I love great thrift store finds, but my absolute favorite are the perfect pair of jeans. In the past, when I needed a new pair and decided to buy them at the mall, I was always disappointed. The jeans shrink when I get them home and wash them for the first time, or the waist stretches out and I have to wear a belt. But the most disappointing thing is that I pay way too much on them and only wear them a few times.
These are my most recent pair that I found at a local second hand clothing shop for $9.00. They are nearly brand new, but were made to look worn. I don’t usually go with skinny jeans, but I needed something to wear with my favorite boots, and these were perfect! These are stretchy, but not too stretchy that they’ll lose their shape. Since they’ve been worn and washed, I know they won’t shrink on me. With thrift store jeans, what I try on at the store is what I get when I take them home.
Last year, a study was done showing that women spend an average of $125,000 on clothing in a lifetime. If you want to start saving money on clothes, but buying something used gives you the heebie geebies, start with jeans! Just this one item purchased at a thrift store can save you a ton in the long run.
So how do you find quality jeans and get a great deal?
First, know what you’re willing to spend. I’ve never spent more than $15 on a pair of jeans, even when they’re name brand. I’ve found the perfect pair of Levi’s at a Goodwill for $5.00, Lucky Brand jeans at a consignment shop marked down to about $15.00, and my all-time favorite were a pair of Paper Denim & Cloth jeans for $12.00. But, don’t be afraid to branch out from the name brands.
Know when to shop. Goodwill has their half-off sale one Saturday a month. Call to find out which Saturday it is and go early. Higher-end consignment shops will mark down their clothing at the close of a season to make room for the next season’s clothes. Sometimes jeans get a mark down, too!
Know your size and deviate from it! Every pair is not made equally. Remember, these jeans have been worn and washed (and shrunk), so the size you normally wear might not fit you when you start trying things on. Go through the racks, grabbing your size as well as larger and smaller sizes.
Inspect, Inspect, Inspect. Try every pair on and spend some time in each one. Take a walk down the fitting room hallway and sit in them to make sure they’re comfortable. Check yourself out in the mirror and see where the back pockets are positioned – this can make or break your look. Always choose styles that are flattering to your figure and never settle on jeans that you don’t love. And of course, look for any stains, missing buttons, tears, or holes in the fabric. It’s okay to be picky! Be sure you love them because you usually can’t return things from a thrift store.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find the perfect pair of jeans on the first try. You will eventually have that Eureka! moment and it will be well worth the wait. Good luck and happy shopping!
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I've never had luck at thrift stores but everyone else does so well!
✰Transatlantic Blonde✰