{"id":2366,"date":"2017-11-14T17:51:55","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T22:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trashisfortossers.com\/?p=2366"},"modified":"2020-08-31T12:19:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T16:19:12","slug":"zero-waste-wardrobe-secondhand-shopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tift-admin.com\/zero-waste-wardrobe-secondhand-shopping\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide To: Secondhand Shopping"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Shopping photos by the talented Natasha Garoosi<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Americans toss 25 billion pounds of clothing every single year<\/a>. We\u2019ve become accustomed to fast-fashion, poorly made synthetic clothing that falls apart, and impulse buying from sales racks. It\u2019s time to shift gears and start thinking about your wardrobe differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I started my zero waste journey almost 5 years ago, I knew my shopping habits had to change as a result of that, and as someone who loves clothes and fashion, I figured out a way to not contribute to the waste stream when it comes to what I wear.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do I do it? I donate, sell or give away my clothing<\/a> I don\u2019t want anymore and I shop secondhand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Heading to a thrift store can feel overwhelming for many people but I\u2019ve got years of successful secondhand shopping experience (and a killer wardrobe to prove it), so I\u2019ll share with you the tips that work for me. <\/span><\/p>\n

Identify gaps in your wardrobe <\/span><\/h2>\n

The first step is seeing what you could use in your wardrobe. Walking into a thrift store without a plan is similar to trying to pass an exam in Astrophysics without ever having taken the class. Walking in blindly will only overwhelm you and potentially cause you to buy items that you don\u2019t need.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this post I go over how to assess and edit your closet<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Make a list <\/span><\/h2>\n

What are you looking for? What are your typical buying traps? Mine is striped shirts. In my head they are amazing, in reality I always end up re-selling them or thinking I don\u2019t look cute in them. Make a physical paper list, or list on your phone of items you need and items to avoid so you don\u2019t forget.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Establish your budget<\/span><\/h2>\n

How much are you willing to spend the day you go shopping? If it\u2019s an item you really need in your wardrobe, what\u2019s the max amount you\u2019d drop on it? Are you selling items and only going to buy clothes out of what you sell? <\/span><\/p>\n

Staying within a budget will help you avoid hasty purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Be prepared for the thrift shopping experience<\/span><\/h2>\n

Secondhand shopping can take some time and energy, so be prepared with all of the zero waste accoutrement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what I\u2019d recommend being prepared with: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n