3657, 1800 NY-112, Medford, NY 11763. I would give this store a 7/10 because it has higher prices but coupons and half off sales sort of equal it out. It’s more organized than most and clean. 

Savers, located on 700 E Patchogue Yaphank Rd, Medford, NY 11763. This one is my least favorite and I give it a 5/10. It’s not impossible to shop there but it isn’t a good thrift store in my opinion. 

You now know everything you need to start thrifting. Have fun building a new wardrobe in an ethical and fun way.