Hey earth muffins! A four day weekend for the holiday meant I did a lot of thrifting this weekend. 😍 I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day as well! Secondhand shopping is one of my favorite things – and a great way to find new clothes for the summer months. While thrift shopping is much better for Mother Earth, I make sure to follow these “rules of thrifting” to keep my consumption at a planet-friendly level. Let’s jump into the rules!
1. Only buy things that you will wear for the next 5+ years
Fashion trends change faster than the weather these days. So, it is important to buy clothing that is timeless and will last many years. Never buy anything that you will stop wearing after a few months. This results in buying more clothes and consuming more resources from the planet. Classic pieces never go out of style and can be reworn (and restyled) time and time again.
2. Don’t buy something just because of the price
Fast fashion got popular because the clothes are “trendy” and cheap. Before I started this eco journey, I remember buying things I didn’t need just because they were “only $5”. That is a terrible habit to get into! Even if an item is priced at a low price, you should not just buy it for that reason alone. Consider other things like how often you will wear it and the quality of the fabric.
3. Only buy high quality pieces
When picking out timeless clothes, also look at the quality of it! Opt for sustainable fabrics and clothing that has been made well. I typically avoid all fast fashion brands because those pieces will not last much longer before they end up in the landfill.
4. Don’t buy it just because it is a “good” brand
When looking at quality, most people lean towards higher-end brands… However, you don’t need to buy items just because they are from a well-known company. That Tommy Hilfiger sweater may be great quality; but, only purchase it if you know you will wear it often. Conscious consumerism is the key here – only thrift pieces that you will wear for many years to come!
I’m a huge fan of thrifting and these rules have yet to fail me. 😊 When I find a piece I like at the thrift store, I ask myself these questions:
- Is it good quality (and from a non-fast fashion brand)?
- Would I buy this at full price?
- Will I wear this in 5+ years??
If you answer yes to all these, time to put it in the cart! What rules of thrifting do you follow? Comment below and let me know your favorite thrift store!
Love,
Jenna ♥
These are great tips. I’ve definitely been sucked into the buying things because they were inexpensive trap. I now try my best to buy staple pieces I will enjoy for years to come.
These are really excellent suggestions! In the past, I definitely bought pieces because of the brand, but I never wore them much and they ended up being donated again. I’m trying to be a lot more thoughtful about that!