I’m sure that we have all heard about the issues with fast fashion and how important it is to shop sustainably by now. This is no different when it comes to buying clothing.

There are plenty of reasons that someone would want to shop for clothing second-hand. You could be creating a new wardrobe for yourself, buying to sell, or trying to save some money. No matter what your reason is for shopping second-hand, it’s always handy to know a few extra tips being heading out to the shops.

These days, there’s a whole load of different ways to shop second-hand. There are charity shops, car boot sales, eBay, Facebook marketplace, Vinted, Depop, and so many more.

So, if you plan on hitting those places, here are my top tips for you.

Perseverance

This is probably my number one tip. Sometimes, clothing items can be put back in the wrong place in charity shops which means that it’s worth checking every single rail which can take some time. It’s the same with online shops such as Depop and Vinted too. Things may be tagged and labelled under the wrong section which means you’ll have to really hunt for what you want.

Check for imperfections

Charity shop staff and volunteers try to go through all the clothing and get rid of the not-so-good stuff but sometimes, they miss things. Snags, tears and holes in the fabric are big things to look out for as these may not be obvious straight away. Other things to look out for are broken zippers, stains, missing buttons and alterations (which are sometimes good and sometimes not). Not all imperfections mean that the item is not good but this is dependent on your DIY skills.

Consider mending things yourself

If you are buying clothing for yourself and you are handy with a needle and thread, take into consideration that you could repair an item. Small tears in fabrics such as cotton, linen and denim can easily be repaired with a few quick stitches and means that you don’t have to leave that item you fall in love with on the rail.

Keep going back into the shops

To get the absolute best of what your local charity shops have to offer, keep on heading back. New clothes will always be coming into the shop as they receive donations and stock is rotated. Popping into the shops regularly will also mean that you’ll get to know people and they might even offer your further discount or let you see items that haven’t even reached the shop floor yet.

Only buy what you need

One of the best reasons for shopping second-hand is that you are giving clothing a second life and keeping things out of the landfill. If you find yourself buying clothing that you don’t actually need then it is actually defeating the purpose of second-hand shopping. It means that others won’t find things that they need and you’ll find yourself with too much clothing again.

Have fun!

The most important thing about second-hand clothes shopping is to have fun. It’s not meant to be tedious, it’s meant to be fun. You’re getting a bargain and also supporting a great cause. What’s not to love?!

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Do you buy your clothing second-hand? If you have found a great item recently, tell us about it in the comments.