Thrifting Tips

The best part about thrift shopping is getting amazing clothes for a bargain. A Calvin Klein red rain coat for $5. Yes! Ralph Lauren sweaters for under $10? Hell yes! Despite these steals it can be hard to get the desire to go to the thrift store, especially when I don’t have the time or patience. Here are some of my tips so you can have a hassle-free and enjoyable time when you go thrift shopping.

1. Go in with a plan: Looking for a denim jacket? Need a new party dress? Either way, think about what you are really looking for and make sure you go to those sections first. Thrift stores are overwhelming and sometimes very scattered, so being organized will help you prioritize your time.
2. Dress appropriately: I get it, your chunky heeled boots, bodycon dress, or 10 layers of clothes make you look very stylish; however, they’re not the most practical things to wear. I don’t care what people say, leggings and a plain t shirt make trying on clothes very easy. If you do want to still be dressed up then choose clothes that will be comfortable when trying on the item you are looking for. For example, if your number one priority is to get a new pair of jeans then dress in something that will make trying on pants easy. The point here: dress in an outfit that will be very easy to take on and off in the dressing room.
3. Don’t buy something just because of the price: I get it. I’m a sucker for deals too, but don’t let that trap you into something you will never wear. In the end you’ll end up wasting your money.
4. Do not buy something that needs to be altered (unless you are actually serious about altering it): If you are anything like me you will try something on in the fitting room, make plans in your head about the changes, and then go home and never do it. Unless you have the skills to make the changes yourself then don’t buy it. Also, sometimes getting something altered can be more expensive than the actual product you are buying, so be cautious of that.
5. Ask yourself “how am I going to style this with items I already own?” Great, you found a fur jacket that you like. You’re in the dressing room already imagining how to embrace your inner Kim Kardashian by matching the jacket with a tight dress and knee-high heeled boots. Well, do you even own the tight dress and boots? Unless you have a very eclectic style, then make sure you are able to match it with clothes you already own so you can get the most use out of your clothing item.
6. Inspect, inspect, inspect: Even if that Marc Jacobs shirt is only a dollar it’s not worth getting it if there is a stain, rip, or other problems. Just like tip #4, don’t get it unless you are actually able to deal with the problem.
7. Wander into the mens section: If you have a much more casual style like I do then don’t be afraid to look in the mens section. It’s the perfect place to find a t-shirt or perfectly oversized winter jacket.
8. Don’t limit yourself to clothes: Thrift shopping is supposed to be fun, so while you are at your local Savers or Goodwill check out other sections. I have found polaroid cameras, books, home decor, and vinyl records for really great prices!
9. Know the discounts: Most thrift stores offer discounts on certain days of the week or for holidays, so check with your favorite thrift stores to see when you van get items for a really great discount!

Good luck thrift shopping! Let me know what some of your best finds have been.

#sparkinbloom

Clean Out Your Closet Pt. 1

If you are anything like me then your closet somehow becomes a place to hoard things you forgot you even owned. I knew I wanted to cut down on what I own, but I didn’t want to make this a stressful process. Some guides on how to clean out your closet are very strict in what you can and cannot do. I didn’t want my method to be like that. Instead I wanted an option that would allow me to re-evaluate again in a couple of months without regretting getting rid of any items that I might have wanted to keep.

How to Clean Out Your Closet Part 1:

1. Take everything out of your closet. When I say everything I mean it. Take out every single item that is in there, even if it is not clothing. By doing this you will start with a blank slate and evaluate everything that is taking up space.
2. Clean your closet. As you put back items in your closet it will be nice to know that you are putting it into a clean and sanitized area. If you don’t have a clean area then it will be difficult to maintain the quality of many of your clothing items.
3. Rearrange furniture (if you have any). Taking everything out of your closet will also allow you to re-imagine your space. Maybe there is a new method of organization that will be more efficient for you. Think about what you currently do not like about your closet and see if there is a way to fix it.
4. Now that your closet is clean and ready to accept new items it is time to sort them into piles. I used the following six piles as my guidelines:
   1. Keep: items that still fit and you have actually worn more than a handful of times.
   2. Maybe: items that fit but you do not wear often.
   3. Storage: items that hold significant memories or meaning to you but that you do not wear.
   4. Donate: items that will be given away.
   5. Trash: items of poor quality that are not suitable for wearing.
   6. Wash: any items that need to be cleaned before being being sorted into a pile. The only items that do not go here are trash items. Also, you decide if you want to put donated items here before you give them away. Personally, I do wash the clothes before I donate them.
5. Tips/Rules
   1. If a clothing item does not fit you then DO NOT put it in the keep or maybe piles. Only put it in the storage pile if there is a significant meaning to it. Otherwise put it into the donate or trash piles.
   2. Do not abuse the wash pile by putting items there that you don’t want to deal with until later.
   3. Be really picky with your storage items. I suggest getting a specific sized box to put set number of items in.
6. Now that you have sorted your items do the following
   1. Organize your keep items in your closet to your method of organization. I put mine by type of item (jackets, sweaters, t-shirts, etc.) then sort them by color.
   2. Put your maybe items into a box and keep it in your closet. Since these are maybe items you will have easy access to the clothing in here just in case you may want to use it. By keeping it in the box also forces you to only use these items when you think about it naturally.
   3. Put your storage items in a storage unit outside of your closet. There is no reason for storage items to take up space in your personal closet. Just make sure the storage unit you choose is still easily accessible for the moments you want to look back at these items.
   4. Put all donated items into bags or boxes and donate them ASAP. Remember, these are the items that were holding you back so get rid of them quickly.
   5. Throw away your trash pile.
   6. Launder your wash pile. Repeat step four for the freshly washed items.

I really hope that these tips help you out. Stay tuned for part 2 of the clean your closet series.

Spark in Bloom

Currently, I’m listening to Kygo – Firestone