You know when your friend convinces you to try something totally new, and you think, How bad could it be? Yeah…that’s exactly how my first thrifting adventure went.
My good friend Keelee—queen of secondhand scores and vintage vision—decided it was time to introduce me to the world of thrifting. She promised I’d find hidden gems, unique pieces, and maybe even a new appreciation for what she calls “the thrill of the thrift.”
Spoiler alert: she wasn’t wrong…but she also didn’t warn me about the sheer chaos of it all.
View this post on Instagram
The Hunt: Where Treasure Meets… a Lot of Hangers
If you’ve never been thrifting before, imagine this: racks on racks (on racks) of clothes that all have stories. Some are stylish, some are questionable, and some make you wonder what decade they escaped from.
Keelee was in her element—flipping through hangers at lightning speed, holding up pieces like she was on a game show called “Would Jason Wear This?” Meanwhile, I was trying to figure out where to even start.
Here’s what I learned about the art of thrifting:
-
Patience is key. This isn’t a quick Target run. You’ve got to dig for the good stuff.
-
Sizes lie. Vintage sizing is a whole different language.
-
You will find things you didn’t know you needed. (I’m looking at you, 90s corduroy jacket.)
-
You’ll also question humanity’s fashion choices. (Neon overalls? Really?)
I went in thinking I’d just browse a few racks. Keelee made sure I hit every single one. “You never know where the gold is hiding!” she said. I’m convinced she moonlights as a professional treasure hunter.
The Dressing Room Diaries
After an hour of hunting, we had an armload of finds. Keelee handed me my pile and said, “Now comes the fun part.” I wasn’t so sure.
Trying on thrifted clothes is an experience. You go from thinking, this could be cool, to oh no, this was a mistake, to wait…this might actually work!
There were a few surprises:
-
A sweater from my alma mater (high school) that fit like it was made for me.
-
A couple polo shirts I quested, but when I tried them on I questioned why not.
-
A button up that I really wanted to hate…but didn’t.
Keelee, of course, looked effortlessly cool in every single thing she tried on. Meanwhile, I was conducting my own episode of What Not to Wear: Thrift Edition.
But honestly? It was fun. I felt like I was discovering pieces that actually had character—and I loved the idea of giving them a second life.
The Payoff: Style, Savings, and Sustainability
Here’s the best part about thrifting—it’s a triple win:
-
💰 It’s budget-friendly. I walked out with multiple pieces for the price of one new shirt.
-
🌎 It’s sustainable. You’re recycling fashion instead of contributing to waste.
-
👕 It’s personal. You’re not wearing the same thing everyone else grabbed online last week.
I left the store feeling like I’d just won at shopping. And honestly, there’s something satisfying about knowing your new favorite jacket has history.
Final Thoughts: Thrift Happens, and I’m Here for It
Thrifting was one of those things I always thought wasn’t “my thing.” Turns out, I was wrong. It’s a whole adventure—part detective work, part fashion show, part comedy.
So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to thrift, I highly recommend grabbing a friend like Keelee, setting aside a few hours, and diving in. You’ll laugh, you’ll get nostalgic, and you might just walk away with a new look (and a new appreciation for secondhand shopping).
For this week’s Try It Tuesday, I’d say thrifting was a total win. And who knows…maybe I’ll be the one dragging Keelee to the thrift store next time, but I doubt it!
