With the school year coming to a close and quarantine restrictions being lifted left and right, everyone is starting to exercise those social muscles and step back out into the real world again. You know what that means: thrifting season is officially open, big time. Gear up in your favorite mask (per store rules), strap that sanitizer to your side and stretch your rack-pushing fingers to prep for the ultimate summer of thrift-store scoring that is ahead of us. Not sure how to jump back in? Here’s some tips and tricks on making the most of a secondhand adventure. 
 

Unlikely summertime scores

There are a few things that you may not think of snagging as a thrift but are great hacks to enjoying the ultimate summer while sticking to your secondhand habits.

•  Most thrifts have a swim section, but a total lack of matching pieces, so it’s the perfect time to find a mismatch-made-in-heaven to go with those bottoms you don’t have a top for.

• Garden or glass and ceramic sections inside St. Vincents are often riddled with containers just waiting to be made into a planter or propagation station. 

• Looking for DIYs or games to entertain little ones out of school? Check out the board games and craft or miscellaneous sections at Goodwills for classic forms of entertainment and a load of affordable and unique craft supplies. Tip: Thrift pre-made paintings in frames and have kids (or enthusiastic adults) draw their own additions over the top! 

Section things off

When you’re first entering a thrift store, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the packed shelves and row after row of goodies to scan through. To help tackle the stores efficiently and hone in on your goals, create a checklist of what you’re hunting for and what sections of the store you want to explore. For example, my personal scores are usually found in the sweater section and the candle/glassware isles, so I write a quick list of my thrifting fantasties (argyle print, silver candelabras, a vintage cigarette holder…) and then limit my search to those corners as best I can. This saves my wallet from burning a larger hole than intended and also helps me focus on what I need rather than ending up with a lot that I don’t need at all. 
 

Try to shop for the opposite season

Okay, I know this is almost impossible to do, but I swear it will help you come out stronger in the end. Generally, secondhand stores are always seeking out clothing or items that are relevant for the coming season; if it’s summertime, shorts and tanks are in huge demand, whereas a winter thrift would have more sweaters and long johns type of energy. Switching up this tactic and scoping out the leather jackets during the heat of June could score you a killer deal and a legendary thrift find that others aren’t thinking to look for. This also has an added bonus of leaving seasonal items that may be recreational for you but vital for someone else while allowing you to enjoy your thrifting dreams. It’s easy to get drawn into the appeal of what’s trending now, but if you step into the opposite season, you might be surprised by the things you find! 
 

Keeping it accessible

Finally, let’s remember that thrifting is not only a fun and trendy way to avoid fast fashion and score some treasure, but it’s also a resource that thousands of people from low income communities rely on. Keep in mind that thrift stores have long been an accessible way for folks of all backgrounds to have access to necessities (and then some), and it’s important that we keep our thrifting intersectional and accessible for everyone involved to avoid turning to gentrification. Remember to donate your own clothing and items when you’re ready, avoid over-consuming needlessly or exhausting one product/genre (thinking of all the videos of thrift “hauls” that are inevitably never used) and do your best to shop in your own accessibility range when applicable. For example, if you can afford to pay a few extra dollars for shipping, try sourcing online resellers on Depop or Instagram for secondhand items while supporting a small business owner rather than exhausting local resources. Thrifting is for everyone, and we all have to put in the work to keep it that way!