11 Thrift Store Hacks That’ll Change the Way You Shop Secondhand
1) The key to a good thrift trip is to be patient and TAKE YOUR TIME! Try to schedule your thrift trip on a day you don’t have any other obligations so you can really take your time to look through everything in the thrift store. Every rack and every section. REALLY look through everything. Even if the men’s section isn’t your typical go to section to shop in, try it out. Thrifting is a treasure hunt–so treat it like one. Some of the best gems end up in the wrong section or hidden between racks, so don’t rush. Pop in your earbuds, throw on a podcast or playlist, and get in the zone. You’ll be surprised how quickly time flies (and how sore your arms get after flipping through hundreds of hangers)!
2) Don’t overlook the unexpected sections like men’s and intimates. You might discover perfect layering pieces or a stylish oversized jacket hiding where you least expect it. Keep an open mind—you never know what treasures await!
3) Keep an open mind, but stay realistic. It’s easy to romanticize pieces in the moment—especially when thrifting—but don’t get swept away by potential alone. Just because something is cute and it fits doesn’t mean it’s worth buying. Before heading to the checkout, take a second to mentally style the piece: What would you wear it with? Where would you wear it? If you can’t confidently answer that, it might end up sitting in the back of your closet. The goal is to find pieces you’ll actually wear and love—not just to collect for the sake of it.
4) Do a quick brand check before you buy. With so many labels out there, it can get overwhelming—especially when you stumble across brands you’ve never heard of. A quick Google or image search can go a long way in helping you figure out whether a piece is worth the price. There’s nothing worse than finding the cutest top, only to realize it’s from Shein. Unless you really love it (and want to keep it out of a landfill), it might not be worth your money—especially if the quality isn’t there. The goal is to get the best bang for your buck, and investing in higher-quality, longer-lasting pieces will always win in the long run.
5) The best finds are often the ones someone else left behind. If the thrift store has fitting rooms, always check the go backs! Someone else's trash could be your treasure! Maybe it was a great piece, it just didn't fit them properly? You never know.
6) Know your local thrift stores! Although this may be a tad extreme, try to find out when your thrift store does restocks and pushes out new merchandise. Try to plan your thrifting trip as soon as they do that so you can be the first to skim the new items.
7) Never skip out on the accessory section! Hats, gloves, belts, and bags are often the hidden gems of the thrift store. These pieces can completely transform an outfit and give even the simplest look a personalized, elevated touch.
Belts can cinch oversized pieces or add edge to a basic look. Gloves and hats give off major old-school charm or cool streetwear vibes depending on the style. And bags? You’d be surprised how many designer or high-quality vintage ones are hiding in plain sight. Even if you're not shopping for accessories, always give that section a once-over—you might just find the standout piece that makes your whole outfit pop.
8) Never skip the jewelry section.To tell if jewelry is real, look for a stamp or hallmark engraved on the piece. You may need to break out your reading glasses and really inspect it, as the markings are often very small. You might see “925” for sterling silver or “14K” or “850” for real gold. That said, just because a piece doesn’t have an engraving doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not real, but you should keep your guard up. There are also a couple of other things you can check to see if it’s genuine jewelry.
Real gold and silver tend to have a bit of weight to them. If a piece feels very light and airy, it could be fake or plated (which is great if that’s your vibe and what you’re looking for!).
If you want to be super thorough, bring a small magnet with you to the thrift store. Real jewelry should not be magnetic! So, if it pulls strongly, it could mean it’s fake.
Look for color changes. Fake jewelry tends to oxidize and turn green when old and tarnished. But don’t be fooled by dirty jewelry—some real pieces are old and can discolor, but with certain cleaning methods, they can look new and shiny again in no time.
If you want to take a risk and don’t mind looking a little crazy in the store, you can even smell the jewelry if you’re trying to determine if a silver piece is real. Silver shouldn’t have a scent; if it does, it might indicate it’s plated and therefore not 100% real.
9) Go in with a game plan. While you can't expect to walk out with the exact green ruffle top from your Pinterest board, you can shop with categories in mind—like trousers, structured blazers, or statement accessories that match your current style mood. Having a general direction helps you stay focused and make more intentional choices. So if you find that perfect oversized blazer, you’ll know it’s not just cute—it fits your vision and your wardrobe needs.
You can also be on the lookout for a specific aesthetic for example, coachella vibes. This would mean you are looking for styles like layering pieces, lace trimmed items, chunky belts, knee high boots, scarfs and boho jewelry.
10) Give your picks a final inspection. Before heading to the checkout, take a moment to thoroughly look over each item. Check for stains, armpit discoloration, pulled threads, missing buttons, or any other damages. Unless it’s something you’re confident you can fix or DIY, it’s probably not worth the purchase—especially if it’s just going to sit unworn in your closet.
11) Finally, be patient! I used to think that living in rural Vermont meant I’d never find anything cute at a thrift store—but I was totally wrong. You truly never know what hidden gems are waiting to be discovered, so always give it a chance. While bigger stores like Goodwill can sometimes be overpriced for secondhand items, and Plato’s Closet often leans heavily into fast fashion, they’re still worth browsing. That said, my best finds have come from small, local consignment and thrift shops. Smaller businesses often curate their selections more thoughtfully, offering a more unique and personalized shopping experience. Whether you walk out with 15 new pieces or none at all, don’t be discouraged. If you pass a thrift store—pop in. You just might stumble on something amazing.
